Nah... that's typical O'Brien. Even when he has positive things to say about the Illini (he does not make things up), he always adds a backhanded compliment (e.g., "looked disinterested") for good measure.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2017)
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Nah... that's typical O'Brien. Even when he has positive things to say about the Illini (he does not make things up), he always adds a backhanded compliment (e.g., "looked disinterested") for good measure.
Deleted member 631370
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That is true. Not doubting O'Brien one bit. I have full faith that he believes this to be true.
Just seems odd to me. But maybe that's my battered fan syndrome taking over. Too many nut punches.
sacraig
- The desert
I didn't take it as a backhanded compliment. He even hedged on it a bet by emphasizing "I've been told" rather than "I know this". He also specifically said "as if he had already decided", which really amounts to speculation on either his part or his sources' parts.
This is all tea leaves and negative inferences, but...
Danny Manning did not have an in-home with Ayo after his OV to C-U. If he asked for one and did not get it, that is a pretty major tell. If he did not ask for one, that means he knew the outcome was already completely decided. Wouldn't there be a leak from WF by now if he knew he was coming to W-S?
Danny Manning did not have an in-home with Ayo after his OV to C-U. If he asked for one and did not get it, that is a pretty major tell. If he did not ask for one, that means he knew the outcome was already completely decided. Wouldn't there be a leak from WF by now if he knew he was coming to W-S?
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
He also said that it seemed more like guesswork on the part of his sources.
SalukiIllini
- Evansville, IN
Here's where you guys need to take two steps back and reevaluate. I'm not going to go all out "homer" and argue that Illinois holds more opportunity for him, but there's no way that WF has so much more opportunity (vs. "loyalty") that it is between those two factors, as you suggest.
Yeah. This idea that he’s “torn” for this reason was made up out of thin air.
Priestspoets
- Kansas City, Mo
He isn't torn on his decision. He was planning on Sunday night and Monday to get his announcement set. What does that tell everyone? He had his mind made up on official to Illinois. Probably before to be honest. This has been one of the worst kept secrets in my opinion since we hired Chin.
Why tf would a WFU beat writer travel up to Chicago for the announcement
Deleted member 10676
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Brian Snow @BSnowScout 21m21 minutes ago
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Don't sleep in a bunk bed at my parents house
Take showers daily
Have sources in basketball
Can u check same boxes @prepbullseye ?
https://twitter.com/BSnowScout/status/920745468648460288
Can't say why it started because it was in the pay article Snow wrote this a.m., Roy went nutso on Snow and Scout, Snow came back with the Bull Schmidt tweet, Roy went to insult/swear word mode and then the above.
You are turning on the kid already, as if he picks Illinois, he would be trolling Wake Forest. Ayo has been pretty moderate on social media. Kids use twitter, instagram, and social media in general for one reason: it is fun! They are not going to issue corporate press releases and are rarely too serious on what they post. Social media activity coming from recruits is the least reliable indicator to analyze recruiting.
As for Cliff Alexander, picking Kansas was not a surprise. Now, acting like he did, that's totally on him. Four kids made their decision on the same TV program, and three acted very maturely, one acted like a clown.
As long as Ayo makes his picks without disrespecting anyone (which I do expect he will), people should just accept his choice and move on. But it seems that you already struggling to come to the realization that this is not 50-50 and trying to find excuses like "trolling WF," or "torn between loyalty and opportunity," as if he does not want to pick any school other than WF unless he is of questionable character.
SalukiIllini
- Evansville, IN
https://www.barstoolsports.com/bars...sts-50-best-coaches-in-the-country-this-year/
I can’t believe the legendary Danny Manning isn’t in this list. Shocked.
I can’t believe the legendary Danny Manning isn’t in this list. Shocked.
Because Ayo is the piece that will bring them to the promised land. Don’t you know ?
Living in the south now, it was hard for me to hear them give the Monicals pizza plug. I miss it so much
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Illiniwek06
- N of I-80
Brian Snow @BSnowScout 21m21 minutes ago
More
Don't sleep in a bunk bed at my parents house
Take showers daily
Have sources in basketball
Can u check same boxes @prepbullseye ?
https://twitter.com/BSnowScout/status/920745468648460288
Can't say why it started because it was in the pay article Snow wrote this a.m., Roy went nutso on Snow and Scout, Snow came back with the Bull Schmidt tweet, Roy went to insult/swear word mode and then the above.
Hahahaha.
sacraig
- The desert
School has little to do with players who are 1 or 2 and done. Those are the kids who would have gone pro already if the NBA allowed it.
Even if the school does play a role in one-and-dones, how many of those guys played for Manning? One. Throw the others out the window. Underwood has had zero years as coach at Illinois, so there's no opportunity to compare at this school, but he did coach Jawun Evans last year, who was a two-and-done. So, the score is either 1-0 or 1-1. We can compare notes again in 4 years and compare their 4-year records. I have no idea how that will turn out.
Probably Jerry Colangelo at the very least, who is an Illinois alumnus.
Quite a few. Deon Thomas was at Ayo's official visit to Illinois. Kendall Gill and Steve Bardo and Deron Williams and Jerry Hester and a number of others all show up at the school from time to time.
You are basically counting all the ways Wake Forest is great without having any actual knowledge of what Illinois has going for it. You love your school. Great. At least be informed about your opponent before making a bunch of assumptions. The biggest thing in Manning's corner seems to be his own NBA experience. The edge in former NBA players is probably Wake's as well, but not nearly as great as you make it out to be.
Here's where you guys need to take two steps back and reevaluate. I'm not going to go all out "homer" and argue that Illinois holds more opportunity for him, but there's no way that WF has so much more opportunity (vs. "loyalty") that it is between those two factors, as you suggest.
+1 Typical fan view of their program. Completely different from how a recruit may view it. Wake and their recruits have yet to prove they are as good as their fans think they are.
Better be careful. Bottle of champagne she might anticipate a certain question to follow
If we win this battle, celebrate later with a beverage of your choice.
sacraig
- The desert
Because their job is to cover Wake Forest basketball and if they knew they were about to get a 5* commit, it would be a story of interest to them. They probably wouldn't make the trip for grins.
In my opinion, it doesn't really matter about the record of the school developing talent, but rather the staff/coach. I don't know who would have a better record of that between Underwood's staff and Manning's staff. I'm just saying that it shouldn't be the history of the school producing Chris Paul's or Deron Williams's (you forgot him in your count) but should be the current coach/staff that is important.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
Man, you're coming on here talking up your team and making comparisons on an Illini message board? Are you looking to start arguments?
Brandon Paul can be added to our list of pros.
Better be careful. Bottle of champagne she might anticipate a certain question to follow
If we win this battle, celebrate later with a beverage of your choice.
Hahaha good point :thumb:
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
A. You have no idea what Ayo wants as far as 1,2,3,4 and done.
B. You list past players as if you are convinced their college career is an accurate means of predicting Ayo's future. What did WF accomplish while all of those 1 and done's were there?
C. If you are going back to 05' to list Paul, it's interesting you chose to leave out D. Will.
D. Maybe you haven't heard, but one of the most influential NBA GM/Owner's in it's entire history, is an Illini. He also runs USA Basketball.
I'll let you Google him.
You think maybe he knows some people?
Deleted member 11241
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If we're talking players that have played in the league the past decade you could include Luther Head on that list as well as Brian Cook
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