Illinois is coming along

This topic contains 14 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by Ihateusernames 11 years, 4 months ago.

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Posted on: Sat, 02/07/2015 - 1:15pm #59038

NCarmean18
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As an Illinois fan, I entered this college basketball season with a lot of optimism. I am a huge fan of John Groce and I was really looking forward to seeing Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill develop as players in the Big Ten, as well as for Rayvonte Rice stepping up and becoming more efficient as a scorer.
Illinois started off pretty hot during non-conference play, winning their first six games of the season before dropping their first game of the year against the Miami Hurricanes (ranked #15 at the time) in Miami by the final score of 71-60.
Illinois then won by fifteen points at home against a lackluster Hampton team before losing two straight against Villanova (Ranked #7) and Oregon. With these three losses, Illinois’ non-conference resume was ‘ok’, but that hadn’t really solidified themselves. Blowing out Indiana State by 26 was an alright looking win, but nothing stood out more than their win on a neutral floor against the Baylor Bears to win the Las Vegas Invitational Championship. Both teams at the time were undefeated with 5-0 records, respectively.
Baylor is now ranked #19 in the country, and they currently have a record of 18-5, and a Big 12 record of 6-4. That means that the only non-conference loss for this really good Baylor Bears team was indeed the Illinois Fighting Illini.
I also think that it is worth mentioning that Illinois was in all of their losses against Oregon, Miami, and Villanova until virtually the end of the game, whenever those teams were able to pull away from us.
We dropped our rivals Mizzou on a buzzer beating 3-pointer by Rayvonte Rice, and throttled Kennesaw State at home to end our non-conference schedule with a record of 10-3. That’s not too bad, and we had a good chance to win all of the games that we had lost.
Now for the Big Ten Conference. We started off the conference season slow, losing two straight on the road against Michigan and Ohio State (#20 at the time), respectively. We got our first win in the Big Ten at home against the 11th-ranked team in the nation at the time, the Maryland Terrapins. We won the game by 7, although it truly was not even that close of a game. They scored a few quick buckets towards the end of the game to make the score more respectable by Maryland’s standpoint. This was also our first game without our leading scorer, rebounder, and defender – Rayvonte Rice (broken bone in hand).
After this huge upset, we lost on the road again, this time in an ugly offensive game against a talented, yet underachieving Nebraska Cornhuskers team. We played at Northwestern, and barely came away with a 5-point victory. That was one of the scariest games that I have ever watched as an Illinois fan.
We played at home against Indiana and lost by 6, but we played one of our best games of the season in that one, and we just let it slip away from us. Indiana to me though does not get enough credit. With the hype around James Blackmon Jr. and the terrific freshmen season that he has had, people don’t really give Yogi Ferrell or Troy Williams the credit that they deserve. Both of these guys are special players in the Big Ten in my personal opinion.
We played just a little bit more inconsistently, defeating a somewhat surprisingly solid Purdue team in Champaign. We then lost on the road against another talented, yet underachieving Big Ten team in Minnesota by 8 points.
After that loss though, we have turned it around. Illinois has won three games in a row, and have played extremely good basketball. This team is #2 in the nation in free throw percentage at around 80%, and we are also at the top in terms of fewest turnovers per game.
Of our three straight wins, only one was truly impressive. We won by two points over a gritty Penn State squad in Champaign, proved our dominance of a lackluster Rutgers squad by 12 points at home, and then finally, we defeated Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans squad in East Lansing.
Illinois now holds a record of 16-8, with a 6-5 Big Ten record. With that said, we are still patiently awaiting the return of our best player in Rayvonte Rice from suspension, as well as Aaron Cosby.
With all of that said, I would just like to show my sincere appreciation and admiration for head coach John Groce. He has done a tremendous job getting this team to play together, and play hard on the defensive end of the court. As it currently stands, Illinois’ record is bubble worthy, and I just wanted to get the forum’s thoughts on their NCAA Tournament chances.
Right now, I am predicting them to finish the rest of the season with a 4-3 record, finishing the season at 20-11, and 10-8 in the Big Ten before the tournament. We’ll see what happens, I am just glad to see my squad starting to play up to their potential.

