1. TJ Shannon is going to have a big season and contend for All-American honors. I think he was capable to that kind of performance last year, but didn't always have that killer mindset. He's really dialed in right now. Sometimes he gets a bit too amped up and goes wildly to the rim. If he can harness that a bit more and take open mid-range shots, he's really going to be a monster.
2. Illinois obviously doesn't have a pure point guard. There are positive things and negative things about the position-less lineup. They can muscle opponents. They will dominate some teams from a physical standpoint. Their length will bother teams defensively. On the other hand, they will struggle at times at the end of the shot clock and end of game situations. They closed out the game last night at the free throw line, but there were some bad possessions late. Ball pressure will bother them from time to time. And as we saw last night, transition defense is a work in progress. (It's hard to matchup when the point guard drives). I'm not yet convinced that Domask will work at the backup point guard. I think Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn needs to progress and earn that spot. They need his athleticism.
3. Big steps in terms of movement and shot selection. There were a few ball stoppages and a couple of ill-advised threes, but for an October exhibition game, I liked what I saw. Overall, good ball and player movement. One huge change is the cutting. Guys last year like Epps, Melendez, Mayer, didn't make much of an effort to cut. When they did cut to the basket, it wasn't a hard cut. This year's team moves the ball, and generally take good shots. With guys cutting, it's not just tossing it around the perimeter then jacking up a 3. They move - players and ball - with a purpose.
4. You can see why Underwood likes having all those 5th year seniors. They know how to play. Really impressed with the basketball IQ of Domask, Guerrier, and Harmon. They make the right play at the right time. Each has their own limitations, but the experience outweighs them. Harmon is the embodiment of glue guy. Guerrier knows when to shoot it, and when to put it on the floor. Domask plays within himself. They all play hard. Fans will like this team.
5. Underwood sacrifices some interior defense by going small. Kansas scored 50 points in the paint. Illinois had just 2 blocks. The lineups that Underwood is throwing out there doesn't really defend the rim very well. Dainja is struggling defensively and seems to be in the dog house. He needs to get it together. Hawkins contests shots but he can get can pushed out of the post. The one guys I really liked defensively in the paint was Guerrier. He had by far the best DRtg (98.1). They will be fine against most matchups, but against Purdue and others with a strong post presence they will give up some layups.
2. Illinois obviously doesn't have a pure point guard. There are positive things and negative things about the position-less lineup. They can muscle opponents. They will dominate some teams from a physical standpoint. Their length will bother teams defensively. On the other hand, they will struggle at times at the end of the shot clock and end of game situations. They closed out the game last night at the free throw line, but there were some bad possessions late. Ball pressure will bother them from time to time. And as we saw last night, transition defense is a work in progress. (It's hard to matchup when the point guard drives). I'm not yet convinced that Domask will work at the backup point guard. I think Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn needs to progress and earn that spot. They need his athleticism.
3. Big steps in terms of movement and shot selection. There were a few ball stoppages and a couple of ill-advised threes, but for an October exhibition game, I liked what I saw. Overall, good ball and player movement. One huge change is the cutting. Guys last year like Epps, Melendez, Mayer, didn't make much of an effort to cut. When they did cut to the basket, it wasn't a hard cut. This year's team moves the ball, and generally take good shots. With guys cutting, it's not just tossing it around the perimeter then jacking up a 3. They move - players and ball - with a purpose.
4. You can see why Underwood likes having all those 5th year seniors. They know how to play. Really impressed with the basketball IQ of Domask, Guerrier, and Harmon. They make the right play at the right time. Each has their own limitations, but the experience outweighs them. Harmon is the embodiment of glue guy. Guerrier knows when to shoot it, and when to put it on the floor. Domask plays within himself. They all play hard. Fans will like this team.
5. Underwood sacrifices some interior defense by going small. Kansas scored 50 points in the paint. Illinois had just 2 blocks. The lineups that Underwood is throwing out there doesn't really defend the rim very well. Dainja is struggling defensively and seems to be in the dog house. He needs to get it together. Hawkins contests shots but he can get can pushed out of the post. The one guys I really liked defensively in the paint was Guerrier. He had by far the best DRtg (98.1). They will be fine against most matchups, but against Purdue and others with a strong post presence they will give up some layups.
