With the loss of Jamar Smith for this season, I am looking at a tough year ahead for the Illini in basketball. Many fans seem to be optimistic about a tourney team, but I see this as another rebuilding year. Here's a look at my starting five as the season opens, and the others rotating in:
Starting Five
PG-McCamey
SG-Frazier
G-Brock
SF-Keller
C-Tisdale
Rotating In
PG-Jordan
SG-Meacham
F-Cole
F/C-Davis
Bench
Semrau
Simpson
Jackson
The problem with this team in the early season, is the guards are defensive-oriented, with the best scorer being McCamey. Guard play could improve when Legion is available in December, assuming he is in the rotation for considerable minutes. In the meantime, we can watch Chester Frazier play shooting guard for the Illini.
The front court is very inexperienced, and one of the main things to watch is how the big men develop, since we do seem to have some potential in guys like Tisdale, Davis and Cole. Winning could be further complicated by troubles in rebounding, particularly blocking out on the defensive end. I am projecting Keller as a starter, mainly because he has the body of a big man who can rebound. If the front court has troubles rebounding, don't be surprised to see Coach Weber play four guards, adding Meacham to the line-up of Frazier, McCamey and Brock. At least we won't have to worry about getting down the court to guard against the fast break...
Showing posts with label 2008-2009 basketball season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008-2009 basketball season. Show all posts
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Front Line for 2008 is Questionable
The Illini have a front line that is very questionable for next season. Let's look at the alternatives:
Mike Tisdale returns for his sophomore year, needed additional weight and muscle to be a factor rebounding next season. Tisdale is almost certain to start if he shows reasonable improvement from his freshman season.
Mike Davis returns for his sophomore year, and like the other Mike, needs to hit the weights in the off-season so he can be a factor on the boards. Davis has a nice offensive game, and could be a nice player next season.
Rodney Alexander is considering his options after not being utilized last season. This will be his senior year and final year of eligibility if he returns with the Illini.
Calvin Brock has graduated but has one more year of eligibility due to being redshirted his first year. He might return for grad school, or may move on.
Dominique Keller joins the Illini as a Junior College transfer, and should add size, rebounding and scoring to the team if he plays.
Bill Cole hopes to return from his injury, which was something like a stress fracture in his leg. Many Illini players have had issues similar this, presumably due to the team's practices being tough on the players.
Richard Semrau is expected to return to the Illini or transfer to another program, after sitting on the bench last season.
Stan Simpson joins the team as a freshman out of the Chicago Public League. Simpson has been considered a project, and is not likely to get playing time in his first year.
Brian Carlwell is looking to transfer to a new school, but nothing else has been announced yet.
So basically the guys that can be etched into the line-up right now for the front line are Tisdale and Davis, with Keller as a possibility coming off the bench. I think it is highly likely the Illini will play three guards next season.
Mike Tisdale returns for his sophomore year, needed additional weight and muscle to be a factor rebounding next season. Tisdale is almost certain to start if he shows reasonable improvement from his freshman season.
Mike Davis returns for his sophomore year, and like the other Mike, needs to hit the weights in the off-season so he can be a factor on the boards. Davis has a nice offensive game, and could be a nice player next season.
Rodney Alexander is considering his options after not being utilized last season. This will be his senior year and final year of eligibility if he returns with the Illini.
Calvin Brock has graduated but has one more year of eligibility due to being redshirted his first year. He might return for grad school, or may move on.
Dominique Keller joins the Illini as a Junior College transfer, and should add size, rebounding and scoring to the team if he plays.
Bill Cole hopes to return from his injury, which was something like a stress fracture in his leg. Many Illini players have had issues similar this, presumably due to the team's practices being tough on the players.
Richard Semrau is expected to return to the Illini or transfer to another program, after sitting on the bench last season.
Stan Simpson joins the team as a freshman out of the Chicago Public League. Simpson has been considered a project, and is not likely to get playing time in his first year.
Brian Carlwell is looking to transfer to a new school, but nothing else has been announced yet.
So basically the guys that can be etched into the line-up right now for the front line are Tisdale and Davis, with Keller as a possibility coming off the bench. I think it is highly likely the Illini will play three guards next season.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Extreme Patience is Needed For Illini Fans
This next 15 months will require some extreme patience by Illini basketball fans. We have been spoiled in a way, making the NCAA tourney every year since 1999. And now we are hit with a really down year, and a team that has no chance of any post-season play. The optimists among us are expecting a return to the NCAA tourney next season, and I just don't see it happening. In fact, I think it's much healther to keep expectation down, way down.
A disaster scenario for Illinois basketball could unfold over the next 12 months in Champaign. If there are high expectations for a turnaround in the basketball program next season, there needs to be a way for Weber to deliver improved results on the court. And right now, Weber has to rest his hopes on improvement on the shoulders of Jamar Smith, a junior returning from a year layoff, and Stan Simpson, a promising freshman from Simeon. And midseason, highly-touted transfer Alex Legion joins the team for the Big 10 season. The disaster happens if the fans see another poor season of results on the court, and the media continues to pile on Coach Weber, fully knowing he has an outstanding recruiting class scheduled to arrive in the fall of 2009. This class is likely a top ten class, with Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson, Tyler Griffey and Joseph Bertrand verbally committed.
We have already seen the media take a whip to Weber this season, with Chicago columnists not even mentioning Weber's recent recruiting breakthroughs in articles criticizing the Illini. Add to that unmet expectations of the fans, and Weber could run into trouble next season. But the worst thing for Illinois would be to make a change in the coaching spot, with such promising recruits lined up. So let's keep the expectations low for next season, and wait for the new recruits to arrive. This will require extreme patience.
A disaster scenario for Illinois basketball could unfold over the next 12 months in Champaign. If there are high expectations for a turnaround in the basketball program next season, there needs to be a way for Weber to deliver improved results on the court. And right now, Weber has to rest his hopes on improvement on the shoulders of Jamar Smith, a junior returning from a year layoff, and Stan Simpson, a promising freshman from Simeon. And midseason, highly-touted transfer Alex Legion joins the team for the Big 10 season. The disaster happens if the fans see another poor season of results on the court, and the media continues to pile on Coach Weber, fully knowing he has an outstanding recruiting class scheduled to arrive in the fall of 2009. This class is likely a top ten class, with Brandon Paul, DJ Richardson, Tyler Griffey and Joseph Bertrand verbally committed.
We have already seen the media take a whip to Weber this season, with Chicago columnists not even mentioning Weber's recent recruiting breakthroughs in articles criticizing the Illini. Add to that unmet expectations of the fans, and Weber could run into trouble next season. But the worst thing for Illinois would be to make a change in the coaching spot, with such promising recruits lined up. So let's keep the expectations low for next season, and wait for the new recruits to arrive. This will require extreme patience.
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