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Illini Buckets '10-'11
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Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:16 am ]
Post subject:  Illini Buckets '10-'11
Here you go, dolphin.

Through 2 exhibition games and what I saw of last night, they've been a bit underwhelming so far. Of course, either they were playing in a strobe light or my internet connection was choppy so I didn't get a clear view of the game.

I'm not sure what happened in the second half of that game but a 42-18 halftime lead became a 14-point victory somehow. It was good to see Paul come off the bench and light it up with three 3s in a row.

That's a talented bunch of players. Should be a fun year.
Author:  T-Bone [ Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Heard Les mention early this morning that Illinois plays UNC in the
Big Ten / ACC Challenge this year. That should be an interesting
game in Champaign. Looks like they play @ Texas next week as
well which could be tough. I just looked at the box score from
last night and they look to have a pretty deep team. No superstar
but a lot of really good players. Gonna have to have the underclassmen
step up to take this team to the next level.
Author:  good dolphin [ Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
This will be the type of team that gets better as the year progresses.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
good dolphin wrote:
This will be the type of team that gets better as the year progresses.


True, they have 4 Freshmen that will contribute more as time goes on, Richmond in particular.

But, they also have 4 starting Seniors and the top 7 guys from last year's team returning. So, they ought to be pretty damn good from the get-go also.
Author:  T-Bone [ Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Just read this morning that Illinois had four top 100 players from the
Chicago area sign with the Illini yesterday. Nice work.
Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Now last night was what you are supposed to do to an inferior team....beat their ass and keep your foot on their throat.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
T-Bone wrote:
Just read this morning that Illinois had four top 100 players from the
Chicago area sign with the Illini yesterday. Nice work.


9th best recruiting class in the country and the 3rd consecutive top 15 class.

It's all on Bruce Weber now. He's made due with subpar talent for the past few years but the next 3-5 years should be top of the conference / Top 10 teams, year-in and year-out, making serious runs in the Tourney.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
I'm excited about Illinois as I think, talent-wise, they have about as much as any Illinois team I've ever seen.

But, then you watch Ohio State dismantle a good Florida team in the second half and it just reemphasizes how much talent is in the Big Ten.

Sullinger is a beast on the offensive side down low. I don't think Illinois has anybody who could guard him but I doubt most teams do.
Author:  Brick [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Ohio State looked scary good but I think Florida is overrated. They didn't look very good to me.

Ohio State's biggest problem is that they have no depth. It almost seems intentional that Matta tells all these recruits that they will play a ton and immediately.
Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
I guess you missed Iowa dismantling Sun Belt contender UL Monroe.
Author:  T-Bone [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
I am disappointed that the Illini play at the same time as the Bears tomorrow
evening. I'll likely flip to the game during commercials and halftime but I am
anxious to see how they play against a better program like Texas. I also
noticed that Gonzaga lost last night so maybe they aren't as good as
advertised. The Illini hook up with them in the near future.
Author:  T-Bone [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Caught a good portion of the 2nd half last night after the Bears. Didn't seem to me
that the Illini could get into a good rhythmn on offense. A lot of turnovers and missed
a lot of shots. Texas did a good job on the offensive boards as well which didn't help.
Hopefully they can pull it together and play better tonight against Maryland. I can
see that they have talent but it was obvious they aren't in sync yet this early in
the season. Richmond played some nice minutes for them and I was impressed that
he could bring the ball up court for them with relative ease. Haven't reviewed the
box score yet but Paul couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and wasn't too impressive
on defense either. Texas did a nice job bottling up McCamey in the 2nd half. It's a
long season and they weren't going undefeated, hopefully they can learn something
from the loss. I'll be tuning in tonight to see how they bounce back.
Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
The 1976 Indiana team just lit their victory cigars.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Paul hit some shots in the first half. Texas did a nice job of keeping the ball away from McCamey late in the game.

That was a good game for Illinois to play because it exposed many of their weaknesses. Soft inside. No low-post offense. Foul prone. Although some of those fouls, especially Tisdale's fifth were suspect.

As long as they can bounce back today and beat a Maryland team that they should beat, I won't feel too badly about that loss. They've had people blowing smoke up their ass, myself included, since last March about how great they are going to be. That said, they didn't hit many shots but Texas missed 20 free throws also, so that cancels each other out a bit.

They need to be tougher down low. That's really all it is. They don't have a back-to-the-basket guy or somebody who can really muscle up down there and it's going to cause them problems. Richmond looked better than he had the first couple games. Cole hit some huge shots down the stretch.

