Jump to content

Two positive things about todays loss


Recommended Posts

1. Deron Williams is not ready for the NBA and his status for the draft took a HUGE hit today with him scoring two points.

 

2. Now everybody will shut up about how we NEED to lose a game. (I personally thnk thats bs)

 

P.s. I'd like to send a shout out to seth davis for saying that the Illini would go to saint louis undefeated, this was at the half. :chair :puke

This loss wont hurt if we win it all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This Illinois team - the best team in the country, now has new motivation; a new fire within them.

 

Now they have a week to reflect on the meaning of the upcoming touraments, and this loss.

 

This is good my friends, believe me, although some may say a loss is never good, I really believe this is a good thing.

 

We are going to come back strong, count on it. This will be what we needed to succeed.

 

 

(stolen from a poster on illiniboard.com)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Ishmookie @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 07:10 PM)
This loss wont hurt if we win it all.

 

I understand what you mean by that statement, but in a way it would hurt more if we won it all (and didn't lose in the BTT). It would be the only blemish on a perfect record. We'll finally get to see how these guys bounce back in the face of a loss though. It COULD be a good thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(silver and black @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 07:18 PM)
2 bad things about this loss...

 

1.) People being a bunch of b****es celebrating it even though their team is a bubble at best...coughHEGAWNcough

2.) a 1 point loss/last second shot can be a confidence loser to the losing team....

 

Um, 3?

 

The fact that they lost is usually considered a bad thing too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(DonkeyKongerko @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 07:13 PM)
I understand what you mean by that statement, but in a way it would hurt more if we won it all (and didn't lose in the BTT).  It would be the only blemish on a perfect record.  We'll finally get to see how these guys bounce back in the face of a loss though.  It COULD be a good thing.

I agree it will hurt toi see that 1 if we win it all but ill take a national championship over an undefeated season by far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Ishmookie @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 08:10 PM)
1. Deron Williams is not ready for the NBA and his status for the draft took a HUGE hit today with him scoring two points.

 

2. Now everybody will shut up about how  we NEED to lose a game. (I personally thnk thats bs)

 

P.s. I'd like to send a shout out to seth davis for saying that the Illini would go to saint louis undefeated, this was at the half. :chair  :puke

This loss wont hurt if we win it all.

 

 

In regards to #1, you've got to be kidding me. Unless Illinois has a Cub-like collapse, Deron Williams will leave for the NBA. If they get bounced early I can see him wanting to come back to make one last run at a National Title, but if they run deep and his stock is where it is now (as one of the top five PG prospects in college) or higher he's as good as gone. You can hold out for him to stay all you want, but realistically the NBA will be too much to turn down. Frankly, I'd be afraid of Dee Brown running his draft stock up there during the tournament with a bunch of good games. I know he says he's coming back, but if he goes on a run he could garner a Ben Gordon-like buzz and that also may be too much to pass up.

 

One game, especially a meaningless game against Ohio State, does not cause a guy's draft stock to plummet. Prime example, Chris Taft, this guy has one awesome game and five awful games yet he's still considered a prime NBA prospect. Scouts know Williams has the tools, and if one game blows people's draft stock then well no one would get drafted because EVERYONE has at least one bad game.

 

The guy can run the point, has NBA size, and he can shoot the lights out. Some scouts compare him to Jason Kidd. One game against Ohio State can't hurt that opinion...because that's a pretty damn high opinion of the kid. He's ready for the NBA, and it's downright laughable that you can write him off like that after one game.

 

On a serious note, all this Illini talk is getting ridiculous. Let them play the games, then talk. Judging by the reactions to today's game, most Illini fans on here are setting themselves up for a huge letdown because the bar is set so high. You're 29-1 and people are getting ready to jump off of buildings. I'd kill for my team to be 29-1 (figuratively, of course). You almost assume they're already in the Final Four. However, it's called March MADNESS for a reason; you never know. Just keep that in mind when you're talking about St. Louis so you're not setting yourself up for what might happen if you lose.

 

Just a little advice, TFWIW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One bad game didn't hurt Williams's stock that drastically.

 

He's a near lock to be a lottery pick and he's going to go.

 

NBA Draft

 

One of the most reliable mock drafts out there, updated daily, they've had Williams a top 10 pick all season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That draft info is slightly different than what I have been reading (Chad Ford on ESPN). He has Deron ranked the #2 PG, behind Paul and pretty much even with Felton and figures him to go somewhere in the middle of the first. They also have Gerald Green ranked a lot lower, I read mid-first at best, and the same for McCants (their comment was something like top 10 talent, but character issues and being slightly undersized would push him to the mid to late first). I also don't see Marvin Williams or Rudy Gay on that list, who both project to be somewhere in the top 10, with a high potential for both of them to go in the top 5.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 08:42 PM)
Without saying too much, I can guarantee you that Deron is going pro.  Not a chance in hell he comes back.

 

 

I believe this is true, however, he's not ready. He's MAYBE the third best player on the team. Dee and Luther are definitley more NBA ready, and I personally think he'll be a below average NBA player. He's not a pure point, and he's not a shooting guard either. He can knock down a shot, but a good defender will have a field day with him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(BaseballNick @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 09:56 PM)
I believe this is true, however, he's not ready.  He's MAYBE the third best player on the team.  Dee and Luther are definitley more NBA ready, and I personally think he'll be a below average NBA player.  He's not a pure point, and he's not a shooting guard either.  He can knock down a shot, but a good defender will have a field day with him.

 

Obviously I don't agree with you about the not being ready for the NBA part, as evidence by my first post. But let's say you're right about him being a 'tweener (re: one who doesn't have a true position). I really don't think that means all that much to the NBA as everyone thinks it does...especially with Ben Gordon completely blasting the concept. I bet we all read the same thing about Gordon last year, "too small for the 2, not a 1, great shooter" and we all know how well he's doing this year.

 

I'm not saying Williams is Gordon, but Williams can run a team much better than Gordon can. I really doubt we read much about him not being able to play the point if he choses to go to the draft. My point is though, in the worst case scenario you're presenting, guys like Gordon and to a certain extent, Wade have quelled NBA team's fears about drafting guys that don't really have a position. I think being able to play some ball is a bit more important and I assume the NBA thinks that as well.

 

Edit: Woo! 400th Post, just noticed. :P

Edited by Fotop
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thing with Deron is that he hasn't improved a bit this year. Rather, I'd say his defense and shooting have regressed significantly. However, he was dead set on leaving before the year, and nothing has changed. I'm not even sure if he's academically fit to come back next season. I've heard some things from people in his classes that he's totally packed it in .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(BaseballNick @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 08:56 PM)
I believe this is true, however, he's not ready.  He's MAYBE the third best player on the team.  Dee and Luther are definitley more NBA ready, and I personally think he'll be a below average NBA player.  He's not a pure point, and he's not a shooting guard either.  He can knock down a shot, but a good defender will have a field day with him.

 

How many early entries are actually ready for the NBA? Not many.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Mar 6, 2005 -> 09:52 PM)
That draft info is slightly different than what I have been reading (Chad Ford on ESPN). He has Deron ranked the #2 PG, behind Paul and pretty much even with Felton and figures him to go somewhere in the middle of the first. They also have Gerald Green ranked a lot lower, I read mid-first at best, and the same for McCants (their comment was something like top 10 talent, but character issues and being slightly undersized would push him to the mid to late first). I also don't see Marvin Williams or Rudy Gay on that list, who both project to be somewhere in the top 10, with a high potential for both of them to go in the top 5.

Look at 2006, it has a mock for that as well, which Williams and Gay are both listed on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...