BTbird wrote:Aargh wrote:Illinois State has a great potential to be this year's rpi disaster for the league. With all the new players, IlSU is likely to stink up the court in non-con and start figuring it out about the time league play rolls around. Lots of potential talent at IlSU, but I've seen what Muller did with Jackie Carmichael, and he had proven, not potential, talent.
ISU returns 4 of 5 starters and have a couple of subs returning as well.
Can you fill us in on what Muller did with Jackie Carmichael? He was a first team MVC player the year Muller coached him.
IlSU, 2012-13 - pre-season #3 pick in the league. A team with Tyler Brown, Jackie Carmichael, Bryant Allen, Johnny Hill, John Wilkins and John Ekey. Finished 6th with a losing record in conference play. Only 2 wins above last-place SIU. Except for Wilkins, who was a dirty player, that was a pretty respectable groups. Carmichael had always played under control until he played for Muller. Then he karate-kicked Tekele Cotton, which cost IlSU the game. That's an underwhelming job of coaching.
In 2013-14, among all D1 BB teams, ILSU was 232nd in points per game, 201st in rebounds per game, 205th in assists per game, and 317th in FG %. You might want to think about those numbers before you make a big deal out of returning 4 of 5 starters.
IlSU lost their #2 scorer (Lofton) and best 3-pt. shooter (Zeisloft). IlSU's returning 3-pt. shooters with 100+ attempts (just under 3/game) are Knight (29%) and Lee (31%). Hunter (PG??) had an A/TO ratio of 1.6. Knight had more TO's and A's. Lee's was at 1.2 The 3 guards with any appreciable experience are 5'11", 6'0", and 6'1". They had a combined A/TO ratio of 1.2.
Hawkins hasn't played an organized game since HS, and he's 21. Might be a few games into the season before he knocks some rust off. Then there's the issue of his compatibility with the rest of the team. His background is a little centered on Hawkins.
