Griffin and Williams as well.....
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (August 2018)
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TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
As there is in so many recruitments, there was some weird behind the scenes stuff happening with this one—but you're right, to a recruit, the gap between Illinois and DePaul just isn't that big anymore. We've both been big conference bottom-feeders for most of the time these kids can remember (although DePaul has certainly been worse).
Certainly not time to panic, but this staff doesn't have a great batting average on the in-state kids they've targeted so far.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Based on sheer numbers at least a couple of those non-4-star guys are going to pan out. Right now when you add the known factors of Trent, DMW, and Kipper (I'm not including AJ in there only because this is his last season) that's really all we need to have a competent B1G roster so long as at least one of those guys that pans out is a big. The problem is depth if one of our starters gets hurt. We're good on guards but if a big goes down we'll be in trouble. As long as we stay healthy I think we can be pretty competitive THIS year. Most of the best teams use a pretty short bench rotation so if we can get that and not be turnstyles on defense, and perhaps incorporate some things in BU's offensive system that he wanted to but never got the chance to run last year e can win some games and shock some fans and pundits alike. Do that and we'll start looking a whole lot better to recruits and everyone's job gets easier.
Sure but many of us also see teams who haven't had much success lately like us pull in 5 star and 4 star recruits like LSU, USC, Alabama, Mizz, University of Washington, Auburn.
This is again without many wins. Thus why the recent relevancy theory doesn't always apply in attracting top players... Or maybe it just doesn't apply for Illinois revenue sports, which would make sense.
sacraig
- The desert
In fairness, the thing about diamonds in the rough is that they need someone to cut the facets into them so that they are no longer "in the rough". Our previous staff was terrible at this, and even if some of our unheralded guys actually were diamonds in the rough, they just remained in the rough. Maybe Underwood is better at that? Who knows.
sacraig
- The desert
There are some common threads to most of all of those situations, and I am not sure it is worth a few recruits to join that world. Your example of Auburn is particularly telling, given their coach.
Deleted member 8632
D
Guest
For all this, there's only one thing you should know.......I put my trust in BU.
Well, the Liddell recruitment just became very high stakes. If we don’t get him, we’re more likely than not going to be playing against him a lot.
Bro he had new assistants that were also learning his system. We all get that you don't like Underwood, but the constant criticism at every angle is sickening. Get over the fact that they didn't choose the coach you wanted. Put your app in as AD since you certainly have it all figured out.
Perhaps, but what common tread do you apply to Alabama or UW? You can cry $ all you want but please explain that instead of a lazy rebuttal that simply insinuates that everyone else must be cheating besides us.
Deleted member 643761
D
Guest
Pretty much everything you've written today belies that.
I'm routinely amazed at people who think that they know all that is going on within an organization by what they see in public. Do you really believe you know the whole story? Do you really believe that coaches and recruits are giving you the whole story in their public statements?
It's pretty simple for me. Plan or no plan, Underwood needs to put together recruits that can win at a top 25 level each and every year. I judge him not by appearances or what "seems" to be happening but by what the end result of recruiting is and what the results on the court are. I'd give first year recruiting a B and I'd give first year coaching on the court a C- to D+.
No one likes to be publicly rejected, which every recruiting loss is. But fans blow those rejections out of proportion for the most part.
I’ve been on Twitter a lot lately and I almost wonder if the passion our fans have in tweeting replies to these kids comes off as more desperation than passion...
sacraig
- The desert
I don't think everyone else is cheating other than us. I think these programs that are historically dumps and then, out of the blue, suddenly start landing blue chip recruits are up to something, though.
And perhaps it isn't fair to lump all of those schools into the same boat. It isn't nice to compare someone to Bruce Pearl unless they really deserve it, after all. But, I will also note that Romar (UW) and Grant (Bama) have done absolutely jack with their recruits, which eventually was their undoing anyway.
The desperate wheel gets the grease?... Or something
Deleted member 11196
D
Guest
WOW... Sounds like something that comes from a person who has been enshrined in the basketball coaches hall of fame.... Congratulations S & C....
The problem is that DMW and Kipper aren't known factors at this point. They still need to prove it. If they do, and do it consistently, then we are in a much better position but Trent is the only proven guy on the roster. I agree with everything else though. I like what I've heard so far about the other guys but everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt until we see them play decent competition. The belief is that our guards are good and should outweigh the question marks in the frontcourt, but we can't be too sure that our guards are actually going to be that good. A lot of us thought that heading into last season.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I did not realize that it had been that long. Incredible
I'm curious if he actually dropped one of his original Top 5 schools and added the 6th he was thinking of adding. Then he doesn't have to explain much.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
There are definitely a few accounts that come across incredibly desperate and sometimes just straight-up creepy.
Do use all a favor if you happen to read this board: Stop. Don't beg a 16/17 year old to come "be the savior" or "how much we need you, please!". If you want to reply to a post with "ILL!!!" or whatever, go for it, but any more than that just comes across as pathetic. Let the coaching staff explain why we need them, that's their job.
</typical_rant>
I saw a different floor than you did. The improvements with lesser talent than previously seen was remarkable. The amount of hustle and defense was inspiring. I was not unhappy with several of our players and I did NOT see the “give up” mentality from a couple of seasons past.
sacraig
- The desert
I have to say I agree with you. The win-loss record was still saddening, but last year's team was a dramatic improvement over the previous few years based on the eye test. There was a lot more hustle, a lot less giving up, and we were only blown out a couple of times. That's worth about nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it does give me hope that this staff has a plan on the floor and, with time to implement the system and instill a culture, will have us in a much better place than where we were when they took over.
Maybe there was no said "offer" only an insinuated one...if so possibly his parents talked him out of hoping for a "better" one and valuing the ones that have shown a long term distinct interest all along?
Missouri very well might win the Liddell sweepstakes, McKinney and Liddell have always been close and the families are extremely close as well. It has been reported many times of a package deal as well, most don't pan out, I have a foreboding feeling that this one just might.
If so, it is a good indication as to why we must recruit other states/countries even more so….Chicago is not a given for talent to come, and if this coup is gained by Martin and Mizery...well St Louis is not, nor has it ever been a given either.
Notice this is NOT in orange...lol
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