Mark Smith transferring from Illinois

[Deleted member 547530]

I swear to God half this board is getting as soft as some of our players. BU didn't run MS off. His sideline demeanor is exactly what these guys needed. Here's a little quote:
" Better to fight for something than live for nothing" - George S Patton
For the last 10 plus years we have been living for nothing. BU is fighting for something everyday that we all want - culture change, toughness, winning. The fact that these guys gave it their all every game and didn't lay down(as in past years) tells me they believe in the coach/leader. Great achievement takes great sacrifice - BU will get that from whomever is on the roster next year. Give me a guy like BU at the helm any day. He is a winner. If it took Patton slapping a private to ensure I am not speaking German today, I will take Patton all day every day. I will take BU all day every day because he is fighting for something we all want to see happen - UI basketball return to prominence. rant over
Good luck on your future endeavors Mr. Smith

 

[Gunner23]

I swear to God half this board is getting as soft as some of our players. BU didn't run MS off. His sideline demeanor is exactly what these guys needed. Here's a little quote:
" Better to fight for something than live for nothing" - George S Patton
For the last 10 plus years we have been living for nothing. BU is fighting for something everyday that we all want - culture change, toughness, winning. The fact that these guys gave it their all every game and didn't lay down(as in past years) tells me they believe in the coach/leader. Great achievement takes great sacrifice - BU will get that from whomever is on the roster next year. Give me a guy like BU at the helm any day. He is a winner. If it took Patton slapping a private to ensure I am not speaking German today, I will take Patton all day every day. I will take BU all day every day because he is fighting for something we all want to see happen - UI basketball return to prominence. rant over
Good luck on your future endeavors Mr. Smith

Agreed. I might be "misremembering" the past, but it seems that there was a group of folks on here that wanted the Illini to hire Frank Martin from KSU during the search that ended up with Groce...??? Did they think Martin was some sort of "players coach" that was going to solve a "culture" problem?

Now that we have a coach from the Huggins/Martin tree, many want to revert to the Weber/Groce version of things. Everyone talks about KN turning his back on BU on the sidelines. How many times did DMac completely blow off Weber during their time together? If I had to guess, it would be just enough times that DMac's brother would choose Nebraska over Illinois...

 

[Elgin7680]

It is just play ignorant to put any blame on BU for Smith leaving. How many press conference did BU have questions of Smith and he constantly said positive things about him. Personally I thought the way he was playing he got too much playing time. Smith just quit, there was no thought of working hard and coming back for a better season next year. That is why you got to admire Jordan, for 2 years he did not get to play and you never heard anything. He just kept on working hard which resulted in getting to play more. I really don't care about Smith leaving, not going to miss his turnovers, inability to play defense, his poor decisions, and poor shooting. I am betting we are going to find a replacement that will be much more helpful for next season.

 

[sully]

sucks it didn't work out for Mark here. best of luck to him (unless he joins up with Cuonzo & Misery of course! lol)

 

[pruman91]

I swear to God half this board is getting as soft as some of our players. BU didn't run MS off. His sideline demeanor is exactly what these guys needed. Here's a little quote:
" Better to fight for something than live for nothing" - George S Patton
For the last 10 plus years we have been living for nothing. BU is fighting for something everyday that we all want - culture change, toughness, winning. The fact that these guys gave it their all every game and didn't lay down(as in past years) tells me they believe in the coach/leader. Great achievement takes great sacrifice - BU will get that from whomever is on the roster next year. Give me a guy like BU at the helm any day. He is a winner. If it took Patton slapping a private to ensure I am not speaking German today, I will take Patton all day every day. I will take BU all day every day because he is fighting for something we all want to see happen - UI basketball return to prominence. rant over
Good luck on your future endeavors Mr. Smith

when the players stop making stupid, low BB IQ mistakes , then BU will be able to teach instead of preach....we lost 5-6 games minimum because of stupid play and no matter how much BU teaches and preaches, the onus is on the players to perform up to BU's level of expectation...He is the coach and if it's too tough for them to handle then adios amigo......

