ILLINIFAN2
- Des Moines, IA
What is everyone worried about, don't you remember LUCKY said it's a done deal with Goodwin 
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)
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I keep forgetting about Nichols and Pickett.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Pickett should be considered the first member of the '18 class. Barring injuries, of course. And assuming he makes the right decision.
MrOizo
- Chicago
I'm amazed that I agree with you. Shore up center and PG and I'm happy. Those two positions are so critical. I really, really hope for Goodwin/Lewis and Kiir. However, there are options at those spots in 2018 and agree with the general view that we should reach. Too much positive momentum right now to reach and settle.
MrOizo
- Chicago
This. I can't believe that POS came up to our neck of the woods right after blocking on Jawun Evans. If Goodwin chooses to join Ford, I'm fine with the loss. I just hope it doesn't cost us others (Lewis). I really, really dislike Ford.
Add Frazier and Kiir and this is a fantastic class. No sane person could argue otherwise (though I'm sure some of the anti-Groce crowd would try).
Goodwin (or Wilkes/Lewis/Smith) would be the frosting on the cake.
Here's my reality check for you. Since Whitman has come on board, he has been pragmatic with Groce, and Groce, despite coming off a horrible season of both injuries and performance, has delivered spectacular recruiting results.
What tends to lead to a coaches firing is poor results from poor recruiting that lead to weakening attendance and loss of support from boosters. At that point, it becomes a self-reinforcing cycle where you can't attract the talent to turn it around, and the economics of a change look attractive.
As far as I can tell, Groce still has a lot of supporters, and is bringing in the kind of talent that meets or exceeds expectations. Despite the last 3 seasons, people still like him. With his recruiting (at least on paper), he has potential to really build things up. Hopefully his recruits will be on draft boards before long. Either way, it's exceptionally rare to fire a guy who's recruiting well, even if the current results aren't there.
Sounds like we're in the top 3.
Deleted member 10676
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So you're labeling Tilmann only "top 50"?! He'll likely be our highest-rated recruit in a decade. And the kind of big man that is generally hard to land for schools other than KY, UNC, Duke, etc. But you act as if he's not that significant.
Heck, sign the three guys we have now and IMO this class is a decent one. Of course I want to add more and think we will.
You're so biased and one-minded that you've lost the ability to be rational.
Thankfully Whitman seems quite rational.
With regards to Kigab
Is 3rd place really any better than 6th though? I had zero visibility to his recruitment and had to look him up after the top 6 announcement, so start with that disclaimer; I but don't see much to suggest he is a better chance than Lewis or Goodwin for us. A pleasant surprise to get named, nice to see some comments to suggest why we were named, but I'm still putting our chances at 1/6 or 17%...doesn't move the needle much in reality for me. I'm throwing him in the category of Smith, Bowen, Eastern, Scruggs, Wilkes where I'm still betting heavily on the field and if forced to pick one team it wouldn't be us...nice to be in the mix, because once in a while you will get lucky, but shouldn't be your main plan.
If Groce wins a game in the tournament this year, reels in Goodwin, Frazier, and Kiir, makes the tourney in 2017-18, and proceeds to establish the Illini as a perennial fixture in the top 25 again, it's going to be just a teeny bit sweeter for me when I imagine Mojoman grimly shaking his head in frustrated bewilderment.
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I am not so sure Eastern winds up at MSU if they get either of Bowen or Scruggs.
You can put me down for the no. I'm not passing up on 6'8" with agility and ability to put the ball on the deck and shoot from the outside.
Well, I do think Oregon is probably the heavy favorite here, he has scheduled an official visit to UI, so that's at least a sign we have some chance. Getting him on campus would be pretty telling, IMO.
From day one I thought the Whitman and Groce had similiar personalities and would get to like each other. From what I've seen and read I believe this to be the case. A very good recruiting class (which I believe we are 75% there) and solid year and I believe he keeps his job. A tourney appearance, is a guarantee IMHO.
