Let's assume we have our 10 main players signed up at this point (Clark, Epps, Shannon, Harris, Melendez, Rogers, Mayer, Goode, Dainja, Hawkins.) Here's what I'm thinking about this offseason:
1. If Ty Rodgers can start for our national team, can he start at Illinois?
Ty is one of those guys that does everything to impact winning. I think of him as a rich man's Da'Monte Williams. We know how much BU loves Da'Monte. He's starting right now on a team full of 5* talent. I don't think he starts (because I think BU promised those spots to others) but he may play 20+ mpg and he's probably the first guy off the bench.
2. Is Dainja really any good?
I will admit to a case of Alex Legion syndrome here, where I just don't trust Top 100 guys that don't hit with elite teams and then transfer. Still, I'm seeing Mayer in 2nd round mock drafts for 2023 and he left Baylor so maybe a team that got back-to-back 1 seeds and won a NC was just that stacked. Tim Anderson raves about the guy to anyone who will listen and he has the measurables. Every year I get burned by over-projecting unknown players so I'm still skeptical but he is going to be a huge X-factor. He could dominate the center position for us or he might not even start.
3. How many guys on this roster will get drafted?
You can easily make the case for Shannon and Mayer. They are both in 2023 mock drafts. Skyy Clark is a 5* type who just needs to get healthy to be an NBA prospect. RJ Melendez is totally unproven but he has the athleticism and the efficiency numbers. I saw Coleman Hawkins on a 2023 mock draft so he's at least on the radar. Ty Rogers is starting on a team full of future NBA guys. Harris has the athleticism. Need to see a lot more from Epps and Dainja before I can say anything and Goode is probably a no. If 5 guys on this roster get drafted that wouldn't be crazy. Compare that to the 1 seed team we just had where it's basically Ayo (and maybe one of Miller and Hawkins.) The takeaway isn't that we need to debate NBA prospects now but more that we have a roster of next-level athletes that we didn't have before. This will matter a lot when we're trying to get to the Sweet 16.
4. How in the world do you project this team?
I'm sure by October I'll be reading practice reports and talking Final Four. On the other hand, we have to replace 85% of our scoring (or something like that) and basically none of these guys have ever played together. We have more of Baylor's 2020-2021 team than Illinois (if we re-watch our Dec. 2020 game should we be rooting for Baylor?) I can't even figure out what position these guys are playing, let alone rotations and combinations and any kind of team chemistry. Are we going to win in November because of our superior athleticism or will we get run off the court because we have no idea what we're doing? Will it just be a roll of the dice every night for three months? Preseason rankings are usually meaningless but even more so this year.
5. How much fun is Brad Underwood having?
I think he lives for this. Every coach loves veterans and continuity but a guy like Underwood seems to relish tinkering and experimenting with new ideas. I remember when we lost to Ohio State but he was actually happy because he found a new way to play with Hawkins at the 5. He's been dying to get some NBA athletes and play an NBA style but in the college environment. That's essentially what we have this year. He loves the positional versatility and you can tell he's just itching to bust out a Rogers/Shannon/Melendez/Mayer/Hawkins lineup and dare the other team to match up. I'm sure he's thinking Flying Illini redux.
6. Has it only been 2 1/2 months of offseason?
I barely even remember the Houston game at this point. Normally we'd be sulking for months after a loss like that. Now it's just reload and get some more banners. I remember 20 years ago having a similar feeling after fan favorite Frank Williams turned pro. I loved that core group of guys and I thought a deeper tournament run was possible. Still, I heard the freshmen were good and I had a lot of fun that November with the new faces. It feels so good to have Illini basketball back again.
1. If Ty Rodgers can start for our national team, can he start at Illinois?
Ty is one of those guys that does everything to impact winning. I think of him as a rich man's Da'Monte Williams. We know how much BU loves Da'Monte. He's starting right now on a team full of 5* talent. I don't think he starts (because I think BU promised those spots to others) but he may play 20+ mpg and he's probably the first guy off the bench.
2. Is Dainja really any good?
I will admit to a case of Alex Legion syndrome here, where I just don't trust Top 100 guys that don't hit with elite teams and then transfer. Still, I'm seeing Mayer in 2nd round mock drafts for 2023 and he left Baylor so maybe a team that got back-to-back 1 seeds and won a NC was just that stacked. Tim Anderson raves about the guy to anyone who will listen and he has the measurables. Every year I get burned by over-projecting unknown players so I'm still skeptical but he is going to be a huge X-factor. He could dominate the center position for us or he might not even start.
3. How many guys on this roster will get drafted?
You can easily make the case for Shannon and Mayer. They are both in 2023 mock drafts. Skyy Clark is a 5* type who just needs to get healthy to be an NBA prospect. RJ Melendez is totally unproven but he has the athleticism and the efficiency numbers. I saw Coleman Hawkins on a 2023 mock draft so he's at least on the radar. Ty Rogers is starting on a team full of future NBA guys. Harris has the athleticism. Need to see a lot more from Epps and Dainja before I can say anything and Goode is probably a no. If 5 guys on this roster get drafted that wouldn't be crazy. Compare that to the 1 seed team we just had where it's basically Ayo (and maybe one of Miller and Hawkins.) The takeaway isn't that we need to debate NBA prospects now but more that we have a roster of next-level athletes that we didn't have before. This will matter a lot when we're trying to get to the Sweet 16.
4. How in the world do you project this team?
I'm sure by October I'll be reading practice reports and talking Final Four. On the other hand, we have to replace 85% of our scoring (or something like that) and basically none of these guys have ever played together. We have more of Baylor's 2020-2021 team than Illinois (if we re-watch our Dec. 2020 game should we be rooting for Baylor?) I can't even figure out what position these guys are playing, let alone rotations and combinations and any kind of team chemistry. Are we going to win in November because of our superior athleticism or will we get run off the court because we have no idea what we're doing? Will it just be a roll of the dice every night for three months? Preseason rankings are usually meaningless but even more so this year.
5. How much fun is Brad Underwood having?
I think he lives for this. Every coach loves veterans and continuity but a guy like Underwood seems to relish tinkering and experimenting with new ideas. I remember when we lost to Ohio State but he was actually happy because he found a new way to play with Hawkins at the 5. He's been dying to get some NBA athletes and play an NBA style but in the college environment. That's essentially what we have this year. He loves the positional versatility and you can tell he's just itching to bust out a Rogers/Shannon/Melendez/Mayer/Hawkins lineup and dare the other team to match up. I'm sure he's thinking Flying Illini redux.
6. Has it only been 2 1/2 months of offseason?
I barely even remember the Houston game at this point. Normally we'd be sulking for months after a loss like that. Now it's just reload and get some more banners. I remember 20 years ago having a similar feeling after fan favorite Frank Williams turned pro. I loved that core group of guys and I thought a deeper tournament run was possible. Still, I heard the freshmen were good and I had a lot of fun that November with the new faces. It feels so good to have Illini basketball back again.
