Both Illini basketball recruiting and the Illini basketball offensive strategy are in identity crisis right now. While the former is just a problem of mischaracterization by the media, the latter is a genuine issue. When it comes to Illinois hoops recruiting “news,” all you hear about is John Groce whiffing on 5-star recruits.
The recruiting situation is actually fine though. It would be even better if they can land St. Joseph’s big man, class of 2016 super prospect Nick Rakocevic.
When it comes to on-the-court Illinois basketball news, it’s all about an inconsistent at best offense that embodies the cliche “living and dying by the three.”
Many of those three point field goal attempts are ILL-advised too.
The recruiting situation is actually a lot better than the media portrays it (as we covered here). There’s a phenomenal class on it’s way to Champaign.
However, the current offense, and it’s general philosophy could actually be worse than its reputation.
Rayvonte Rice is a hell of a player. Champaign-Urbana misses him an awful lot.
If the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same exact thing, but expect different results…then the idea of keeping Aaron Cosby and Ahmad Starks in the starting line-up is certifiably insane at this point.
Aaron Cosby shot 2-7 at Nebraska, but that performance actually improved his season field goal percentage of 28%. His assist-to-turnover ratio for the season is just 29-24.
Groce raves about Cosby’s defense. Well, with offensive inadequacy like Cosby’s, you better be the next Gary Payton on the other end of the floor. This isn’t news. Everyone who follows Illini basketball has been saying this since early December.
He just hasn’t worked out.
Neither has the other transfer.
Ahmad Starks was 1-7 from the field in Lincoln. He’s shooting just 33% from the field on the year, 29% from 3. He didn’t start at NU, but he played 20 minutes. Sometimes transfers don’t work out. It happens.
The much maligned Sam Maniscalco and Trent Meachem ended up being more fruitful transfers for the Illini basketball program than Starks and Cosby. Even walk-on transfer Nate Mast arguably ended up contributing more.
So what to do instead?
The earliest that Rayvonte Rice has been projected to possibly return is February 22nd versus Michigan State. So they will be Riceless for the next nine games.
“Ewing Theory” prevailed versus #11 Maryland as Illini basketball got their most signature win of the season. But that momentum eroded almost instantaneously as Illinois had, by far, their worst offensive performance of the season last night.
With Malcolm Hill the only guy on the team who can consistently score, it’s time to switch things up. Kendrick Nunn has his moments, he’s solid, but he hasn’t been anywhere close to Rice and Hill in terms of consistent production this season.
Those two are your core now, because unless this Illini basketball team can go 6-3 or better in these next nine without Rice, it will be time to start thinking about 2015-16. Being in a 1-3 in conference hole, they really need to go 9-5 or better the rest of the way. Now is the time to bench Starks and cancel The Cosby Show. We’ve seen enough episodes.
Groce has already found a new starting point guard in Jaylon Tate. That’s the right call. Tate is the future.
Bear in mind, he is not a scorer. He is also not a shooter. He shot 26% from the field last year as a freshman; 4% from three point range (1-23). Yes, he’s improved this year, but he’s got a long way to go.
Nnanna Egwu, the only non-guard in the starting line-up all season, will be gone next year. Time to think about who will take his place up front next year. Who will be paired with Darius Paul? Why not give Maverick Morgan a look? At this point, it can’t hurt. Morgan needs to play sometime, (I take it back after watching him play at Northwestern) and it’s quite clear Leron Black just isn’t ready yet.
Beyond that, with Nnanna Egwu in foul trouble, and Maverick Morgan very ineffective, especially so on defense, why wasn’t Austin Colbert getting in there? It really says something about where’s he at in his development if he couldn’t get any playing time in that situation.
Looking at the front line situation right now, no wonder Illini fans have started to contemplate if Nick Rakocevic will choose them or not.
Four guards isn’t working for Illini basketball in 2014-15. I don’t think it will work in 2015-16 either. Time to go with at least two bigs. The league is goofy and weird this year. The Big Ten’s definitively worst team (Rutgers) just beat the league’s certifiably best team (Wisconsin) last night.
It’s all up for grabs.
It’s alarming that Illinois is winless on the road this season however. They have at least four more road games until Rice returns, and even with him they showed very poor form away from Assembly Hall. It all starts Wednesday at Northwestern. The crowd will be overwhelmingly orange, but it’s still a road contest. You recall the horrifying awful to watch defeat at the hands of Chris Collins up there last year.
I can’t guarantee that subbing Morgan for Cosby and going 2 bigs, three littles is a fix. I just know the current Illini basketball product is broken.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports, Yardbarker Network, Google News, eBay and CBS Interactive Inc. You can read Banks’ feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition and listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)