Hoopfest Friday 10/15

[ILLST25]

We have an incredibly massive team with all these walk-ons. Not lacking in practice players.

Reeves and Emon appeared to have packed on some muscle.

Kendall Lewis looks like he is the real deal.

Sissoko continues to seem overlooked.

Kotov looks bigger but I don’t see him playing much.

McChesney is intriguing. He’s got really nice handles and a decent shot for his size. A very slender guy, so I don’t see him banging in the post. Excited to see how we use him and how much he plays.

Didn’t get to see mark freeman, Alston, or strong as they didn’t dress.

That’s about it as far as my takeaways.

 

[gobirds85]

I'll give my 2 cents for what that's worth (less than 2 cents probably).

The Simon Says thing was cute, but ran too long and the mic kept failing. Would have been really fun to have the new President and the AD take part.

Concession stand ran out of 312. That blows my mind on homecoming weekend.

The 3 point competition was just kind of ehh. Same with the scrimmage itself. Bunch of people asked me at the football game what I thought about the team based on Hoopsfest, impossible to tell. It's run and gun and open gym. Plus a bunch of players didn't take part for whatever reason. A few of the players did took bigger and stronger than last season. (Fleming Reeves Kostov). Also thought Chatman and Andrews looked more basketball ready. Though Andrews didn't play.

I can attest to dunks being made in the dunk exhibition. Lots of misses as players were trying moves that were NBA dunk contest worthy.

I didn't see Belcher. So i'm assuming he was out recruiting.

Lastly a few negatives. Neither Coach addressed the crowd at any point. No "we are excited to get started" or "Really appreciate everyone coming out" or "really hope to see everyone come out for our opener on Nov 9th". In year's past the players went into the crowd and thanked them for coming or to just interact with the fans. Maybe Covid stopped this? I always found that to be pretty cool. We didn't stay for the autograph line so I'm sure there was some good engagement there.

Also would have loved to see the AD say something. Anything. His silence is pretty deafening when it comes to all things men's basketball these days. Though I will give him credit for making the rounds on Saturday before the football game. I'll let the the experts on the football board figure out what's going on with the offense. #Ugly

I agree. A golden opportunity to have the new prez and AD get out in front of the Redbird faithful. A swing and a miss.

Probably a good idea not to have Dan speak. What would he have said?

This is Redbird basketball.

 

[radik]

Probably a good idea not to have Dan speak. What would he have said?

I am guessing something like: 'We didn't really come out ready to play today. There was no defense, we made a lot of bad decisions. We need better senior leadership. We need to play better, we need to coach better, and I need to do a better job all around. Thats on me. But hey, thanks for the crowd support. We will go back and hopefully learn from this and do better in the future.'

I mean, even coaches need to use live scrimmage times like these to work on their performance for later in the season... (even though he already has that speech down solid).

 

[CaliRdBrd]

This was probably not quite correct. Most of the tries missed and at least the last six or so tries in a row did not go down, and then they quit trying….in fairness, they were making some high difficulty attempts and I think Dan was afraid someone would get hurt, but it was kind of anticlimatic. My earlier post was probably a bit too negative, but my past optimism is waning….

Waning? I’m 100% waned at this point

 

[CaliRdBrd]

I am guessing something like: 'We didn't really come out ready to play today. There was no defense, we made a lot of bad decisions. We need better senior leadership. We need to play better, we need to coach better, and I need to do a better job all around. Thats on me. But hey, thanks for the crowd support. We will go back and hopefully learn from this and do better in the future.'

I mean, even coaches need to use live scrimmage times like these to work on their performance for later in the season... (even though he already has that speech down solid).

Lol!!

 

[Bird Friend]

Waning? I’m 100% waned at this point

No. Really? I woulda never guessed.

 

[Scipio]

I have zero expectations at this point. Scrimmage showed me nothing and means nothing. Frankly they looked like a playground pickup bunch. Which is probably where they were recruited. Perhaps they will jell and be competitive. And then perhaps I’ll win the lottery.

 

[Redbird222]

The only thing ever learned from Hoopfest is

1. Perhaps who is athletic and who is not
2. Who can hit an open 3
3. Putting a face to a name for the new players

I would be more curious why some players did not dress ... possible injuries?

 

[BirdGrad2011]

The only thing ever learned from Hoopfest is

1. Perhaps who is athletic and who is not
2. Who can hit an open 3
3. Putting a face to a name for the new players

I would be more curious why some players did not dress ... possible injuries?

Probably minor stuff that’s not even worth risking it for a show like this.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

No. Really? I woulda never guessed.

I know…hard to believe

 

[Redbird222]

Probably minor stuff that’s not even worth risking it for a show like this.

Sounds like. Andrews has a foot injury. Here is an article updating the center position

Sy Chatman, Ryan Schmitt could lead the way for Illinois State 'bigs' this season

Illinois State basketball coach Dan Muller said Sy Chatman and Ryan Schmitt have taken the lead in the Redbirds' battle at the No. 5 spot in the lineup.

pantagraph.com

 

[ILLST25]

Of the newbies I liked Kenny McChesney and Lewis a lot
Fleming's three PT shot will keep us in many games, we otherwise would have won easily.

Fleming needs to be utilized as a pass-first offensive facilitator.

 

[Adunk33]

Sounds like. Andrews has a foot injury. Here is an article updating the center position

Sy Chatman, Ryan Schmitt could lead the way for Illinois State 'bigs' this season

Illinois State basketball coach Dan Muller said Sy Chatman and Ryan Schmitt have taken the lead in the Redbirds' battle at the No. 5 spot in the lineup.

pantagraph.com

Death. Taxes. Big men with foot issues. This is Redbird Basketball.

Not surprised at all to see Ryan and Sy setting themselves apart. Hoopfest was obviously an NBA All Star game kind of scrimmage but Sy is a guy. As indicated in the article, if he can keep his head on straight, he'll be a very good player in the MVC. The weird thing about Sy is that though he is a senior....he hasn't played a ton of college basketball. He's only played in 40 games between UMASS and ISU.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

So no mention of McChesney so he's not in the convo for center. Who is he competing with and at what position?

 

[BTbird]

So no mention of McChesney so he's not in the convo for center. Who is he competing with and at what position?

He's 6'10" with guard skills. Maybe he will play the 3?

 

[SgtHulka]

He's 6'10" with guard skills. Maybe he will play the 3?

that would be my guess

 

[Adunk33]

that would be my guess

Correct. He’s a wing/stretch 4. Definitely not a 5.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Sounds like. Andrews has a foot injury. Here is an article updating the center position

Sy Chatman, Ryan Schmitt could lead the way for Illinois State 'bigs' this season

Illinois State basketball coach Dan Muller said Sy Chatman and Ryan Schmitt have taken the lead in the Redbirds' battle at the No. 5 spot in the lineup.

pantagraph.com

Andrews and all that sat out Hoopfest practiced today based on photos the Redbird Basketball Instagram account posted.