OT: Curbelo (Illinois) in the Portal
Andre Curbelo to the portal; yesterday's news, but didn't see it posted:
Illinois already had heavy losses at guard (graduation): Frazier, Williams, and (I think) Plummer.
Very interesting.
Illinois had a very similar scenario last year with Cockburn (but he eventually came back to Illinois of course). I wonder what's going on behind the scenes.
Abandon ship!
adam miller in the portal now too, imagine if he went back to illinois lol
Really?! Wow!
I know he was out for the season with a torn ACL but I guess anything is possible these days. He’s “from” Peoria so maybe coming back to Illinois would not be too surprising.
Behind the scenes? I got nothing except what I see in the media and on game broadcasts involving Illinois. From that vantage point, I would say that Brad Underwood in an insensitive bully, a loudmouth, and not particularly someone I would want as a neighbor.
Curbelo only played 10 minutes in Illinois' loss to Houston in the tournament, none in the second half. He was 0-4 with two turnovers in the first half, and I think Underwood pulled him and there was some resentment around that. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what is driving this.
Seems really good at times and really bad at times. Generally out of control.
It's an age of wisdom and also an age of foolishness.
Michigan had a season of light and a season of darkness.
It was the best of times and the worst of times.
The blurst of times.
March 29th, 2022 at 10:29 PM ^
You stupid monkeys!
Don't you mean "It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times"?
March 29th, 2022 at 11:47 PM ^
It was an epoch of belief. Then again, maybe it was just an epoch of incredulity.
Yeah they are looking at losing 5-6 players off last years roster. It would be so nice if we could bring back more than what’s expected for once, like Hunter pulling a Kofi and coming back for another run with a talented returning cast.
Obviously Dickinson would be the best scenario, but I also wouldn't mind seeing a season of Diabate at the 5. With the collection of size/length/athleticism the team would have, it'd be really interesting to see an up-tempo squad who can switch almost everything on defense. Obviously with Dickinson you're going to play at his pace, but I think there's a whole different style of ball to be played with Diabate at the 5, Frankie pushing the pace, and wings like Houstan, TWill, Jett, Glenn, Bufkin getting up and down the floor.
I agree with this as well. The caveat would be that Moussa improves down low and adds the requisite strength to successfully bang down low in the conference. I have visions of a much faster offensive pace and a more switchable defense as well.
For those reasons, Diabate back probably is the best case scenario, assuming he makes the kind of freshman to sophomore leap that a guy of his talent level typically makes.
Hunter back provides the highest floor but Diabate back with improvement makes for a higher ceiling for the team.
I wonder what pace they would push when Moussa picks up his second foul with 14 minutes left to go in the first?
March 29th, 2022 at 10:23 PM ^
Coach Howard pacing the sideline
You are describing, more or less, the scenario facing M v. Ohio State (minus Brooks, of course). That worked out pretty well.
They still have a good young core in Melendez, Goode and Coleman. I think Curbelo could be addition by subtraction (at least given the way he played this year). If they can pick up a transfer portal guy or two, they should still be pretty good.
yeah, COME BACK, DICKERSON !!!!!
I dislike him for playing well against Michigan but sure did play Like shit against other teams.
He has really good talent but plays out of control too often and seems like a head case.
He should transfer to Miami, it's much closer to Puerto Rico.
And they go further in the tournament than Illinois does
Lol, they sure do!
hey-o
Ayo?
‘Makes it further than Illinois’ is a pretty low bar to clear
He grew up in NY his teenage years so maybe he'll head back East.
I thought someone posted prior to the Illinois game that the Illini's record in games he played in was a lot worse than their record in games where didn't play. (not sure if quality of competition was factored into that stat)
Illinois was 10-9 in games that he played and 13-1 when he didn't. Granted, most of his missed games were in the non-conference and early part of league play.
Using KenPom, eight (8) of those 14 games where he sat were Tier A+B games, whereas 16 of the 19 games he played were Tier A+B. So opponent quality caveats apply, but that is still quite the difference in record. His ORtg dropped 20 points and is basically a 1:1 match to his 2P% dropping by nearly the same amount (.553 → .374). Have to wonder how much the concussion he suffered early on threw off his entire season even when he was cleared to play.
Yes, he was atrocious and single-handedly cost them probably at least 5 games, including a one point loss in which he was 4/15 (!!!) from 2 and had an insane 41% usage despite a 60.1 Ortg.
Was he concussed before the season and then tried to give it a go for four games before being out again? Thought I saw that somewhere.
In any case, the stretch from 11/25 to 1/15 in which he didn't play, they were the 8th best team in the country, per Torvik. Opponent adjusted. The only loss was to Arizona by four. Wins include @Iowa, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Michigan.
I can't parse out only the games he played because there were segments but they were 20th overall so had to have been around 30th in the games that he played since they were 8th in the games he didn't play.
They were 32nd in the country after he returned from 1/17 onward. So clearly was killing the team. Whenever he was in games (except against Michigan for so many sad, self-inflicted reasons) I was just like, man, this guy is dragging them down, why is he even playing so much?
Gotta figure there's something happening behind the scenes - first Kofi last year, now Curbelo. I know we don't like Underwood - but in all seriousness, I would not be surprised to find out there's some toxcicity there.
The rumors are Curbelo and the coaching staff got into it during halftime of the Houston game and that is why he sat the second half and also transferring. Guy has a ton of talent but outside of roasting Michigan isn't consistent at all
My understanding with Kofi is that the assistant that recruited him went to Kentucky so he wanted to follow him there. Something happened and he couldn't go there (full roster?) so he stayed.
One of those things where sure, there may be a pattern developing, but that one seems to have some context.
the very definition of a "may explode in random directions" player.
hardest of hard passes.
(also, it WAS posted. in the game thread for the ladies' elite eight game last night...because obviously)
Thanks, Matty - apologies on that.
March 30th, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
oh hey, that wasn't pointed at you, it was pointed at the dude that posted it into the women's hoops game thread in the first place, then got super-duper pissy when i called it out.
it was my own fault in the first place. game threads are an abomination in the sight of the lord.
If I knew I was never going to see the second weekend of the tournament, I might make a run for it, too.
CURB your enthusiasm. I am not sure Michigan will be in play.
didn't see anyone say they wanted him at Michigan so there's nothing to Curb(elo).
ba-dum-tssss
If he has a grudge against Underwood & Illiniis now and wants to prove something to spite them...
I wouldn't mind taking him.
The hot takes after beating Illinois that season would be glorious.
March 30th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
oh, man. i hadn't thought of that. i don't like him as a player, at ALL...but the immolation of the illini loonies would indeed be glorious.
Then the staff it appears will not be having Dinner with Andre
I wish him much success in some conference that isn't the B1G and also doesn't involve him ever playing against Michigan again. Maybe he can follow Foster Loyer to Davidson or something.
He was godawful last year, on/off splits like caleb's home/road, he might end up good but i wouldn't risk it unless he brings his off splits with him somehow, heh.
Fun player to watch either do something amazing or something stupid--sometimes at the same time--but please don't let him within half a mile of Crisler Arena ever again, whether it's to play with or against us.
Will we finally beat Illinois next year?!?
We will be playing during the second weekend while they watch from their crib again for the 6th straight season