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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:43am #965431

casey38ray
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I’m also an Illinois fan. I believe this is a tournament team.
This program is on the rise in getting Jalen Coleman-Lands, DJ Williams, Aaron Jordan, and Darius Paul. Also, getting back one of the best perimeter defenders/floor generals in the country in Tracy Abrams and redshirt freshman Michael Finke. And potentially getting Marcus Lovett ( wants to stay in the state of Illinois ) or Jamal Murray ( Canada/probable reclassify ). This team is in a serious come up.
Jalen Coleman-Lands ( #32 in country ) is probably the deadliest shooter in the country, can score in bunches, and can play both guard positions.
DJ Williams ( #62 in country ) is drastically underrated due to the fact that he’s playing with so much talent in Simeon ( Chicago high school ). He have the most potential in this class. He’s a great mid range shooter, can pass, slash, and defend.
Aaron Jordan ( #92 / 247sports ) is another great shooter and he can create for himself.
This team is coming up in the recruiting circuit and been finalist to big name guys such as Carlton Bragg, Cliff Alexander, and Xavier Rathan-Mays. And currently Illinois is in the top 10 in Jayson Tatum. Also, in the running for VJ King, Isaac Humphries, Nolan Norain, and Zach Norvell. This team have been during good in the recruiting battle and have gotten a seat at the big boy table.
This program going to be nationally great in a year or so with the way they’re recruiting. John Gross had made it clear that he want to own Chicago in terms of recruiting and not letting Chicago talent ( which I believe produces the best players ) leave for the big dogs. He currently doing fantastic and showing what he’s been know best in recruiting.

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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:43am #965285

casey38ray
Participant
I’m also an Illinois fan. I believe this is a tournament team.
This program is on the rise in getting Jalen Coleman-Lands, DJ Williams, Aaron Jordan, and Darius Paul. Also, getting back one of the best perimeter defenders/floor generals in the country in Tracy Abrams and redshirt freshman Michael Finke. And potentially getting Marcus Lovett ( wants to stay in the state of Illinois ) or Jamal Murray ( Canada/probable reclassify ). This team is in a serious come up.
Jalen Coleman-Lands ( #32 in country ) is probably the deadliest shooter in the country, can score in bunches, and can play both guard positions.
DJ Williams ( #62 in country ) is drastically underrated due to the fact that he’s playing with so much talent in Simeon ( Chicago high school ). He have the most potential in this class. He’s a great mid range shooter, can pass, slash, and defend.
Aaron Jordan ( #92 / 247sports ) is another great shooter and he can create for himself.
This team is coming up in the recruiting circuit and been finalist to big name guys such as Carlton Bragg, Cliff Alexander, and Xavier Rathan-Mays. And currently Illinois is in the top 10 in Jayson Tatum. Also, in the running for VJ King, Isaac Humphries, Nolan Norain, and Zach Norvell. This team have been during good in the recruiting battle and have gotten a seat at the big boy table.
This program going to be nationally great in a year or so with the way they’re recruiting. John Gross had made it clear that he want to own Chicago in terms of recruiting and not letting Chicago talent ( which I believe produces the best players ) leave for the big dogs. He currently doing fantastic and showing what he’s been know best in recruiting.