They're going to be fun to watch as they are going to run and try to kill people with their depth.
Author:  T-Bone [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Agree with the presence down low. I believe that is the exact problem that
plagued them last year. This and their rebounding are going to need to
improve but I have confidence it will happen. Maryland played solid against
Pitt by the look of things so the Illini are going to have to play well to get
the win. I am a firm believer in playing the tough schedule early before
conference play starts even if you rack up a few losses. Playing multiple
ranked teams and then going through the Big Ten is going to be a meat
grinder but I anticipate seeing a much different team by mid January then
we saw last night.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
They need someone to step up and be able to score at crunchtime besides McCamey. Based on some of what he did last night, including driving in for the last basket in regulation, it looks like that guy is Richmond. You can't count on Richardson and Paul trying hit jumpers in close games late. Paul can take it to the hoop and he should do it more.

But, if Richmond develops into a guy that can take it to the hoop and finish, they are going to be very, very good. It will offset their lack of low-post offense.
Author:  RFDC [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Hawkeye Vince wrote:
The 1976 Indiana team just lit their victory cigars.


:cheers:
Author:  T-Bone [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
I think you are right about needing a threat down low and also agree that
guy may be Richmond. At 6'8 through he has to be a little more aggressive
offensively and eventually bulk up some. He fouled out after only 21 minutes
on the floor. Didn't realize until looking at the roster that the Illini have 4
seniors and the rest of the group are sophs and freshmen.
Author:  Irish Boy [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Split it New York with the loss going to overtime. Not a great trip, but good enough. Take two of three from NC, Gonzaga, and Mizzou, and it'll be a pretty good OOC showing, assuming you don't drop one you shouldn't.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
That was a very shaky win. They have to step up and be more clutch, play with urgency, momentum, all that stuff you love IB.

But, really, they have to have guys to step up late in games. Can't have missed FTs and shot clock violations late in games playing for loss prevention rather than wins.
Author:  Irish Boy [ Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:
That was a very shaky win. They have to step up and be more clutch, play with urgency, momentum, all that stuff you love IB.

But, really, they have to have guys to step up late in games. Can't have missed FTs and shot clock violations late in games playing for loss prevention rather than wins.

Yeah, I agree. That's a nine point win or so if you just make your shots. Then again, it's a loss if Maryland hits a couple of late open looks.

The rotation is still way deeper than I thought it would be this far into the season. I think they played 10 tonight.
Author:  T-Bone [ Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Nice road test for the Illini on Saturday as they travel to Seattle to take on
Gonzaga. I know the Bulldogs aren't as good a team as they have been in
the past but will still be a tough one against a well coached squad.
Author:  T-Bone [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Nice road win over the weekend. They take the court tonight against Oakland.
I noticed they are ranked 146th for Division I in rebounding. Weber has got to
find a way to get his guys to hit the boards before the Big Ten season kicks off.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Oakland plays a crazy-hard out-of-conference schedule so they aren't going to come out scared. Tonight starts a stretch where they play Illinois, Michigan State, and Tennessee in a row. Also, they've got a fairly skilled low-post guy, Keith Benson.

However, Benson isn't bulky and bulk is what gives the Illini problems. And, even though Oakland plays a good schedule (5 ranked teams out of conference), they haven't been particularly competitive in the games. So, Illinois should take care of business tonight.

I'll say Illinois by 19.
Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Does Illinois play NIU this year? I want to end the debate of the best Illinois based basketball team early.
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Hawkeye Vince wrote:
Does Illinois play NIU this year? I want to end the debate of the best Illinois based basketball team early.


They don't. But, if they did, it wouldn't matter anyway.
Author:  T-Bone [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:

I'll say Illinois by 19.


What does Accuscore say?
Author:  Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
T-Bone wrote:
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:

I'll say Illinois by 19.


What does Accuscore say?


I'd have to pay for that one. I'm just picking the freebies from the WSJ.
Author:  spanky [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:
Hawkeye Vince wrote:
Does Illinois play NIU this year? I want to end the debate of the best Illinois based basketball team early.


They don't. But, if they did, it wouldn't matter anyway.

I'm thinking Hawkeye fans should stay out of basketball discussions for a few more years. :wink:
Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 3:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Illini Buckets '10-'11
spanky wrote:
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:
Hawkeye Vince wrote:
Does Illinois play NIU this year? I want to end the debate of the best Illinois based basketball team early.


They don't. But, if they did, it wouldn't matter anyway.

I'm thinking Hawkeye fans should stay out of basketball discussions for a few more years. :wink:

Iowa is over 500 for the first time since 2008-9. Yeehaw! And yes, it will be a few years.
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