Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (October 2016)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,451      
BirdDog9048
Second and Chalmers said:
This attitude never ceases to amaze me.
Click to expand...
I generally don't have the opinion that I gave in my post, but due to the extremely limited scholarships for the 2018 class, I think it becomes an interesting question. Taking Finke most likely takes us out of the running for Ayo and Ramey (and possibly Gordon due to his previously discussed relationship with Ramey, if I am recalling correctly). And this isn't a case of "Oh, you can just oversign and deal with it later." There's a chance that taking a single commitment in 2018 is already oversigning, and due to the disdain that many on this site have for Creaning, I assume it's not something people will support.

Would I be mad if Tim Finke committed? Hell no, he's going to be a fantastic player.

Would I be kind of sad that we are missing out on an opportunity for Ramey or Ayo? Yes.

Every decision has pros and cons.
 
#1,453      
HoopsCoach
Finke will be better than people are giving him credit for. That is my take on watching him play against high level competition. If he commits, that is a big get for UI regardless of ranking IMO.
 
#1,454      
Combo
BirdDog9048 said:
I generally don't have the opinion that I gave in my post, but due to the extremely limited scholarships for the 2018 class, I think it becomes an interesting question. Taking Finke most likely takes us out of the running for Ayo and Ramey (and possibly Gordon due to his previously discussed relationship with Ramey, if I am recalling correctly). And this isn't a case of "Oh, you can just oversign and deal with it later." There's a chance that taking a single commitment in 2018 is already oversigning, and due to the disdain that many on this site have for Creaning, I assume it's not something people will support.

Would I be mad if Tim Finke committed? Hell no, he's going to be a fantastic player.

Would I be kind of sad that we are missing out on an opportunity for Ramey or Ayo? Yes.

Every decision has pros and cons.
Click to expand...

Doesn't really matter if "people" support it. Yes, Crean takes it to a great extreme than most, but virtually every coach will oversign by at least one player. Because he knows with 99% certainty that there will be attrition.
 
#1,455      
illiniinhoosierland
Tevo said:
What will be most livable (convenient, comfortable)? 1) IU is right there,
Click to expand...

IU is closer than Illinois, but I wouldn't say it's "right there." I don't know where his family lives, but it's about a half hour more from his high school to State Farm Center, a/k/a "the real Assembly Hall", than it is to Simon Skhodklsvsott Hall (I think I missed a j in there somewhere). It's basically 2 hours to UI and an hour and a half to IU. With construction continuing on state route 37 that connects Bloomington and Indy over the next several years, It will probably often take longer to get to IU (and be a lot more frustrating).
 
#1,456      
BirdDog9048
Combo said:
Doesn't really matter if "people" support it. Yes, Crean takes it to a great extreme than most, but virtually every coach will oversign by at least one player. Because he knows with 99% certainty that there will be attrition.
Click to expand...
That was partially my point. There's a possibility Finke would be that one player oversigned. Taking other players on top of that (especially other guards) is almost an impossibility.
 
#1,457      
FatGreg
I agree that Tim Finke is going to outperform his ranking. He's a different kind of player than Malcolm Hill was as a high school prospect, but similar in the sense that talent evaluators are getting hung up on questions about his ultimate upside and overlooking the qualities that are going to make him a great college player.

Tim is a good but not great athlete (though he's got more bounce than you'd expect), a good but streaky outside shooter, and a crafty scorer but not a first option offensively. He's average height for a wing and needs to add weight. Nice passer, but not a great ball handler. A little mechanical with the ball. It's easy to see why scouts are ranking him around #100 in his class. However, he's a relentless competitor who does all the little things, his fundamentals are top notch, and he's got ice water in his veins (I've seen him hit big shots on multiple occasions). Doesn't back down from anyone. He's also got a nose for the ball - rebounds out of his area and hustles for steals and occasional chase-down blocks.

In my mind, he projects as a gritty do-it-all wing who can function as a second/third offensive option at the P5 level and occasionally carry a team with his outside shooting. I think evaluators are underrating a few things that will make him a standout college player: 1) his motor, 2) his ability in transition, and 3) his potential as a spot-up shooter (he's been up-and-down in AAU, but he's got good form and a lightning quick release).

The other thing that we Illini fans have special insight into is Finke's genetics. Much like Malcolm (and obviously his brother Mike), there's a solid chance he grows an inch or so before his freshman year and really fills out. A 6'7, 210 pound Tim Finke with a more consistent shot is a no-brainer B1G starter. I expect that's what we'll see by his sophomore season. I hope he comes here.
 
