First, we've gone through this every year in the early season during the Underwood tenure. His teams get out to a slow start in terms of execution, rotation, etc. He needs to do something different in the practices leading up to the season. The players told us last night, for example, that they haven't yet worked on end-of-game situations. It showed.
That said, Underwood's teams also improve and tend to hit their peak a few games into the Big Ten slate. This team is good, one of the top 4 in the conference. They are not a top 10 team, though. Possible Sweet 16 team. I said before the season that they would have to play themselves into the same position they were last year. It's not the same team. Many different pieces.
It's not just about missing Ayo Dosunmu as a closer, though that's obviously huge. They miss the inside scoring ability of Georgi Bezhanishvili and the size of Adam Miller in the backcourt. Georgi had an up and down career, but he could get points inside when you needed them. Miller was nowhere near a complete player - his ball handling is subpar. But he plays hard and he has bulk at 6-foot-3. Plummer will shoot better than he has, but he can't defend.
I mentioned in the Marquette preview that I was worried about the size of Morsell and Lewis, and they would be able to muscle their way into the lane against Illinois. You'll see more of that against teams with length in the backcourt.
Size matters. Underwood has missed on too many bigs and I don't think he takes that fact seriously enough. You can't just sit back and hope to land a guy or two in the portal. How'd that work out this past offseason? Go get some size, even if it's developmental guys. Now they're in a precarious position at the end of the season. Payne isn't the answer. He makes a ton of negative plays. BBV is a body, but not much skill.
I love Luke Goode. He's going to be an excellent four-year player at Illinois and will eventually land on some All-Big Ten teams. He has a complete game and can score inside or out. I'd like to see more minutes for him. Illinois had just one reliable 3-point shooter last night in Trent. When Morsell extended the defense on him, Illinois couldn't score. Luke can knock down jumpers.
RJ Melendez will eventually be a rotation guy at the 3, and possibly a starter. Podz is a long way off defensively, and it frustrates him at times when he's on the court. Excellent spot up shooter, and that will be his niche.
We saw against Marquette that Coleman Hawkins isn't a post player, at least not yet. He's a face up guy. Against stronger bigs he gets pushed away from the basket. He also has some issues on the dribble drive. He's around 6-11, so the ball is high and he doesn't have the body to protect it. He's better off taking a couple of dribbles to a spot and rising up for a jumper. Driving down the middle of the lane isn't going to work. Once Kofi is back, his role will change to something that he's more natural at.
Curbelo read the press clippings. Underwood must get a handle on that situation. The kid has crossed the line between confident and cocky. We saw it and pointed it out going back to the open practice, the exhibition games, and the two games to start the regular season. I wouldn't bench him. I'd "mentor" him. He must learn to pick his spots. Just throw the wing entry pass and get in the flow. Underwood's answer has always been "he'll be fine", "he's our guy", etc. but that situation has to be fixed pronto.
I love what I'm seeing from Jacob Grandison. He's the rock on this team. Does all of the little things right. Takes what the defense gives him. Really smart, mature basketball player. He won't wow you, but he won't hurt you either.
Illinois wins by 15 points if they have Kofi last night. How many passes in the post did Payne and BBV fumble that would have been Kofi dunks?
Illinois has a turnover rate of 20.5 through the first three games. Terrible. 19.4 turnovers per game is by far worst in the Big Ten. A/TO ratio is .74.
On the positive side, they're No. 5 in DI in offensive rebounding rate (48.4). That could be an identity type of thing for them. They have guys who can change directions and get on the offensive glass.
Underwood has said he wants to play fast (all coaches say that), but it ain't happening so far. The Illini rank No. 124 in pace (73.5).
.639 free throw percentage ranks 13th in the Big Ten.
Illinois is way out in front in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (21.3).
That said, Underwood's teams also improve and tend to hit their peak a few games into the Big Ten slate. This team is good, one of the top 4 in the conference. They are not a top 10 team, though. Possible Sweet 16 team. I said before the season that they would have to play themselves into the same position they were last year. It's not the same team. Many different pieces.
It's not just about missing Ayo Dosunmu as a closer, though that's obviously huge. They miss the inside scoring ability of Georgi Bezhanishvili and the size of Adam Miller in the backcourt. Georgi had an up and down career, but he could get points inside when you needed them. Miller was nowhere near a complete player - his ball handling is subpar. But he plays hard and he has bulk at 6-foot-3. Plummer will shoot better than he has, but he can't defend.
I mentioned in the Marquette preview that I was worried about the size of Morsell and Lewis, and they would be able to muscle their way into the lane against Illinois. You'll see more of that against teams with length in the backcourt.
Size matters. Underwood has missed on too many bigs and I don't think he takes that fact seriously enough. You can't just sit back and hope to land a guy or two in the portal. How'd that work out this past offseason? Go get some size, even if it's developmental guys. Now they're in a precarious position at the end of the season. Payne isn't the answer. He makes a ton of negative plays. BBV is a body, but not much skill.
I love Luke Goode. He's going to be an excellent four-year player at Illinois and will eventually land on some All-Big Ten teams. He has a complete game and can score inside or out. I'd like to see more minutes for him. Illinois had just one reliable 3-point shooter last night in Trent. When Morsell extended the defense on him, Illinois couldn't score. Luke can knock down jumpers.
RJ Melendez will eventually be a rotation guy at the 3, and possibly a starter. Podz is a long way off defensively, and it frustrates him at times when he's on the court. Excellent spot up shooter, and that will be his niche.
We saw against Marquette that Coleman Hawkins isn't a post player, at least not yet. He's a face up guy. Against stronger bigs he gets pushed away from the basket. He also has some issues on the dribble drive. He's around 6-11, so the ball is high and he doesn't have the body to protect it. He's better off taking a couple of dribbles to a spot and rising up for a jumper. Driving down the middle of the lane isn't going to work. Once Kofi is back, his role will change to something that he's more natural at.
Curbelo read the press clippings. Underwood must get a handle on that situation. The kid has crossed the line between confident and cocky. We saw it and pointed it out going back to the open practice, the exhibition games, and the two games to start the regular season. I wouldn't bench him. I'd "mentor" him. He must learn to pick his spots. Just throw the wing entry pass and get in the flow. Underwood's answer has always been "he'll be fine", "he's our guy", etc. but that situation has to be fixed pronto.
I love what I'm seeing from Jacob Grandison. He's the rock on this team. Does all of the little things right. Takes what the defense gives him. Really smart, mature basketball player. He won't wow you, but he won't hurt you either.
Illinois wins by 15 points if they have Kofi last night. How many passes in the post did Payne and BBV fumble that would have been Kofi dunks?
Illinois has a turnover rate of 20.5 through the first three games. Terrible. 19.4 turnovers per game is by far worst in the Big Ten. A/TO ratio is .74.
On the positive side, they're No. 5 in DI in offensive rebounding rate (48.4). That could be an identity type of thing for them. They have guys who can change directions and get on the offensive glass.
Underwood has said he wants to play fast (all coaches say that), but it ain't happening so far. The Illini rank No. 124 in pace (73.5).
.639 free throw percentage ranks 13th in the Big Ten.
Illinois is way out in front in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (21.3).
Last edited:
