Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2017)

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#4,452      

Trakis

Trakis
Chicago, IL
Trakis
Second and Chalmers said:
I don't think Illinois fans appreciate the way our internet schtick affects the way the program is covered. This is a particularly noticeable example, but this sort of framing is in everything that gets written about Illinois Basketball.

Other programs are strong and valid in their own right, Illinois is lost in the desert thirsty for in-state stars and only those players committing will validate the existence of the program. Wins are meaningless, but so are losses. Big recruits in the state of Illinois are a means to an end for other programs, but they are our entire raison d'etre.

I think that is an absolutely atrocious brand both to sell to fans but especially to be out there in the minds of recruits. And it is fueled by the codependent relationship between clicks-hungry basketball writers and our huge, voracious, self-doubting, and teeny-bopper romantic internet fanbase. They write that about us because that's what we believe about us. Look in the mirror.
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...man......... and I was having such a good day today.
 
#4,453      

ChiefIllini

C
ChiefIllini
HTT said:
Mark Smith's twitter also has pics with Sparty shirts. I won't make any assumptions based on his twitter...
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Yeah but the only MSU tweets he likes are those with picture edits of him. he likes a ton of random UI stuff. It probably just means a ton more UI fans are showing interest but still there is an overwhelming amount compared to MSU.
 
#4,454      

USandA89

U
USandA89
jcgoldie said:
:thumb:
What we do screwing around on message boards in April doesn't move the needle. If we want to win more big time recruiting battles we have to win more.
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What I think S and C was referring to was we as IL fans come across more concerned with recruiting wins and losses than on the court wins and losses. That is a bad look, some call it "too thirsty".

Personally I'd like to see buttoning up the winning part first. The recruitment wins will come and be easier to get. I think we are on the right track: better coaching = more winning = better recruits.
 
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#4,455      

afpharmdawg

A
Colorado Springs
afpharmdawg
FC Illiniman said:
This thread posts chat on recruits. You would hope posts provide facts to backup info. But very few times it happens. Facts 1). The coaching staff is active in recruiting and many have had offered for now and future. 2). Large % of us are hoping tomorrow Mark Smith commits. 3). The sun will come up Thursday in the AM. Commit or not , Illini bb is alot better off then 2 months ago.
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I agree with 1,2 and 4. 3 though the sun will not come up actually the earth is rotating...but, tomorrow I hope MS commits to our beloved. ;)
 
#4,456      

Johnny Lawrence

Johnny Lawrence
Johnny Lawrence
Second and Chalmers said:
I don't think Illinois fans appreciate the way our internet schtick affects the way the program is covered. This is a particularly noticeable example, but this sort of framing is in everything that gets written about Illinois Basketball.

Other programs are strong and valid in their own right, Illinois is lost in the desert thirsty for in-state stars and only those players committing will validate the existence of the program. Wins are meaningless, but so are losses. Big recruits in the state of Illinois are a means to an end for other programs, but they are our entire raison d'etre.

I think that is an absolutely atrocious brand both to sell to fans but especially to be out there in the minds of recruits. And it is fueled by the codependent relationship between clicks-hungry basketball writers and our huge, voracious, self-doubting, and teeny-bopper romantic internet fanbase. They write that about us because that's what we believe about us. Look in the mirror.
Click to expand...

I actually agree with all of this although "teeny-bopper romantic" might be a bit over the top. I will admit it did make me laugh.
 
#4,457      

illiniwil

I
illiniwil
I usually just skip over everything Second and Chalmers writes. The antagonist's view point
 
#4,458      

Deleted member 8213

D
Guest
Deleted member 8213
USandA89 said:
BULLSEYE #2

What I think S and C was referring to was we as IL fans come across more concerned with recruiting wins and losses than on the court wins and losses. That is a bad look, some call it "too thirsty".
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I get it and you're probably right that we could do a lot for our mental well being if we were more relaxed, but in the end I just don't think it really matters much to the outcome. I mean is the argument really that Mark Smith or Tilmon or Goodwin or any of these guys are making their decisions based on how "thirsty" the fans are at one school vs the next?
 
