Illini Zip

Team Pepto Bismol had a day.

Solid half. I see green shoots of chemistry. Keep it going.

Watching the game highlights, a quality I really like to see with Freeman is he seems to have good hands and can handle passes cleanly.

Guys, I heard Groce say on the air that Freeman has 3 more years of eligibility due to Covid. I have no reason to doubt him. So I guess that means Michael Wynn gets to play immediately and then still has 2 more years. What does that mean to the scholarship limit and the log jam with incoming freshman? I don't know if anyone really knows how this is going to play out next season and beyond. Until I get more concrete information about the general NCAA policy and specific Akron players I am putting the chart on hold. Please keep your ears open. Thanks.

Michael Wynn activated. No longer a red shirt.

My best guess is he is still a defensive liability in practice. I thought we would have seen him by now too.

One of the announcers likes the line up of LCJ, Clarke, Dawson, Marshall and Freeman. They sure are not jelling as a team right now.

So far it sounds like the Enrique Freeman show.

Zips add Evan Wilson.

Booo!!

I know that to be true. Defending is not optional with Groce. That said, I have to believe the line up ends up closer to what @Blue & Gold suggests.

Allow me to clarify something. Toles was initially a scholarship player, but is now a walk-on. So he is not taking up one of the 13 scholarships. What is disappointing is he appears to be a really good guy/talent and he was looking forward to playing for his local team. I am glad he is able to stay involved with the team to some degree, but some us really would love to see him suit up at some point.

Hilltopper, have you by chance seen Toles during practice? Can you describe his involvement/activity/role?

Good question. My knowledge of Africa is shamefully limited. Fortunately for us he made his way to Louisville, Kentucky. I have seen him linked to both Aspire Academy and DeSales High School. Not exactly sure how that all works, but next stop is Akron, Ohio. Giddy up!!! Hometown: Bamako (Capital), Mali, West Africa

I'm not for certain, but I will take a shot at this. It's possible thanks to Covid we got a steal on Kalle. I didn't come across any flags with personality, actually he's a high-motor guy. Clark points out that 6-10" Kalle is athletic and dunks everything around the rim with authority. But I read he was looking to show prospective schools that he has been working on his shot and gained 15 pounds of muscle. There were even bigger programs than UCLA and Rutgers inquiring at some point. But with limited opportunity to showcase his growth he just might be a diamond in the rough that fell into our lap. Let's hope. Consider that his visit to Akron was a virtual visit and you realise this was not your typical process by any means. Edit: Here is my source material. Is ScoopmanTV creditable, no clue. But the idea that late bloomers would struggle to get attention this year makes sense to me. https://scoopmantv.com/2020/07/18/interest-in-2021-forward-sekou-sada-kalle-starting-to-pick-up/

It sure does feel like a great day to be a Zip with some awesome pick ups. But I am going to predict some even better days during the 2022-23 season. 6 returning Seniors and the turn over of only one scholarship screams success in March. Go Zips!!

Kobe Mitchell highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Jk_u7c9AMMc

Sekou Sada Kalle Highlights. https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13880128/5e717ff232dcb217780ea340 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBao7FWvjso

Zips add Sekou Sada Kalle.

Zips add Nate Johnson.

I have to admit. I needed to Google that.

Zips add Kobe Mitchell.

I'll just add to the conversation that at Illinois the injury bug hit the position of point guard as hard as any. I don't fault Groce for never wanting to feel that helpless ever again. We were at times a car without an engine and it got brutal. Also, players that might play point guard on other D1 teams might not have the running skill set he demands out of his points guards. That said, those same point guards are awesome playing off the ball as shooting guards in this system.

At this point, I will take sloppy basketball and love it. This is a good year to have the leagues MVP leading your team.

I think I just watched that video 20 times and stopped it 100. I loved last year's team - no doubt, but it's fun to see the new comers as well. Go Zips!! And I think he says his celebrity crush is Lauren London. Is that right??