Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

Lkdog

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #105 on: December 03, 2023, 06:23:53 PM »

Quote from: spark mandrill on December 03, 2023, 06:05:02 PM

It's very indicative of that embarrassment of a site (it's no Writing Illini, but in terms of terrible writing that's a nearly unsurpassable bar). I bet you could find an article like this from a year ago too.

I think this team has the potential to be an awful lot better than last year's team. I think it has the potential to make a tournament run. Any of that is FAR from written, there is way, way too much season left to say anything close to what that headline says. We looked good yesterday - we need to look good in these next three against real teams. If we defend and rebound like that, we are going to be tough - definitely have work to do on offense though. I hope Shannon has an AA type season, but we shouldn't need to rely on him to bail us out.

Also Shannon has been fantastic so far including shooting the ball, but he was shooting the ball well at this point last year (43% through 7 games last year, 46% through 7 this year) and finished at 32%. Obviously him being a 40% shooter would go a very long way for both our season and his pro future, but I don't think I would bet on it either. If he shoots 37% over a whole season I think that'd be great.

The biggest improvement I've seen from Shannon is that he's willingly gone right a number of times so far.

Agree with all of this. Let's see what we have after next week.

My biggest takeaway yesterday was Domask being aggressive and making plays and scoring. TSJ can't likely sustain this level, but if Domask and Hawkins and Guerrier step up to their ability on offense we could be good. Our D seems better this year. Our offense is a work in progress. Teams that make a deep run are historically in the top 20 area in both.

« Last Edit: December 03, 2023, 06:31:57 PM by Lkdog »

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spark mandrill

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #106 on: December 03, 2023, 06:34:51 PM »

Quote from: Lkdog on December 03, 2023, 06:22:24 PM

It is not a preconception - the guy has been simply bad for us this year on both sides of the ball.
I am objective about him. He was a 3 star #167 coming in and has played to that level.
I hope he gets to another level. If he can impact the games in the next two games against good teams that will be a good sign.

I think he's been quite a bit better than what I'd typically expect from a 3* #167 type recruit.

I definitely understand why people would be frustrated watching him, I am too at times, but it's because he IMO has the ceiling to be great, and is consistently only solid - not because he's terrible.

My frustrations with Hawkins are that he has the athleticism and skillset to be a really good, all-conference type player at this level and has just never put it together consistently. I agree he hasn't been very good so far this year in extremely limited time, but he's had a pretty solid career. IMO he should've been all-B1G Honorable Mention last year, I was surprised he wasn't. He was in the top-20 in the B1G in rebounds, assists, and blocks per game (along with, if you're into advanced stats, DWS, DRtg, and DBPM). He's got a little game, at least.

He's a very good defender. He's a good passer and rebounder, and a pretty solid ball-handler for his size. He is a passable shooter, but obviously nothing special. His problems are between his ears, it seems like - his biggest hurdle is consistency.

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spark mandrill

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #107 on: December 03, 2023, 06:41:30 PM »

I'll add, the biggest thing Hawkins needs to completely cut out of his game is the Harden-step three. I get why kids want to take those, but his percentage would be considerably better if he stuck to shooting in-rhythm open threes off the pass.

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Lkdog

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #108 on: December 03, 2023, 06:44:39 PM »

Quote from: spark mandrill on December 03, 2023, 06:34:51 PM

I think he's been quite a bit better than what I'd typically expect from a 3* #167 type recruit.

I definitely understand why people would be frustrated watching him, I am too at times, but it's because he IMO has the ceiling to be great, and is consistently only solid - not because he's terrible.

My frustrations with Hawkins are that he has the athleticism and skillset to be a really good, all-conference type player at this level and has just never put it together consistently. I agree he hasn't been very good so far this year in extremely limited time, but he's had a pretty solid career. IMO he should've been all-B1G Honorable Mention last year, I was surprised he wasn't. He was in the top-20 in the B1G in rebounds, assists, and blocks per game (along with, if you're into advanced stats, DWS, DRtg, and DBPM). He's got a little game, at least.

He's a very good defender. He's a good passer and rebounder, and a pretty solid ball-handler for his size. He is a passable shooter, but obviously nothing special. His problems are between his ears, it seems like - his biggest hurdle is consistency.

Agree- his mental game is his biggest challenge. I hope he puts it together.

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Lkdog

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #109 on: December 03, 2023, 06:48:51 PM »

Quote from: spark mandrill on December 03, 2023, 06:41:30 PM

I'll add, the biggest thing Hawkins needs to completely cut out of his game is the Harden-step three. I get why kids want to take those, but his percentage would be considerably better if he stuck to shooting in-rhythm open threes off the pass.

Absolutely, The metrics on all of these guys at every level on catch and shoot open threes, and step in open threes being better is clear.
They track all of this shit.
The step back requires elite mechanics and footwork and balance and shooting contested threes is a whole different level for Plummer types.
TSJ has taken makeabale threes to date and it is paying off. He is making great decisions.

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ILLINICHIEF

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Re: Illini MENS Hoopers @ Piss cat away 12/2 @ 3 CST

« Reply #110 on: December 04, 2023, 10:23:48 AM »

Re-Watched the Rutgers game last night, since my football teams were not doing well...

Rodgers was getting sped up a lot, and made many errors. He is easily our 2nd most athletic player on the team, but handling the ball is not a strong point as far as PG goes.

TSJ is an All-American, he is clutch for us, he makes mistakes in transition by getting to deep at times, however, very good with the bad.

CoHawk we will see what we really have the next 2 games, however there is a point of when he was trying to score down low, he fell to the ground and a timeout ensued, the TV showed him looking at a ref and "lipsynced reading", he said thats a F*c&ing foul dumbass...same ole, same ole from the head case.

Domask is and will be a do everything for us most nights, I liked the aggression on the failed dunk drive.

Guerrier is I think becoming our #2 go to player for offense, and he seems to be much more aggressive in this game vs others.

Harmon played some forgettable minutes, I still think he on most nights will be overmatched.

Dain looked better, more involved, more interested, just foul trouble will be his main issue as with many other inside big players.

The real season has started, we will see how we fair these next 2 very meaningful games. I think athletically, Tennessee will not be a good match up for us, and before that, FLAT will beat us with their guards and pressure, unless BU figures out a better way to get ball across half court. If he doesn't we may have to watch a full game of hero ball in the last 15 seconds of every possession.

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