#1,458      
UofIChE06
BirdDog9048 said:
I generally don't have the opinion that I gave in my post, but due to the extremely limited scholarships for the 2018 class, I think it becomes an interesting question. Taking Finke most likely takes us out of the running for Ayo and Ramey (and possibly Gordon due to his previously discussed relationship with Ramey, if I am recalling correctly). And this isn't a case of "Oh, you can just oversign and deal with it later." There's a chance that taking a single commitment in 2018 is already oversigning, and due to the disdain that many on this site have for Creaning, I assume it's not something people will support.

Would I be mad if Tim Finke committed? Hell no, he's going to be a fantastic player.

Would I be kind of sad that we are missing out on an opportunity for Ramey or Ayo? Yes.

Every decision has pros and cons.
Click to expand...

Commitments are not signings as we all should know very well. Take all the verbals you can get. If the spots aren't there you figure it out then.
 
#1,459      
BananaShampoo
illiniinhoosierland said:
IU is closer than Illinois, but I wouldn't say it's "right there." I don't know where his family lives, but it's about a half hour more from his high school to State Farm Center, a/k/a "the real Assembly Hall", than it is to Simon Skhodklsvsott Hall (I think I missed a j in there somewhere). It's basically 2 hours to UI and an hour and a half to IU. With construction continuing on state route 37 that connects Bloomington and Indy over the next several years, It will probably often take longer to get to IU (and be a lot more frustrating).
Click to expand...
Not to mention, Beef House is on the way to and from UI. Don't underestimate the impact of Beef House rolls in this recruitment.
 
#1,463      
Kathy
BirdDog9048 said:
I generally don't have the opinion that I gave in my post, but due to the extremely limited scholarships for the 2018 class, I think it becomes an interesting question. Taking Finke most likely takes us out of the running for Ayo and Ramey (and possibly Gordon due to his previously discussed relationship with Ramey, if I am recalling correctly). And this isn't a case of "Oh, you can just oversign and deal with it later." There's a chance that taking a single commitment in 2018 is already oversigning, and due to the disdain that many on this site have for Creaning, I assume it's not something people will support.

Would I be mad if Tim Finke committed? Hell no, he's going to be a fantastic player.

Would I be kind of sad that we are missing out on an opportunity for Ramey or Ayo? Yes.

Every decision has pros and cons.
Click to expand...

A bird in the hand comes to mind.
 
#1,468      
Illinijose
BirdDog9048 said:
I think Groce is in a really tough spot with respect to Tim Finke. Obviously he is a major talent and a legacy to boot, but with the limited scholarships (likely between 0-2) available for 2018 and the big fish we are in on at the moment (Ramey, Ayo, Gordon), it would be really difficult to accept a commitment if that were indeed Tim's intentions in the near future.

All I can say is, it is not a situation I would want to be put in.
Click to expand...

I have seen this play before, if Tim Finke wants to commit we take him. Tired of getting burned by turning down talented legacy players. I think his game speaks for itself, bringing in another Finke sounds like something good for the program. It sounds like the whole family is supportive of the players.

I can see Tim being a 6'7 Mike Dunluvy type player stroking the 3's. Ill take that.
 
Last edited:
#1,472      
frankfortillini
illynifan34 said:
I would call it the most overrated restaurant I've ever been to.
Click to expand...

I agree, kind of like taking a long drive to eat at the Sizzler, and paying 3 times more.

That said, last time I went was the Final Four year with the Flying Illini and saw the team there eating (yeah, I'm old). Made the trip well worth the overpriced, average food. :thumb: :illinois:
 
#1,474      
IlliniCaboose
Jon Snow really does know nothing! I'd gladly drive way further than 45 minutes to get to the Beef House. Have you ever tried their seafood Alfredo? That, cheddar broccoli soup and a couple rolls, that's death row last meal type stuff right there.
 
#1,475      
BirdDog9048
IlliniCaboose said:
Jon Snow really does know nothing! I'd gladly drive way further than 45 minutes to get to the Beef House. Have you ever tried their seafood Alfredo? That, cheddar broccoli soup and a couple rolls, that's death row last meal type stuff right there.
Click to expand...
I think I'll pass on anything seafood related in the middle of nowhere Indiana.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back