Recruiting momentum and improvement over last year and relationship with Whitman will guarantee his job for another 1-2 years. Barring injuries we will be deeper and improved at every position, and I believe we will make the tourney.
Recruiting momentum and improvement over last year and relationship with Whitman will guarantee his job for another 1-2 years. Barring injuries we will be deeper and improved at every position, and I believe we will make the tourney.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
Is Lewis going to commit on his first OV? (purely rhetorical Q). I don't doubt he really like ISU. They're going to roll out the red carpet and press for a commitment, no doubt. But no comparisons? I think there's a good chance (> 50%) he takes more than 1 OV.
Agree with all that, would love to have him visit if we haven't gotten another wing commitment. Just not yet feeling the optimism that he is our last wing schollie.
Deleted member 10676
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idk, quite a run of CB's to IS this week started by a guy from Wisconsin. And Alex Halsted, publisher of 247, seems so confident he's making his first prediction ever. I'm sure if he thought there was a chance he'd start with a miss he'd have at least hesitated.
But with kids, you never know.
http://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/Terrence-Lewis-at-Riverside-129078/CurrentExpertPredictions
riffraff
- Peoria
Just curious, how many kids slow play their own recruitment, knowing they want to to X school but wanting the OVs and attention from other schools but not really caring about those schools except for what they can get during the recruitment process? The other schools are just part of the fun and worth the risk of losing their chance at school X because they know the others would be a fine backup plan.
Here's another way to look at it:
We're always in the final list of these big time recruits, and we're up against blue bloods and other big names. We justify our school by saying "we have playing time, we have a good relationship with the coach, we are close to home, etc..." because those are always the things the recruits say they want. In the end the recruit chooses Kansas, or Kentucky, or whatever school gives them the best chance to win, despite all the factors in our favor.
This time, we are the big name. SLU is close to home (not that c-u is far) SLU can offer the most playing time(we can offer plenty too), SLU has relationships with his coaches (although we do too.) We offer the chance to win, the chance for exposure he wants. We make the most sense. Plus, we were his first offer, his most loyal pursuers, and he has friends here. Everyone needs to stop panicking.
We're always in the final list of these big time recruits, and we're up against blue bloods and other big names. We justify our school by saying "we have playing time, we have a good relationship with the coach, we are close to home, etc..." because those are always the things the recruits say they want. In the end the recruit chooses Kansas, or Kentucky, or whatever school gives them the best chance to win, despite all the factors in our favor.
This time, we are the big name. SLU is close to home (not that c-u is far) SLU can offer the most playing time(we can offer plenty too), SLU has relationships with his coaches (although we do too.) We offer the chance to win, the chance for exposure he wants. We make the most sense. Plus, we were his first offer, his most loyal pursuers, and he has friends here. Everyone needs to stop panicking.
Deleted member 10676
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This board has actually reacted to this a lot better than at least one other board I could mention (but can't). And personally, I've never considered Goodwin the slam dunk many others did. Henricksen said weeks ago that it was a lot closer than people thought and at the time he mentioned Northwestern. So for all we know, we may be running third right now.
But nobody has said we're out of it, so why worry until that happens?
But nobody has said we're out of it, so why worry until that happens?
A few, and I don't really. Just offering some insight, isn't that what this place is for?
And to answer your earlier question, I'd take a Lewis commit in a heartbeat if Goodwin was still undecided. Being in position to turn good players away will only make us more attractive to other players. That being said, I don't think it gets to that point, and if it does I suspect the staff would still take a commitment from Goodwin later on. #wingu
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I was wondering why recruiting had picked up so strongly for Xavier University. I think I finally understand why...
The Pizza ATM...
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/08/04/xaviers-pizza-atm-idea-s-time-has-come/88066514/
The Pizza ATM...
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/08/04/xaviers-pizza-atm-idea-s-time-has-come/88066514/
If he makes it to Illinois for his OV, which means he left Oregon without committing, then we may be the team to beat. Schools receiving the last visit should be considered heavy favorites. So in this case, being on the schedule, even as the #3 team is much better than being 4-6.
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