Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

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#2,451      

Lake Camelot

L
Lake Camelot
Bruninga Again

I really like Taylor. My son goes to school with him. Those stats are mind boggling. But I don't think the Big 10 is where he belongs.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/201704...al-visits-scheduled-illinois-showing-interest

Illini mention

Illinois also has expressed interest in Bruninga, according to his AAU coach Gavin Sullivan, who says the coaching staff wants the player to take an unofficial visit. Illinois reached out in late November when John Groce was still leading the program. The latest interest comes one week after former Illinois signees Jeremiah Tilmon and Javon Pickett asked for their releases from new head coach Brad Underwood.
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#2,453      

Adnarel

A
Adnarel
Yeah, I get the distinct feeling that we haven't heard the last of Bruninga. Somebody (either in this thread or another) likened Bruninga to somebody that would play for Wisconsin and give us absolute fits while posters angrily ask why we never recruited him.

I thought that was pretty spot-on.
 
#2,454      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
Adnarel said:
Yeah, I get the distinct feeling that we haven't heard the last of Bruninga. Somebody (either in this thread or another) likened Bruninga to somebody that would play for Wisconsin and give us absolute fits while posters angrily ask why we never recruited him.

I thought that was pretty spot-on.
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As I said, tough to make that comparison without a Wisconsin offer. Or indeed any major conference offers.
 
#2,455      

Calvin

C
Calvin
Fighter of the Nightman said:
You really don't know who you're quoting, do you? :D
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There have been a lot of beach houses on the blocks lately too. I suppose that's what makes it a fan forum....

I will say that this has been a fun turn of events to have a new coach. I don't think I could stomach the happy yet delusional projections that were sure to come, about how good we'd be with a talented freshman laden team, knowing that we'd under-achieve. Blech.

I don't know how good we'll be, but I do know we'll be fun to watch. And I suspect we'll at least be competitive.
 
#2,456      

Adnarel

A
Adnarel
No, I get the point, S&C. It appears as though high-major programs have the same reservations that others have pointed out here: mainly the lack of data against stiff competition. I find it somewhat unfair to hold that against a kid who made the appalling choice to grow up in a small community that plays other small communities.

I'd just feel awfully silly if we let this guy who grew up in our back yard go and then watch him develop for a year or two and turn out to be a rock star. He most definitely needs work, but isn't that what Underwood and Fletcher are supposed to be good at?

I guess where I'm at is that if he turns out to be the bird in hand, then so be it. I'm definitely higher on some other bigs, like Ernst, just as an example.
 
#2,457      

kuhl84

K
Orlando, FL
kuhl84
Adnarel said:
Ah, the ol' PT argument. A true Illini faithful standby.



(it doesn't work)
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I was refuting a specific point in the post I responded to. I'm not saying it is the defining reason in the Smith decision.

If you are going to be critical of a response, you should work on reading comprehension and context.




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#2,458      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
Adnarel said:
It appears as though high-major programs have the same reservations that others have pointed out here: mainly the lack of data against stiff competition.
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No, it's mainly that he's not good enough.

No slight to the kid who has worked his way into being one of a tiny number of people on planet earth good enough to play D1 basketball, but the major conferences are for an even freakier tier of people.
 
#2,459      

STLIlliniMike

S
STLIlliniMike
kuhl84 said:
Mark will have a hard time getting 10 minutes per game at MSU. He will have an opportunity to play 25 plus mpg at Illinois. There is just no comparison.



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I simply disagree. Tum Tum has major obvious limitations on offense. Both Izoo and spartan fans were pretty public with their displeasure with him last season. McQuaid isn't exactly a world beater backing up Langford either. It's pretty easy to see Smith getting 10-15 minutes between pg and sg. Offering 25 mpg on what will likely be projected to be a bottom half Big Ten team vs 10-15 mpg on a team that will likely be the odds on NC favorite next year is not a winning proposition for Illinois.
 
