Nothing else 😊😊😊😊

Has anyone done less with more? Horrible game coach
With NIL I think Kentucky has lost a HUGE advantage

* This will be a major test for Skyy Clark against the veteran Tyger Campbell. Campbell's quickness and savvy with bother him. Turnovers will be a factor.

* One of the main things that makes Illinois hard to guard is they have multiple players who can grab and go. They get it up the court in a hurry and make the defense match up and defend for the entire shot clock. Clark, Shannon, Melendez, Hawkins, Mayer, Rodgers. All those guys can grab it off the glass and push it up. Illinois playing at an adjusted tempo of 73.2, which is the second highest in the Big Ten after Iowa.

* Illinois needs Matthew Mayer to be more of a rim runner and less of a 3-point chucker. The shots that he's taking are head-shakers. He needs an attitude adjustment as well. Underwood is 180 degrees different than Scott Drew. Mayer doesn't like getting yelled at. It may come down to benching him until he gets it together. He's making almost no effort to rebound.

* They aren't the Golden State Warriors, but Illinois has more perimeter shooting that most expected. Epps is pure from 3. They really needed that shot in the arm. Shannon and Melendez are pretty good shooters. Clark is passing up some shots, but his jumper looks good. Sencire Harris worked really hard on his shot and he can make open 3's. Goode adds shooting when he returns. There may be less of a need for a shooter in the portal than previously thought. We'll see.

* I like Melendez when he's slashing and crashing the offensive glass. He had a couple of those types of plays against Monmouth - a driving layup and an ORB/put back. I'm not saying he should pass up open looks, but he shouldn't always be settling for jumpers.

* I know Underwood has previously said Ty Rodgers can play some 1, but I don't think he's there yet. The ball is too high and he can't go left.

* Dain Dainja won't be as effective in the Big Ten. It's a physical league. But I don't think there will be a huge drop off because he's so crafty in the paint.

* A lot of people expected Coleman Hawkins to take a big jump this year in his scoring, and maybe Coleman did to. He's pressing a little bit and has showed some frustration after the big shooting night vs. EIU. He's at his best when he's making effort plays and not letting missed shots effect the other aspects of his game.

* Shannon's usage rate of 32.8 probably isn't sustainable. He's been a mismatch for the cupcakes.

I'm pretty excited about this kid. His arm strength still isn't great, but it's better than it was last year a junior.

My Illini comp is Nathan Scheelhaause. Swanson is a similar athlete and playmaker. NS was an option QB in high school, so more of a natural runner, but both are + athletes.

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The Illini woman beat McNease State tonight 100-38 to start the season 3-0.. This team is probably a few years and a couple bigs away from being really good. Really fun team to watch..

It’s been fun to see the talent upgrade this year that comes from better recruiting.

For example, we don’t really have a pure PG on the roster. This was the kiss of death for many Illini teams in the last 15 years. However, we have point forwards and combo guards with enough handles and skill that several guys can run the offense and we can push tempo. Big improvement.

It’s also a big deal when you have freshmen that can contribute on day 1. Compare a guy like Sencire Harris to Calvin Brock or Joe Bertrand. All great run/jump athletes but Sencire has a well-rounded game.

Also you just see the raw athletic ability to just break teams. All three games against the cupcakes had a stretch that was just non-competitive for the other team. We have guys terrorizing ball handlers with the press, racing to the hoop for uncontested layups and dunks, blocking multiple shots, and laying teeth-rattling screens.

The Monmouth game was over in 5 minutes. The second half was all garbage time. This team will be tested by better teams and we will quickly learn some hard truths about where we stand, but I’ve not seen such athletic domination from an Illinois team this century. Even the 2005 team was a bit undersized and more of a well-oiled machine rather than just physically dominant.

Winning with 4*s is fun. Better watch out if Underwood starts getting 5*s.

Tonight for Duke vs Kansas. He had one rebound and no points. He did not play a lot. Got called for an offensive foul in the first half.

He is averaging 4.7 points a game. He has played 18 minutes in games this year.

Grady Dick was impressive for Kansas. He is a skilled player. Kansas pulled it out at the end after giving up the lead to Duke.
I think I’m going to hate Scheyer. He seems like a facsimile of Coach K!

Interesting how Coach K and Jon S are both from Chicagoland

I plan to be at this event.

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* Women's hoops improves to 2-0.

* Wrestling signs recruiting class

* Will Bielema face old team Arkansas in bowl game?

* Big Ten West title scenarios

This looks to be the scenarios that need to happen for us to win the B1G West:

• Purdue: Win both remaining games AND Iowa loss
• Iowa: Win both remaining games AND Illinois loss
• Illinois: Win both remaining games AND Purdue loss
• Minnesota: Win both remaining games And Illinois loss AND Purdue loss

Realistically, I can't see us pulling out an upset at the big house and as bad as NW is, most of the time (save last season) they give us their best shot. That 2019 game will always stick in my mind.

I also don't see Purdue losing to NW and IU.

So, the two teams with the best chances are Purdue and Iowa. Which of these are the lesser of two evils do you want going to Indy on Dec. 3.?

As much as I loathe Iowa, after what happened last Saturday in my dealing with their student fan base, and what looked to me like dirty playing by Purdue, I have to go with Iowa.

At least we won't be embarrassed by tOSU on national TV.

I hate to jinx the Illini but Syracuse is horrible. They don't look any better than Monmouth. They were down by 14 at half, down by 14 midway thru second half, down by 19 with 4 minutes left in the game. And it hasn't even looked that close. Oh yeah, they are playing COLGATE!!!

Terrance Shannon through 3 games already has made more FTs (26) than the following Illinois players did all of last season:

Da'Monte Williams (17)
RJ Melendez (17)
Omar Payne (15)
BBV (5)
Luke Goode (4)
plus all the bench players

The entire team last year made 435 free throws and he is on pace to make 303 FTs in 35 games.

He also has not yet committed a foul.

After two games. 32 PPG, 10 RPG, 2.5 APG.