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Kofi announcing Friday

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bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
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Man, UK recruiting (and UK basketball in general) is always such a roller coaster ride.

I’m just going to sit back and believe the roster is set as is and if Cockburn joins it, great.

I think we have a solid 5 man in Tshiebwe. I think Collins, though thin, can provide stable backup minutes (10 or so a game). Ware is a serviceable backup.

I also think we could go small ball at times with Toppin playing the 5.

It would be great to get Cockburn, but we aren’t going to be terrible without him.
 
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bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
JonathanW said:
Agree. I mean there is no Wall, Cousins, Davis, or Towns. But I think 3-13 this group is maybe the best we've had, or as good. And while Cockburn is not the pro prospect of Cousins or Towns, college-wise he may be as good or better.

Then the question is, if we add Kofi, how do him and Oscar fit together? I think unless we zone it may be difficult to have them on the court at the same time a lot, maybe at most 5-10mpg. But you could play each alone 15min, and then together 10, and they both get 25.
Well 2nd question, if Fredrick is back in time, how do we not platoon? In which case, if not an even (20/20) platoon, does that mean Oscar limited to 16-18mpg. Wow!
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I see Tshiebwe and Cockburn (if we get him) starting together, but only playing like you said about 10 or so minutes together. I think Cal likes the idea of putting them out there together to intimidate. That’s a whole lot of size to deal with.

I don’t see Cal platooning. I think he plays 10-11 guys, but not necessarily in platoons together. I’d say he starts the season with 11 guys playing, then starts whittling the rotation down as the year goes on and by March has a 8-9 man rotation with the top 6 getting the majority of the minutes. This is with or without Cockburn.

As for Fredrick, Cal said it was a minor procedure and he would be back soon, so I don’t expect him to miss any games with about 4 months to recover.
 
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senonesy

senonesy

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Nov 30, 2017
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jrpross said:
The lack of a visit means nothing to me. But hearing he meet over Zoom with Kentucky coaches one night, Kentucky puts out a video of team numbers the next day, and he sets an announcement for Friday does not at all sounds good to me. And I’m usually an eternal optimist.
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My thinking is the exact opposite. I’ve learned not to read into what UK athletics does and when they put things on social media.
 
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bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,853
11,022
113
Dablueman said:
Ok in today's world you can give a virtual tour of campus easily. However like another poster stated we recruited him out of HS and I think he did visit.

The number announcement. It's not like they are permanently printing posters or the catspause yearbook. They made an easily adjustable Twitter announcement

The Illini buzz. If I can recall the misdirection stuff may be OA's MO. Randal was a Kansas lock and several others. As well as his own leaving UI. If Kofi is still living in Illinois be a good way to keep the local heat off of u.

Why a quick announcement. To me if you were going to return to the program you know why not drag it out get a few trips for free and get the wine and dine treatment. You already know the system and the players. However if I was leaving then I might want to get to a new program as quickly as I can to start getting associated.

Never underestimate AO influence in his actions it would be very likely he may be asking advice on how to handle it. I find it odd that when he first entered the portal and withdrew it was a day or 2 after UK was the favorite that going back to Illinois was his second option but I guess we will all see soon
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I didn't think UK recruited him in high school
I thought he wanted them to, but Cal chose not too
 
LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,831
60,855
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Patriot202 said:
Cockburn at center, Collins at PF ? Oscar benches what y’all think ?
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Don't think Oscar would be OK with that. He didn't come here to be a bench player playing 10-15mpg. Unfortunately, Collins is the odd man out. He's just going to have to wait his turn. Although, he can still get some PF minutes if we struggle with Kofi/Oscar playing together.
 
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senonesy

senonesy

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Nov 30, 2017
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LineSkiCat14 said:
Don't think Oscar would be OK with that. He didn't come here to be a bench player playing 10-15mpg. Unfortunately, Collins is the odd man out. He's just going to have to wait his turn. Although, he can still get some PF minutes if we struggle with Kofi/Oscar playing together.
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Collins ain’t sitting. He is as high as #7 on some mock draft boards. Defensive freak as well. Not sure why many on here think he will be on the bench for long this season. Even if we add Cockburn.
 
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gracetoyou

Heisman
Apr 19, 2009
19,429
27,802
113
Son_Of_Saul said:
History of Illinois insiders:

- Liggins to Illinois
- Illini lead for Darius Miller
- Davis getting paid $200,000 by UK
- Chin and Antigua returning
- Kofi returning

Good track record.
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FWIW, their 247 premium board is not very optimistic. Not only that folks in the Illinois circles are saying its crickets on their side concerning Kofi.

That 2nd piece of info is from someone who is involved in recruiting circles.

FYI, I do not have an account on their board but know people who do.

So, while he may return there I find it interesting some guy on the radio says what he said while the above sources are I the dark.
 
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Stonewall12

Heisman
Nov 15, 2009
24,517
13,387
66
jrpross said:
The lack of a visit means nothing to me. But hearing he meet over Zoom with Kentucky coaches one night, Kentucky puts out a video of team numbers the next day, and he sets an announcement for Friday does not at all sounds good to me. And I’m usually an eternal optimist.
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#21 is still open
 
LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,831
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Sejonesy said:
Collins ain’t sitting. He is as high as #7 on some mock draft boards. Defensive freak as well. Not sure why many on here think he will be on the bench for long this season. Even if we add Cockburn.
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So how do the minutes shakeout then? I'd be amazed if Oscar is fine being the 3rd big in minutes. And Kofi, the same thing. Collins is still unproven, and no freshman is guaranteed, with guys like BJ and Skal coming to mind.