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- Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:22am #965451
  
  i’m jus so offended
  Participant
  It’s Groce dude, you’re making us look dumb. And Murray is not coming to CU, bet that. LoVett I’m hopeful about.
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- Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:22am #965305
  
  i’m jus so offended
  Participant
  It’s Groce dude, you’re making us look dumb. And Murray is not coming to CU, bet that. LoVett I’m hopeful about.
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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 2:22am #965435

Robb_C
Participant
Im From Chicago, understand the recruiting landscape out here.. Illinois wont be a program worth talking about until they start landing the bluechip talent in Chicago.. They’ve missed out on Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose,Jon Scheyer,Sherron Collins, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor.. Eric Gordon would have went to Illinois with Rose, had Rose went to Illinois.. All these bluechip talent keep avoiding Illinois and go to Kentucky or Kansas and Duke.. Cal and Self have literally turned the MeanStreets AAU team and The Fire AAU program into their farm systems..
Illinois has to hire a guy from within that circle, Rob Smith Head Coach of Simeon HS first comes to mind.. I dont say hire him as a Head but put him on Staff to start building relationships withing the AAU Ranks in Chicago and the Chicago Public league.. Once Illinois starts doing that, they have the potential to be a blueblood program like Kansas, they just need to find another Bill Self.
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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 2:22am #965289

Robb_C
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Im From Chicago, understand the recruiting landscape out here.. Illinois wont be a program worth talking about until they start landing the bluechip talent in Chicago.. They’ve missed out on Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose,Jon Scheyer,Sherron Collins, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor.. Eric Gordon would have went to Illinois with Rose, had Rose went to Illinois.. All these bluechip talent keep avoiding Illinois and go to Kentucky or Kansas and Duke.. Cal and Self have literally turned the MeanStreets AAU team and The Fire AAU program into their farm systems..
Illinois has to hire a guy from within that circle, Rob Smith Head Coach of Simeon HS first comes to mind.. I dont say hire him as a Head but put him on Staff to start building relationships withing the AAU Ranks in Chicago and the Chicago Public league.. Once Illinois starts doing that, they have the potential to be a blueblood program like Kansas, they just need to find another Bill Self.
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- Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 3:36am #965441
  
  casey38ray
  Participant
  We have John Gross as the Head Coach. Jabari Parker said he probably would’ve went to Illinois if he knew the coach well enough. John Gross already building a farm system at Simeon. Illinois have Jaylon Tate, Kendrick Nunn, and DJ Williams ( currently at Simeon ). The next wave of Simeon players might as well be Illinois bound in Zach Norvell and Kezo Brown ( next star at Simeon ). They working the Indiana and going into Canada to get talent in the likes of Jamal Murray, Jalen Coleman-Lands, Nolan Norain, and some underclassmen. I believe John Gross have the program in a upswing and we here to stay.
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- Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 3:36am #965295
  
  casey38ray
  Participant
  We have John Gross as the Head Coach. Jabari Parker said he probably would’ve went to Illinois if he knew the coach well enough. John Gross already building a farm system at Simeon. Illinois have Jaylon Tate, Kendrick Nunn, and DJ Williams ( currently at Simeon ). The next wave of Simeon players might as well be Illinois bound in Zach Norvell and Kezo Brown ( next star at Simeon ). They working the Indiana and going into Canada to get talent in the likes of Jamal Murray, Jalen Coleman-Lands, Nolan Norain, and some underclassmen. I believe John Gross have the program in a upswing and we here to stay.
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  - Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:08am #965449
    
    mshelto2
    Participant
    If you want to say "we" in reference to Illini basketball then you better be able to spell the coach’s name correctly.
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  - Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:08am #965303
    
    mshelto2
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    If you want to say "we" in reference to Illini basketball then you better be able to spell the coach’s name correctly.
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    - Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:26am #965453
      
      casey38ray
      Participant
      We got the Grammer police. You created a whole account to say you spelled this wrong. Auto correct is a bitch, right?
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    - Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 6:26am #965307
      
      casey38ray
      Participant
      We got the Grammer police. You created a whole account to say you spelled this wrong. Auto correct is a bitch, right?
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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:01am #965479

Ihateusernames
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Illinois hired Paris Parham, former head coach at Morgan Park HS (LoVett’s school). They already have a Chicago guy on the staff.
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Posted on: Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:01am #965333

Ihateusernames
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Illinois hired Paris Parham, former head coach at Morgan Park HS (LoVett’s school). They already have a Chicago guy on the staff.
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