#4,459      

troym22

troym22
troym22
whovous said:
Do we really know Smith's wardrobe choices for the past few days, or is that just someone's idea of a joke?
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No we have a guy staked out in front of Edwardsville HS in a station wagon with binoculars. Lol :p
 
#4,460      

afpharmdawg

A
Colorado Springs
afpharmdawg
illiniwil said:
I usually just skip over everything Second and Chalmers writes. The antagonist's view point
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Not picking on you, we pessimists and optimists on these boards. We have predictors and insiders. We have differing opinions. We have bad info and good info. So, we are Illini and love our school. We just want people to know what we feel. 16.5 hours and counting.
 
#4,461      

Deleted member 8213

D
Guest
Deleted member 8213
afpharmdawg said:
Not picking on you, we pessimists and optimists on these boards. We have predictors and insiders. We have differing opinions. We have bad info and good info. So, we are Illini and love our school. We just want people to know what we feel. 16.5 hours and counting.
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I think your math is off.
 
#4,465      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO

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#4,467      

USandA89

U
USandA89
jcgoldie said:
I get it and you're probably right that we could I mean is the argument really that Mark Smith or Tilmon or Goodwin or any of these guys are making their decisions based on how "thirsty" the fans are at one school vs the next?
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No, I'm not saying that individual recruits are swayed by this at all. I do think that IL fans come off more concerned with being able to say "we got # so and so recruit" or "we took this guy from KU, MSU etc etc."

All the while the Wisky, Butler, etc type schools do what they do, which is win games.

Obelix is correct to point out that not being relevant over the last 12 seasons has really sped this perception up. We've gone from being in a really REALLY enviable spot in 2005 to the lowest of lows in 12 seasons. That's almost impossible to do without some type of scandal/violations!
 
#4,471      

Obelix

Obelix
Obelix
USandA89 said:
Personally I'd like to see buttoning up the winning part first. The recruitment wins will come and be easier to get. I think we are on the right track: better coaching = more winning = better recruits.
Click to expand...

You recruit in order to win. It is a huge pre-requisite for winning and that is why the big time coaches focus on recruiting so much as the cornerstone of their programs. If you do not recruit well, that "buttoning up the winning part first may never come."

As I said, you can talk about coaching up lesser talent, 2-3 stars, developing, yada, yada, yada... then you wake up and go hire Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman.
 
#4,472      

skyIdub

skyIdub
Winged Warrior
skyIdub
Surely we have UI Alumni in Hong Kong. They should know in about 4 hours.
#itsalreadywednesday
#edgeoftomorrow
#timezonemath
 
#4,473      

Peoria Illini

P
Peoria, IL
Peoria Illini
USandA89 said:
No, I'm not saying that individual recruits are swayed by this at all. I do think that IL fans come off more concerned with being able to say "we got # so and so recruit" or "we took this guy from KU, MSU etc etc."

All the while the Wisky, Butler, etc type schools do what they do, which is win games.

Obelix is correct to point out that not being relevant over the last 12 seasons has really sped this perception up. We've gone from being in a really REALLY enviable spot in 2005 to the lowest of lows in 12 seasons. That's almost impossible to do without some type of scandal/violations!
Click to expand...

Wisky and Butler and Xavier, etc., do what they do, because they have coaches that know what they want to do. The last 12 years of Weber and Groce, I don't think we did. I think Weber was swayed by the fans on who would "should" be getting, instead of finding players to fit his motion offense. Big case in point... Shaun Pruitt.

Groce I think had a problem with not committing to a system or a system that worked.

If Underwood can get the recruits that work with his system, then the wins will come and the recruiting will be easier and we can pick the guys that fit the Underwood Way.

BTW, neither Kruger or Self always hit home runs with recruiting. Kruger hit paydirt with the Manual Trio and Self hit paydirt with Dee Brown. But guys like Johnson and Krupalija and Archibald weren't our first choices . Neither was Deron Williams, Augie, Powell and Head. We missed on guys like Bracey Wright and Sean Dockery, etc.

But guys like Dee and Deron and Augie and Powell worked well in Self's High Low offense and then also in Weber's motion offense.

We need to find guys that play the Underwood Way regardless of where they are at in the rankings. Then we will be like the Wisky and Butler.
 
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