#2,460      

Deleted member 16068

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Guest
Deleted member 16068
Has Smith or family mentioned a time frame for a commitment? Thanks
 
#2,461      

JamesB

J
JamesB
Calvin said:
There have been a lot of beach houses on the blocks lately too. I suppose that's what makes it a fan forum....

I will say that this has been a fun turn of events to have a new coach. I don't think I could stomach the happy yet delusional projections that were sure to come, about how good we'd be with a talented freshman laden team, knowing that we'd under-achieve. Blech.

I don't know how good we'll be, but I do know we'll be fun to watch. And I suspect we'll at least be competitive.
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I agree, it's nice to get a fresh start with a new coaching staff. I imagine with Groce and company there would've been a lot of high expectations. Tilmon would probably still have bolted, Pickett is likely just a taller version of Tate, a thrown in to secure a highly rated recruit. Neither of the players would've been coached up, and we would continue to languish in the bottom tier of the conference. Blech for sure.


I just hope with the new coaching staff, we (the fans) don't become our own worst enemy. Let's let them do their job without screaming if we're not FF caliber by 2019. We may struggle next year, but the proof will be in how we fare in the recruiting wars. I think we'll do better there. I'm optimistic overall BU can build a solid program that will thrive for years to come.
 
#2,462      

TheGMan

TheGMan
TheGMan
Adnarel said:
As of last week (or the week before that, I forget), they were hoping to announce around April 12th. Now, it looks like the decision-making process is stretching into at least next week. As time has worn on I'm less optimistic. So is Sparty. =P
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How can you be so sure to eliminate an April 12th announcement? INSIDER STATUS?!?!
 
#2,463      

Deleted member 10676

D
Guest
Deleted member 10676
Adnarel said:
As of last week (or the week before that, I forget), they were hoping to announce around April 12th. Now, it looks like the decision-making process is stretching into at least next week. As time has worn on I'm less optimistic. So is Sparty. =P
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Like the guy (I think it was Roe) said on the 30-30 last night, "Cal can sell water to a well."
 
#2,465      

TheGMan

TheGMan
TheGMan
Second and Chalmers said:
As I said, tough to make that comparison without a Wisconsin offer. Or indeed any major conference offers.
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I don't think you get what they are saying. They aren't saying that he is going to play for Wisconsin and give us fits. Rather, they are saying that they think he is a player that will go under the radar, but will eventually turn out to be a good player that gives us (or teams in other conferences) fits. Which is what Wisconsin has done a lot of in the past.

Long story short: they are saying he is a diamond in the rough player. But they aren't necessarily saying that he will be a diamond in the rough player for Wisconsin. So his lack of a Wisconsin offer is inconsequential.
 
#2,466      

RichBradIllini

RichBradIllini
Peoria
RichBradIllini
Second and Chalmers said:
No, it's mainly that he's not good enough.

No slight to the kid who has worked his way into being one of a tiny number of people on planet earth good enough to play D1 basketball, but the major conferences are for an even freakier tier of people.
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Alec Peters said to tell you 'hi'.
 
#2,469      

Illiniwek06

Illiniwek06
N of I-80
Illiniwek06
TheGMan said:
I don't think you get what they are saying. They aren't saying that he is going to play for Wisconsin and give us fits. Rather, they are saying that they think he is a player that will go under the radar, but will eventually turn out to be a good player that gives us (or teams in other conferences) fits. Which is what Wisconsin has done a lot of in the past.

Long story short: they are saying he is a diamond in the rough player. But they aren't necessarily saying that he will be a diamond in the rough player for Wisconsin. So his lack of a Wisconsin offer is inconsequential.
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I think people do get the assertion. But the rebuttal is still the same: not only does he not hold an offer from Wisconsin, he lacks an offer from any high major school.
 
#2,473      

Illini4life75

I
Illini4life75
So we don't offer guys like bruninga because he has no other major offers.wait til he has a major offer them jump in.no one on here knows how good or not this kid will or will not be.i do know he has a good shot,dribble,and he's now 6'9.strength coach in college will only make him better.all I'm saying.
 
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