Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2018)

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#176      
The causal effect of recruiting to winning is much higher than the other way around.

This seems to me to be incredibly obvious. I cannot even understand the argument that the other way around works. If winning creates recruiting, then you don't need recruiting because you are already winning.
 
#179      

BirdDog9048

The Chief Lives
Chicago, IL
This seems to me to be incredibly obvious. I cannot even understand the argument that the other way around works. If winning creates recruiting, then you don't need recruiting because you are already winning.
Winning definitely creates recruiting. It's how the blue bloods remain blue bloods. They win because they recruit well, and they recruit well because they win.

It's a perfect chicken and egg metaphor though. People are arguing over which one is the egg.
 
#180      
Winning definitely creates recruiting. It's how the blue bloods remain blue bloods. They win because they recruit well, and they recruit well because they win.

It's a perfect chicken and egg metaphor though. People are arguing over which one is the egg.

One exception to a pretty sound rule. Bruce Weber. Unfortunately, he was the Illini coach when the exception to the rule happened.
 
#181      

Deleted member 11311

D
Guest
Well for one, we don't have a criminal defense lawyer saying in his opening statement in the NIKE corruption case that we pay players like Oregon just had.
This is true. Hope there is some sort of domino effect for the programs mentioned in the case.
 
#182      
Some have mentioned Anthony Walker to RI...not I, but I know he visited and had offers....they just got a 6'10 Sudanese player (Mading?) I would think we have a very good chance with Walker.

So technically we could still get Walker/Shannon/Gurrier/Jacobs/ De La Rosa still on board next year, and 1 other? Realistically?
De La Rosa is out of eligibility whether he plays this year or not. He isn’t eligible for a waiver.
 
#183      
This is true. Hope there is some sort of domino effect for the programs mentioned in the case.

Like the assistant coach who we tried to hire and has been working with Underwood for a decade? Or the prominent program whose lead connections guy got his start in the business here?

We are uncomfortably close to this whole thing, to the extent it starts stretching out from the people already named.
 
#184      
That shouldn't take long.
Pitino jokes never get old.

Like the assistant coach who we tried to hire and has been working with Underwood for a decade? Or the prominent program whose lead connections guy got his start in the business here?

We are uncomfortably close to this whole thing, to the extent it starts stretching out from the people already named.

Yeah having this NCAA scandal thing end sooner rather than later is the move we should be hoping for (well that is if you are hoping for this not to touch our program). Not saying I have any info, just seems like we are as close to the fringe to this as possible, without actually being named/involved.
 
#185      
just seems like we are as close to the fringe to this as possible, without actually being named/involved.

In case people aren't aware, some of the actions charged were by Lamont Evans while he was an assistant coach for Brad Underwood at Oklahoma State, involving Underwood's players and recruits. Has Oklahoma State hired someone else, Lamont Evans would have been an Illini assistant coach at the time he was arrested. It's right at our doorstep.
 
#186      
Winning definitely creates recruiting. It's how the blue bloods remain blue bloods. They win because they recruit well, and they recruit well because they win.

It's a perfect chicken and egg metaphor though. People are arguing over which one is the egg.

It is not a chicken and egg metaphor, actually already discussed yesterday. The premise of "win, win, win" and the recruiting will come is simply false. If you can "win, win, win" (i.e., win consistently) then you have already solved your problem without recruiting. What you are talking about is the second level effect and comes much after the original level of winning has been already created via consistent recruiting where the reputation of being a "blue blood" gives those schools the extra boost to consistently stay in NC contention with multiple top recruits, a totally different level.

We are so far from reaching that level to begin with that is not even worth mentioning, and the chances we become a blue blood without recruiting are not slim to none, they are none. Even if we successfully recruit and become a consistent winner it will take decades of reinforcing that cycle to become a blue blood, which is pretty much almost impossible.
 
#190      

sacraig

The desert
You're making exactly my point.

And sure, landing more 4 stars would help defray the risk. Better scouting, coaching, roster construction and player development would eliminate the risk.

I disagree. I am not using this information to suggest that recruiting is fine and should focus on coaching deficiencies. My point is that it has all been a problem and we need to fix all of it, though not necessarily (but preferably) all at once.

Further, the idea of eliminating risk is comical. You can reduce it, but you can never eliminate it. At some level, you need a larger number of quality recruits to help outweigh the percentage that will inevitably not pan out. You can reduce that percentage with good coaching and development, but never eliminate it.
 
#191      
My logic tells me that if you recruit players with athletic ability and size you can develop skills. Whisky however seems an exception I.e. A system that requires skills only.
 
#192      
Some have mentioned Anthony Walker to RI...not I, but I know he visited and had offers....they just got a 6'10 Sudanese player (Mading?) I would think we have a very good chance with Walker.

So technically we could still get Walker/Shannon/Gurrier/Jacobs/ De La Rosa still on board next year, and 1 other? Realistically?
Marial Mading is 6'11, 195 lbs., ranked 332 in the PF position per 247. I doubt Walker is worrying about him. I did notice that Kofi Cockburn, along with Akok Akok were listed as prospects!!!!
 
