Georgi from Illinois going pro
- Thread starter dpwhite
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Good for Georgi. He did well as a freshman but once Cockburn came on board his minutes were drastically reduced. I wish him well. I think he can do well in Europe.
Big man who can shoot. That's what the NBA help wanted ad says these days so I'd give him a shot at making the league even if only for a cup of coffee.
So right now they're losing.... Dosunmu, Cockburn, and Bezhanishvili to the NBA and Adam Miller to the portal. Frazier and Williams are seniors, and may/may not return for the extra year. That just leaves Curbelo and Grandison from their 2020-21 rotation as non-seniors not in the portal.
Underwood needs to get control of his program. Should be interesting what happens next year for them
Underwood will have them back contending for a B1G title in two years. He and his staff can definitely recruit.
He should have left after the Rutgers game 2 years ago.
All I know is we split with them every year and have gotten to the same place in NCAA tournement and Underwood is praised while pikiell is questioned(to put it lightly)... you all want the 5 stars now illinois has the 5 star problems.
Underwood did win the B1G Tournament. That’s a pretty big deal.
Illinois has added 2 solid recruits and a transfer from Florida (with some baggage). Underwood and Antigua are just recruiting over kids left and right without any regard for much of anything....., I'd be shocked if Coleman Hawkins finishes his career at Illinois
Ah yes, acquiring as many talented players as you can. Always a risky strategy in college basketball....
Eh? Ayo was a first team All American, Cockburn was second team All American. Underwood went 16-4 in conference, finish 2nd in the regular season, won the BTT and got a 1 seed in the NCAAT. The tourney result was disappointing, but I’d say on the whole the 5* “problem” seemed to work out pretty well.
Career 26% 3 point shooter. BUT, he did shoot 50% on 3's this year.
3 for 6 for an amazing 50%...lol
Ayo missed a game against us last year was it the game we won?
Illinois had two of the top 10 players in all of college basketball. I think with that they should have done much better. Loyola took them to the woodshed. They are losing two real good scorers down low. They do seem to recruit well so we shall see.
Yes, he was hurt at the RAC last year...Rutgers won
He played at Illinois this year..Rutgers won.
Yes.....ask Adam Miller, Griffin and if Illinois missed Griffin this year or will miss Miller next year.....
Griffin did well at Cuse and Miller is a Top 50 2020 recruit.....it looks good to recruit players and makes headlines, just keep churning the roster (hint, it's not football and 85 scholarships)....Illinois with an early exit in NCAAs, nothing much to see here either, baffled by Sister Jean and Loyola of Chicago.....
Or do you want to continue to say team chemistry and dynamics are not an issue?? Or is that only an issue at RU???.....(hint, read other boards to learn things, you'll be surprised what you find out).
So Illinois had two players transfer out in two years. How many did Rutgers have in the transfer portal this year? Shouldn’t be an issue, since Pike isn’t recruiting over anyone?
They won the Big 10 tourney and took up residence in the top 10 most of the season...so you arent telling the entire picture
They are recruiting at a much higher level where they are well positioned for long term sustainability at the upper echelon of the big 10
And Pike is doing a great job at Rutgers
Yeah all equal except for that big ten title .
The problem hes referring to rears its ugly head next year - not this year. Look at Duke and Kentucky. I would not want RU to become a professional mercenary program like they have. Even if they are boom or bust, it would suck to have all our players play 1 year and move on. Half the fun is feeling like they are real members of the university that grow with us over a few years.
Ayo was there three years. Giorgi was there three years. Frazier and Williams were there four years. Cockburn has been there 2 years and is probably not staying in the draft. It’s not like Illinois is a one and done factory. Is Illinois really seeing any more turnover than Rutgers this offseason?
No, the fun is winning . Beating Clemson was the most fun we have had in 30 years . Watching lousy players for 4 years is not fun
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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy
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Giorgi would be the perfect 5 for us. Hopefully he re-considers and hits the portal and comes to his US home base. He wanted to come here out of HS but pike wasnt a fan of his. He’s ready to go make a career in euroball tho it seems
I agree with you about Hawkins. I watched most of Illinois’ games this year and was initially
Impressed with him. However, the bench got shortened and then when he did get in a game, he would almost disappear. I think he would have been in our rotation this year but as you’ve said, I think They will recruit over him.
Agree with you. I’d trade places with Kentucky or Duke in a heartbeat. I’d have no trouble enjoying the the new 5 star players each year even if they might not be here long.
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anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy
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Lol, welcome to the real world where if youre not somewhere that is always trying to find someone better than you, youre at the wrong place. Organizations, business, teams should always be looking for more talented individuals. This isnt up for argument
I wish he had left BEFORE the Rutgers game 2 years ago
Giorgi loves Illinois and everyone around Illinois loves him. He hasn’t seen his mother in 2 years. He has his degree and now it’s time for him to play in Europe and help his family. He will always be a legend in Champaign.
Man, did he tear us a new one in that game. I'm definitely glad to see him go.
If Illinois loses Cockburn and Ayo they are losing 2 of the top 10 players in the country. They will add pieces but it will be tough to be at the level they were this past season. If Georgi is gone as well that is a huge loss also. He was outstanding until his minutes were cut drastically when Cockburn arrived. He could fit nicely at RU if he decided to enter the portal but I doubt that would happen.
Giorgi hadn’t seen his mom in two years. Headed back to Europe.
Kofi likely stays. He is not expected to be drafted. Style of NBA is so different now. 20 years ago he’s a lottery pick. Right now not in top 60.
Frazier is announcing today that he is returning for his fifth year.
Illinois got Omar Payne from Florida in the portal to replace Giorgi. Number one in the country in pick and roll situations last season and he gets to play with Curbelo now.
Austin Hutcherson is the best shooter and athlete on the team according to coaches and players. Missed this season with injury. 6-6 guard with 42 inch vertical.
Austin Miller met with Underwood over the weekend. He wants to come back. We will see.
Expect a big jump from Coleman Hawkins with added strength.
3 4-star recruits coming in.
Shoukd still be pretty good. Hard to replace Ayo, of course, but Illinois did beat Michigan by 23 without him so there’s hope.
Yep . And get to the tournament and with a better draw that team could go further than a 1 seed.