Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#851      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
But the Germans did bomb Pearl Harbor ... right?
jb01.jpg

yes ...............yes they did..............................cheeseburger......pepsi............
 
#852      
We have somewhat of a not-so-poor-man's version of Brian Cook on this team right now....

Coleman Hawkins.

Doesn't have quite the post moves and his outside jump shot still needs some refinement and repetition. But IMO the similarities are there. By the time he's a Senior, he's gonna be a real treat to watch.
I agree with this. Coleman may even have more upside potential but Brian was more refined at this stage of his career. One of my all time favorites.
 
#853      
Saw Cookie play in Orlando around a decade ago vs. Cavs. All he did was sit in a lounge chair at the arc and pop a three now and then...out-court so he was ready to defend the break. I imagine he spent many hours of practice just firing away from his spot. Got a pretty good paycheck for it though.
Yeah I’d do that job.
 
#856      
My thoughts exactly.
The answer to effective offense for this team has been staring us in the eyes for years. How many times have the Illini been beaten by teams like Ohio State, Michigan, MSU and Iowa who have had strong play inside with shooters, generally at least two, on the perimeter. It is simply a pick your poison situation. In the case of the Illini, you have to double Kofi or he will outscore most teams by himself, especially now that he is hitting free throws acceptably (I stilll want him to get to 80%). As soon as he sees the double coming, the ball needs to go QUICKLY to the perimeter and/or rotate to the open man.

Against a zone, it is even easier and this team should be wide-eyed and smiling when they see it. Even a match-up zone against this team should be welcomed. Get the ball to Hawk or DFW at the FF line and let the big dogs eat. Having athletes who can both move with handle and shoot on the perimeter is a blessing...and BU has just that and is molding this team slowly into being elite. Not there yet, but getting better week by week.

Personally, I love the makeup of this team. But they will absolutely be required to learn to keep turnovers below 10 and defend against the drive if they are to get to the FF. It has truly been a gift to watch them learn to play together and get to the point where they are utilizing both their perimeter advantages as well as Kofi and Hawk in the paint. What we have seen in the last handful of games was not possible without all of them climbing the learning curve over the past month. Kudos to them all, especially Kofi since he is the key to the whole transformation into finding the elite strengths of this roster.

Now, hold onto your seats. If we see a gradual reduction in blunders and more defensive focus on stopping penetration and bad fouls....while getting them all to be dependable at the FF line, regardless of how critical the situation. Watch it happen...I think it will....then bring on anyone!!
 
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#857      
I agree that there are some similarities, but Cook, IMO was a post player who can shoot. CoHawk definitely doesn't have the game or look of a "post" player at all, IMO.
What I want to see from CoHawk is a mid-range jumper that is on auto. So many times, he gets the ball at the arc with no one near....but instead of shooting he drives to about 8 ft....where he really has no idea what to do with two defenders and Kofi waiting at the rim. He needs to learn to do the simple/ easy thing and pull up for the deuce which he should nail about 70%+ of the time. Like Grandy said in and interview, the simple/easy answers are almost always the best. They won't get you on ESPN...but that is for fans. Players and coaches get to the FF....which is infinitely better.
 
#858      
But the Germans did bomb Pearl Harbor ... right?
Those Focke-Wulfe Luftwaffe planes were simply ahead of their time. Our golf clubs were simply ineffective in defense of Pearl Harbor. Where were Callawy, Ping, and Taylor Made when we needed them?
 
#859      
Right now, may be the best recruiting pitch this program has had since 04-05. BU and company can show that having a dominant doesn't detract from guards and wings getting their points.

Kofi is top 5 in pts and rebounds and everyone else is allowed to shoot until hearts are content.

Who doesn't want to play in that type of offense? PLUS, AC will be back at some point and can only assume for at least next year as well to facilitate and show what a true PG can do in thos offense.

I still think this team is better than last years if everyone is on the court.
 