#193      
Some have mentioned Anthony Walker to RI...not I, but I know he visited and had offers....they just got a 6'10 Sudanese player (Mading?) I would think we have a very good chance with Walker.

So technically we could still get Walker/Shannon/Gurrier/Jacobs/ De La Rosa still on board next year, and 1 other? Realistically?

Walker=Pitt or Miami
 
#194      

Deleted member 643761

D
Guest
It is not a chicken and egg metaphor, actually already discussed yesterday. The premise of "win, win, win" and the recruiting will come is simply false. If you can "win, win, win" (i.e., win consistently) then you have already solved your problem without recruiting. What you are talking about is the second level effect and comes much after the original level of winning has been already created via consistent recruiting where the reputation of being a "blue blood" gives those schools the extra boost to consistently stay in NC contention with multiple top recruits, a totally different level.

We are so far from reaching that level to begin with that is not even worth mentioning, and the chances we become a blue blood without recruiting are not slim to none, they are none. Even if we successfully recruit and become a consistent winner it will take decades of reinforcing that cycle to become a blue blood, which is pretty much almost impossible.

Don't really get your point here.

first, when people say "win" I don't necessarily know what they mean. For me, it's returning to the days of the 80s when we consistently were in the top 20.

So the premise is that we win at a lesser level (12 seed level) with middling talent and that helps us land better players that get us in to the 7 seed level which leads to better players that gets us to the 3 seed level. I kinda thought this was obvious but apparently it needs to be spelled out. Of course, maybe I'm totally misinterpreting what people are thinking.

So I think the point of people right now is that we need Underwood to coach the guys he's got to the tourney and that will encourage others of a higher caliber to jump on board.
 
#195      

Tevo

Wilmette, IL
But again, any despair at our inability to get the talent needs to reckon with the fact that we've ALWAYS had the talent, every single year, as our program has collapsed.

But wait. Not every program needs to have the same talent, or even the same levels of talent, to succeed. Clearly what we have all been saying (whether we knew it or not) is that we have needed more talent in order to make up for the obvious deficiencies in coaching. Yes, we have had some talent. But it obviously hasn't been enough! So we can either add more talent, or more/better coaching. We've tried switching coaches. So far so bad, with BU yet to make his full case. Just in case, we should also add more talent.
 
#196      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
Don't really get your point here.

first, when people say "win" I don't necessarily know what they mean. For me, it's returning to the days of the 80s when we consistently were in the top 20.

So the premise is that we win at a lesser level (12 seed level) with middling talent and that helps us land better players that get us in to the 7 seed level which leads to better players that gets us to the 3 seed level. I kinda thought this was obvious but apparently it needs to be spelled out. Of course, maybe I'm totally misinterpreting what people are thinking.

So I think the point of people right now is that we need Underwood to coach the guys he's got to the tourney and that will encourage others of a higher caliber to jump on board.
Seemed pretty obvious to me too, but the pages and pages of the same posters rehashing the same points has been comical. All things equal (okay I get they're not, but let's not get away from the point), if you show you can coach kids up to another level from whatever you start at, that shows you can get it done. Then you should presumably get more talented kids buying in. Do worse with what you got and the corrolary is true.
 
#198      
Corey Evans is saying we will only have ONE fall signee and that is TSJ. Not good.
 
#200      
But wait. Not every program needs to have the same talent, or even the same levels of talent, to succeed. Clearly what we have all been saying (whether we knew it or not) is that we have needed more talent in order to make up for the obvious deficiencies in coaching. Yes, we have had some talent. But it obviously hasn't been enough! So we can either add more talent, or more/better coaching. We've tried switching coaches. So far so bad, with BU yet to make his full case. Just in case, we should also add more talent.

That's fine as far as it goes, but you run into the Johnny Jones or Lorenzo Romar problem.

On the other hand, name one coach who was an amazing game coach, player developer, roster creator, and scouter for fit to his system that couldn't make it work at the highest level because he just couldn't get good enough guys? (Herb Sendek, if you squint?) It doesn't happen. Just by existing as a Power Five school you get enough talent that doing everything else well keeps you above water, not to mention that the credibility of being an excellent coach can often cause a premier talent to fall into your lap.

It's program building. That's the secret hiding in plain sight.

That isn't really a very controversial opinion, it would be trite and obvious to a lot of people. It's just that in the potential spectrum between a recruiting-focused perspective on what matters in college basketball and an everything-else focused view, this specific website is the absolute furthest possible pole of the recruiting-focused view on earth. And I'm an Illini fan and this is the best Illini board, alas.

(EDIT: Thinking more, you could argue Fran McCaffery for a "great coach without the horses" guy. Mike Brey has gotten out of that box. If anyone argues Bill Carmody I will jump through the computer and smack them.)
 
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