MS was as lost as any freshman I can remember and I've been an Illini fan for over 55 years...to slow to react, stiff in the hips and legs...always a step slow on D and too many bull rushes with no hope of converting anything at the rim.

I wish him well in what he wants out of his college BB experience....the 1 year at UI was a MAJOR disappointment for all concerned....


NEXT.....

 

[WARDFORTHREE]

so here goes. The difference between high school and college nowadays is that on high school, athleticism and strength win out. Let’s use Mark Smith and Damonte Williams as examples. Damonte played a lot of basketball growing up. Mark smith, starred in baseball. Playing a sport a lot allows you to develop some of those instincts. Just like anything Mark Smith needs to play more basketball. He still has all the skills. I wish him well.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

He should go to Wake Forest, he’s already a message board legend there

 

[topaz]

This purported demeanor problem is crap -- Underwood went out of his way to try and prop up Smith on numerous occasions. Smith is going in as our 4th best pt guard next year, so for his life it was the right decision to leave now to find a place where he has a chance to play pt.

Could be one of those " don't yell at me in practice, in front of the other players" syndrome". Some players don't take to aggressive control.

 

[618Illini]

when the players stop making stupid, low BB IQ mistakes , then BU will be able to teach instead of preach....we lost 5-6 games minimum because of stupid play and no matter how much BU teaches and preaches, the onus is on the players to perform up to BU's level of expectation...He is the coach and if it's too tough for them to handle then adios amigo......

MS was as lost as any freshman I can remember and I've been an Illini fan for over 55 years...to slow to react, stiff in the hips and legs...always a step slow on D and too many bull rushes with no hope of converting anything at the rim.

I wish him well in what he wants out of his college BB experience....the 1 year at UI was a MAJOR disappointment for all concerned....


NEXT.....

+1000 this sums up his season, he was really bad on D and that does not work in any system.

 

[topaz]

Underwood amd Illinois getting shredded om 670 this AM for this.

Yea..that's hate Illinois Radio....

 

[Dbell1981]

Underwood amd Illinois getting shredded om 670 this AM for this.

Where's this located at? St.Louis or Chicago? Either way let the babies cry and pack their bags. Quicker we get some mentally tough kids in here the better. I'm with Kathy, maybe some of these fans here need to transfer.

 

[Deleted member 631370]

He should go to Wake Forest, he’s already a message board legend there

In my mind, the Wake game signaled the beginning of the end of the Mark Smith love affair.

They rightly ridiculed the Jason Kidd comparisons, and when he shot 2-8 and scored 5 points in his first game against P5 competition, that was the first indicator that he probably wasn't ready for prime time. The UNLV game was a brief return to glory, but the long slide toward role player status began in Winston Salem.

 

[Deleted member 29907]

In my mind, the Wake game signaled the beginning of the end of the Mark Smith love affair.

They rightly ridiculed the Jason Kidd comparisons, and when he shot 2-8 and scored 5 points in his first game against P5 competition, that was the first indicator that he probably wasn't ready for prime time. The UNLV game was a brief return to glory, but the long slide toward role player status began in Winston Salem.

There was also a massive block at the rim in that game I would have thought he would learned from, but alas he continued to try to bring it into the trees ....

 

[doowink]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I think he is face palming the idea that people are blaming the coaches style. If it is true he couldn't handl BU, there are few coaches he will be able to play under.

Yea you could be right..after reading it again maybe he was referring to that....I read it the opposite way,(and I will admit a rather large amount of alcohol was involved at that point) ...don't know....but in either event I agree...if you can't take the coach or coaches getting in your face on occasion you probably can't play in any league, unless that league hands out participation ribbons at the end

 

[bombayIllini]

Underwood and Illinois getting shredded on 670 this AM for this.