#860      
Right now, may be the best recruiting pitch this program has had since 04-05. BU and company can show that having a dominant doesn't detract from guards and wings getting their points.

Kofi is top 5 in pts and rebounds and everyone else is allowed to shoot until hearts are content.

Who doesn't want to play in that type of offense? PLUS, AC will be back at some point and can only assume for at least next year as well to facilitate and show what a true PG can do in thos offense.

I still think this team is better than last years if everyone is on the court.
It worries me that AC has really been harassed by the insane portion of our fan base. Turned off comments on his social media. Really hope he’s back.
 
#861      

lstewart53x3

Scottsdale, Arizona
It worries me that AC has really been harassed by the insane portion of our fan base. Turned off comments on his social media. Really hope he’s back.
As far as I can tell, he still has comments turned on, on twitter at least. And most of the comments on his recent post were positive, sharing the sentiment that we’re eager for his return.
 
#862      
It worries me that AC has really been harassed by the insane portion of our fan base. Turned off comments on his social media. Really hope he’s back.
I think we overestimate how much fan interactions influence player decisions. Fans everywhere harass people. I have even seen other school fans harass Curbelo. Just human nature
 
#865      
Cook was a beast his sr year. Put that (talented but young) team on his back. The leadership and fortitude he displayed were GOATish.
Brian Cook's grandmother and my grandmother were neighbors back when he played here. (Does that qualify me as an insider?) She told me after his junior season he was seeing a sports psychologist to help him be more aggressive. I would say it worked. She also told me that he said Luther Head was going to be special. That worked too.
 
#867      
Right now, may be the best recruiting pitch this program has had since 04-05. BU and company can show that having a dominant doesn't detract from guards and wings getting their points.

Kofi is top 5 in pts and rebounds and everyone else is allowed to shoot until hearts are content.

Who doesn't want to play in that type of offense? PLUS, AC will be back at some point and can only assume for at least next year as well to facilitate and show what a true PG can do in thos offense.

I still think this team is better than last years if everyone is on the court.
I totally agree with your last line here. More depth and and scoring options from this team. All they need is to get everyone healthy and gel as a team.

I love AC and he is that wild card any given game. That being said he really hasn't played that much college ball yet. To early to tell as he hasn't played much this year but I still see the 2 major flaws from his game last year that have showed up this year when he was on the floor....Forcing the offense and passes and also his outside shot is horrible. AC has plenty of time to grow his game but I see him as a 4 year player in college unless his outside shot drops at a very high rate.
 
#868      

sacraig

The desert
I think we overestimate how much fan interactions influence player decisions. Fans everywhere harass people. I have even seen other school fans harass Curbelo. Just human nature
I'm not sure.id call it human nature. The majority of fans do not harass players. There are crazies like that in every major fan base, but they aren't the normal ones... unless you root for a Philly team, in which case those ARE the normal ones.
 
#869      
I'm not sure.id call it human nature. The majority of fans do not harass players. There are crazies like that in every major fan base, but they aren't the normal ones... unless you root for a Philly team, in which case those ARE the normal ones.
I disagree. People can be awful, and these reactions are common. I don't condone it, but I think trying to polarize these actions from "normal" fans makes us never solve the real problem. It just gets shrugged off as "those crazy fans" when it's way more than just a few people.
 
#871      
I disagree. People can be awful, and these reactions are common. I don't condone it, but I think trying to polarize these actions from "normal" fans makes us never solve the real problem. It just gets shrugged off as "those crazy fans" when it's way more than just a few people.
Stupid is stupid...when someone posts highly derogatory comments to 18-22 "kids" it tells me a few things.
1. Troll
2. Someone immature who thinks their opinion matters to these players.
3. Someone bet and it didn't go their way.
4. Someone who couldn't imagine playing at a Power 5 level but think since they were all-conference in high school that they "know" how to play.

Just my 2c
 
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