I'm not sure I see the fit? Maybe it's if Kofi leaves and Hawkins goes to the 5?
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Well, they only get to do it once, so they better make sure they get it right the 2nd time around. With NIL money in play, sitting on the bench for a couple years isn't going to be very palatable for guys who could be starting elsewhere.
I don't think guys are leaving because they don't want to work. Sometimes in life, its more healthy to pick up your ball and leave, if you are unhappy. You only get one life. You have to pursue your own happiness.
And for the potential of the Vander Vos euro-duo
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
Love Vander Plas. Would be a great vet to have. I wonder how hard we are pursuing him though.
I would take him for the sole reason of keeping him away from Wisconsin lol. He would fit that system really well IMO.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
I agree with all of this.
We also have to remember that these athletes are working with a very narrow window to both get the attention of scouts and capitalize on NIL. Sometimes moving on is the better business decision, too. Nothing is one size fits all or suitable for the same piece of advice. You have to take the nuisance of the situation into consideration.
Grinding it out has its benefits in certain situations, but as we've discussed here ad nauseam, the landscape of college sports is changing. I can't be mad at the athletes for changing with it.
I agree - I think if he comes here it would mean some other roster turnover we haven't heard about yet - I don't think he would come here not to play
When you play 69 total minutes all season and score just 7 points in Big Ten play, transferring is always on the table. Especially when players like Clark, Epps and Harris are coming in to fight with you for minutes and you know the team is in the market for Transfers as well. He doesn't want to risk spending another season as the 12th man (and being the 10th man is not too much more appealing).
Fighting for scraps when there are likely places you can play now means Transfer just makes sense. And I don't think it's that great for anyone's development to spend time buried on the bench or only playing 1 minute here, 2 minutes there. Practice is what it is what and important, but those in-game reps are how you really become a better player.
I don't think it's good for every player in the country that puts their name in the Portal, some may never come out when the numbers with the COVID crunch are fully realized or they discover the grass isn't greener, etc. However, I think that mostly applies to Mid-Major players who leave good situations for them because maybe they have 15 points in a game out of conference against a high major and think "that makes me a high major player" who may get somewhere and realize that it doesn't necessarily work that way and that former top 100 recruit who is just a bit better in every area means about 20 less minutes when you start doing the math on minutes allocations. For high major players that were nicely rated recruits that aren't seeing the minutes they like, transferring and immediately playing is generally a good thing.
Podz was a late riser in the recruiting world who didn't play against players that had any future in basketball day in and out in High School. He may be a longer term guy and eventually lives up to it, but if Illinois keeps recruiting at a high level, the minutes may not ever be there. Losing the guy who played the 12th most minutes isn't uncommon in any era... maybe players were more inclined to give it 2 years instead of 1 before willingly sitting a year, but this is what it is. With the players being lost, it'd be nice if he was there until the younger guys definitively pass him, but you can't expect a player to just hang around like that when it's their BBall future on the line.
Fighting for scraps when there are likely places you can play now means Transfer just makes sense. And I don't think it's that great for anyone's development to spend time buried on the bench or only playing 1 minute here, 2 minutes there. Practice is what it is what and important, but those in-game reps are how you really become a better player.
I don't think it's good for every player in the country that puts their name in the Portal, some may never come out when the numbers with the COVID crunch are fully realized or they discover the grass isn't greener, etc. However, I think that mostly applies to Mid-Major players who leave good situations for them because maybe they have 15 points in a game out of conference against a high major and think "that makes me a high major player" who may get somewhere and realize that it doesn't necessarily work that way and that former top 100 recruit who is just a bit better in every area means about 20 less minutes when you start doing the math on minutes allocations. For high major players that were nicely rated recruits that aren't seeing the minutes they like, transferring and immediately playing is generally a good thing.