Maybe it's front court by committee.. but you simply can't give these guys 75+/200 minutes. And while I'm, let's say "intrigued" to see how Kofi and Oscar could play together, I'm pretty certain you can't play those two together AND Collins. Someone of those 3 is going to have to get 15mpg IMO.
 
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bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
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Patriot202 said:
Cockburn at center, Collins at PF ? Oscar benches what y’all think ?
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LineSkiCat14 said:
Don't think Oscar would be OK with that. He didn't come here to be a bench player playing 10-15mpg. Unfortunately, Collins is the odd man out. He's just going to have to wait his turn. Although, he can still get some PF minutes if we struggle with Kofi/Oscar playing together.
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Sejonesy said:
Collins ain’t sitting. He is as high as #7 on some mock draft boards. Defensive freak as well. Not sure why many on here think he will be on the bench for long this season. Even if we add Cockburn.
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I think Cal is going to play them all three quite a bit. I think they will push Toppin to the 3 for most of his minutes and that means Allen won’t see many minutes if Cockburn comes here.

We will probably see a 10 man rotation to start the season, not really a platoon system, because it won’t be two separate units. Cal will mix and match.

By March he will be down to a 9 man rotation. I just can’t see how Cal could get down to 8 unless there is an injury.

If Cockburn comes, we are going to have 3 really good players (Allen, Hopkins, and Ware most likely) who won’t even see the light of day this season (barring injuries).

My 10 man rotation with Cockburn:

Starters

G Washington
G Mintz
G Grady
F Tshiebwe
F Cockburn

Bench

G Wheeler
G Fredrick
F Toppin
F Brooks
F Collins

And before people start screaming so and so will start or this or that, keep in mind that these are not platoons. Just because Tshiebwe is starting at the 4 doesn’t mean he will only play the 4. I see him and Cockburn only playing about 10 minutes together.

Not sure who loses out when Cal pares down to 9, but I think he eventually will.
 
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Yardeth

Yardeth

Heisman
Jan 2, 2007
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Tampa_cat54 said:
He said he was hoping to setup visits in the near future.

He probably said that on-the-fly without realizing it was a dead period and that he isn't allowed to visit schools.
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Oscar didn’t visit UK did he? Everyone knows our facilities are excellent and are better then anyone’s, so the visit means nothing. Plus Coach A has told him about the Gold Standard at UK. It would sell me to commit to UK. Now money might be a factor as well as usual!
 
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Trooper738

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May 22, 2009
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turkeywildturkey said:
Not sure he’s coming to UK if he doesn’t visit before announcing.
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He did not have to visit Coach O or Chin, he inew the relationship already. The facilities are not what is bringing him here. He is coming for
Coach O and the money he will make here with the NIL and the path to the NBA.
 
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GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
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If we're already playing a guy at a position he absolutely doesn't play, I don't see why we can't just pencil in other magical lineups.

Let Collins be Kevin Durant and play the 3. He's as much a 3 as Oscar is a 4. Problem solved.
 
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Patriot202

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Jan 11, 2021
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GonzoCat90 said:
If we're already playing a guy at a position he absolutely doesn't play, I don't see why we can't just pencil in other magical lineups.

Let Collins be Kevin Durant and play the 3. He's as much a 3 as Oscar is a 4. Problem solved.
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Don’t think there’s any player in history of the NBA or college that can be Durant. Collins will be out of element at the SF
 
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KentuckyCat420

Heisman
Sep 16, 2006
38,468
26,927
72
Remember this morning when Travis said expect lots of rumors over the next few days?

History has taught me to stay the course with the original info which has been all UK leading up to today. Not changing my mind unless Graf says to.
 
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Illinirhj

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Nov 27, 2006
235
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Hate to bust your Kentucky bubble but Kofi not comin to y’all , u will see Friday ! Go Illini !
 
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Patriot202

All-Conference
Jan 11, 2021
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bucsrule8872 said:
I think Cal is going to play them all three quite a bit. I think they will push Toppin to the 3 for most of his minutes and that means Allen won’t see many minutes if Cockburn comes here.

We will probably see a 10 man rotation to start the season, not really a platoon system, because it won’t be two separate units. Cal will mix and match.

By March he will be down to a 9 man rotation. I just can’t see how Cal could get down to 8 unless there is an injury.

If Cockburn comes, we are going to have 3 really good players (Allen, Hopkins, and Ware most likely) who won’t even see the light of day this season (barring injuries).

My 10 man rotation with Cockburn:

Starters

G Washington
G Mintz
G Grady
F Tshiebwe
F Cockburn

Bench

G Wheeler
G Fredrick
F Toppin
F Brooks
F Collins

And before people start screaming so and so will start or this or that, keep in mind that these are not platoons. Just because Tshiebwe is starting at the 4 doesn’t mean he will only play the 4. I see him and Cockburn only playing about 10 minutes together.

Not sure who loses out when Cal pares down to 9, but I think he eventually will.
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I can’t take Collins out of the line up i think he’s going to be really good for us especially defensively. My guy Oscar gots to sit unfortunately. Just my opinion if I was coach.
 
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gracetoyou

Heisman
Apr 19, 2009
19,429
27,802
113
Cards-baby said:
He did not have to visit Coach O or Chin, he inew the relationship already. The facilities are not what is bringing him here. He is coming for
Coach O and the money he will make here with the NIL and the path to the NBA.
Click to expand...

FWIW, he visited UK in HS.
 
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