Yeah, I 2 am that BU/Josh did not consult me.


I have a lot of time on hand.

 

[americanoutlaw11]

Yeah, I 2 am that BU/Josh did not consult me.


I have a lot of time on hand.

What did they say?

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Underwood and Illinois getting shredded on 670 this AM for this.

That probably means this was a good move for all involved. Those guys can't find their backsides with both hands.

 

[Innocent Primate]

Again, to repost my question (#197). Exactly what indications are there that Mark Smith’s transferring has anything to do with Coach Underwood’s coaching style ? Absent any such evidence, it seems to me that those who don’t like Underwood’s coaching style are using such transfer as an opportunity to concoct “fake news.”

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Again, to repost my question (#197). Exactly what indications are there that Mark Smith’s transferring has anything to do with Coach Underwood’s coaching style ? Absent any such evidence, it seems to me that those who don’t like Underwood’s coaching style are using such transfer as an opportunity to concoct “fake news.”

Underwood needs to control this narrative pronto.

 

[madcrazeeballa]

People are blaming the coach for being too hard on guys? That’s funny. I think Mark was used to being ‘the man’ and expected to come in and continue to be ‘the man’ on this team. He was used to being able to do whatever he wanted against inferior athletes and when he played P5 competition it was a wake up call for him. He started seeing Frazier succeed and instead of rising to the occasion, he wilted. Instead of working putting in the work, he decides to quit the team. I wish him success, but if he’s not willing to put in the work then we shouldn’t want him here.

 

[Illiniaaron]

I have no idea if Smith felt Underwood was too hard on him or not, but a good coach learns what motivates each individual on the team. Some guys respond well to an !!!-chewing, others go into a shell. Those guys need a pat on the rear instead. But no one is above getting yelled at at least a couple of times.

 

[bombayIllini]

I have no idea if Smith felt Underwood was too hard on him or not, but a good coach learns what motivates each individual on the team. Some guys respond well to an !!!-chewing, others go into a shell. Those guys need a pat on the rear instead. But no one is above getting yelled at at least a couple of times.

Just trying to understand.

And where in this equation does a parent fit in?

Thx

 

[Illiniaaron]

I'm talking about a player's relationship with his coach. Parents have nothing to do with it. Not really understanding your question.

 

[sbillini]

People are blaming the coach for being too hard on guys? That’s funny. I think Mark was used to being ‘the man’ and expected to come in and continue to be ‘the man’ on this team. He was used to being able to do whatever he wanted against inferior athletes and when he played P5 competition it was a wake up call for him. He started seeing Frazier succeed and instead of rising to the occasion, he wilted. Instead of working putting in the work, he decides to quit the team. I wish him success, but if he’s not willing to put in the work then we shouldn’t want him here.

C'mon folks. We're obviously all entitled to our opinions, but how bout we just take the high road and not berate an 18 year old kid and make assumptions for which we have little or no data. For all we know, he may have wanted to stay and his parents counseled him to leave. Or BU could've asked him to leave for any number of reasons. We really don't have any reliable information one way or the other. So instead of kicking a kid while he's potentially down, let's just learn our lessons as a program/fandom and move on.

I for one (like many here), wish he had stayed, thought he had potential and a high ceiling. But at the same time, I understand the reasons for leaving just on the surface on things given our roster situation and playing style (again, not knowing any real details).

Oh well, wish him the best. Moving on.

 

[Orangetool]

I have been interested in the discussion re red faced screaming coaching. I like BU very much and believe he is the coach we need. This aspect of his style is the only negative IMO.


I believe that this style of coaching will be on the wane as our society continues to be more intolerant of abuse. Red faced swearing at players can work to a point, for certain players. If its all you got, todays players may begin to tune out.
Showing up Kipper on TV was a bit Weberesque. Not a good look for the program.


I hope coach has other motivating techniques. Its sort of like the old adage:


If the only tool you have in the box is a hammer, all situations begin to look like nails.