Podz was a late riser in the recruiting world who didn't play against players that had any future in basketball day in and out in High School. He may be a longer term guy and eventually lives up to it, but if Illinois keeps recruiting at a high level, the minutes may not ever be there. Losing the guy who played the 12th most minutes isn't uncommon in any era... maybe players were more inclined to give it 2 years instead of 1 before willingly sitting a year, but this is what it is. With the players being lost, it'd be nice if he was there until the younger guys definitively pass him, but you can't expect a player to just hang around like that when it's their BBall future on the line.
Wonder if there'd be any interest in having Lieb take a Redshirt, and then he can progress another year closer to his U of I business degree (big selling point in why he came to Illinois despite knowing PT would be hard to come by), and with COVID year in 2020-21, he could play out a year in 2023-24, graduate, and then have 2 years of eligibility and kind of assess from there if he can be a role player for Illinois or play out 2 years at a lower level of competition.
That doesn't open up a scholarship though?
Bigtex
- DFW
nicely said. With 3 talented sophomores and 4 talented Freshman incoming, PT has to be earned and my gut says that Podz might draw the short stick even through there are lot of minutes at the 2 for someone(s) to earn. Also, likely competing with transfer portal guys for minutes at the 2.
I get this point of view, heck for the most part I believe it too. But these kids have 4 years to make a big enough mark to maximize how they are perceived for an NBA spot or at least a chance at playing professionally somewhere. And your chances of making NBA after 4 years in college is reduced, so your best chance is if you can come out within 3 years. Podz has already used up year 1. If he stays here with no clear cut path to much playing time, let alone starting, he’s now wasted 2 years. Remember we have no idea what BU said to him during their meeting. While he may not have come out and said playing time will likely be scarce, I’m sure Podz can read between the lines.
As to waiting in line for your time, those days are over because rosters can be remade each year via the transfer portal. Illini bring in 3 guard recruits. OK, still a path for playing time for Podz. But then they are looking to bring in at least 1 guard transfer — and at your position. Does it make sense to put in your time this year, when another player might be brought in from portal next year who blocks you again? I’m sure Podz wants to start. I kind of doubt that he asked for assurances he would start, but it is very likely he wanted to see a path to regular playing time. To BU’s credit, he was likely honest with him, and Podz felt he was better off moving on to a place where he was the guy jumping the line rather than putting in his time with no real assurances that would eventually lead to a significant role no matter how hard he worked. Besides if he stayed here until junior year, Loyalty would just be yelling about how he was taking time away from the new freshmen.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I'm sorry for him that he had so much going on in his personal life (don't wish that upon anybody, particularly a young college kid), but it's always a red flag when a player sits or leaves a team and the team goes on to play much better basketball.
I don't know... I am in the camp of it being ok having someone like him at the end of the bench. No one is ever going to go 11-13 deep on the rotation. 10 is already pushing it most of the time. At that point having some stability and guys that bleed O&B for spots 11-13 is good. They become grad assistants and maybe you get a future coach out of it.
In today's world I don't see those 11-13 guys sticking around in a development role. They are only going to stick around for the free degree and maybe some mentoring if they want to get into coaching.
Correct, it wouldn't be to open a scholarship, it would be mostly to do him a solid and preserve a year of eligibility assuming he is a good character guy who is useful to have around for practices, mentoring younger players, etc.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I remember that game also.....Hit some 3's and played a whale of a game against us,,,,,,,,
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Is anybody else not stoked about potentially adding Ramey? I haven't watched Texas much but from what I've seen he hasn't really stuck out, stats aren't great, and the thing that sticks in my mind is this incident with his teammate (not like Texas fans are sticking up for him in the comments either). I know he battles and is passionate but he seems like a wild card personality to bring into the mix.
No offense, but this is the same line of reasoning that a lot of companies use to underpay people. IMO, if I work hard and it’s not good enough for the place where I currently work, I’ll look for another place where my hard work will be appreciated more. That’s what Podz is doing here. He’s only got 4 years of college basketball. He’s gotta look out for himself. I wish him the best of luck.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
Such a gifted passer
Guessing it'll be radio silent on TSJ until Kofi makes his decision.Please, anyone, just give me some news on TSJ and why the insiders liked that post saying he's unlikely to come here
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