I think one of the biggest helping factors is that the talent pool will also be more evenly distributed.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Eh, to be fair to RJ, he didn't get the chance to play much with the experience in front of him. Remember, Keegan Murray only averaged 7/game his frosh season. RJ isn't at that level, but it also shows what a difference a year makes.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
What was Trent bringing to the table by tournament time? Love everything he meant to the program the last 5 years but he was <50% and out of gas come March, we just had no other option. I can assure you Skyy/Jayden combo will outperform end-of-season Trent. And I’m willing to bet that duo will equal Trent’s (offensive) production.
RJ>Plummer (all around). And it’s not remotely close.
Ty>Damonte-today, yesterday, last month. But Ty will not be starting.
Your Coleman and Dain takes are obviously valid, but that will not be your starting frontcourt come November.
I like the way you think 0440. Definitely more versatile and athletically more talented. Parts of the game we might be lacking which factors in would be leadership and experience. Hopefully the portal helps with the experience and depth. Have you guys heard anything happening in the portal for the Illini?
He played eight minutes a game. He showed a good outside stroke and ability to drive and finish at the rim. A big leap from him should be expected this year, imo.
Trent was completely worn out at the end of the season and his pink eye was unfortunate for sure. But you’re talking about a guy who was an absolute warrior, 2nd team all big ten and a cornerstone of our program for 5 years.
If RJ was better than Plummer (and it’s not even close,) then BU is a bad coach and should have played him more than Plummer. But Plummer was also 3rd team big ten last year. So that makes me think that Underwood was right and you are not.
As of right now I believe that the staff expects Dainja to start at C next season
If they dont meet the deadline, the transfer simply reverts to the old way. Sit a year unless you dont play D1. Nobody wants to do that any more. It doesn't eliminate transferring entirely but it effectively simplifies matters greatly.
I'm pretty sure he's right, but no way Christie wants to sit a year. If transferring is a realistic option for him you'd have to imagine he enters the portal and not leave it to chance that the NCAA grants him a waiver.
Trent struggled this year. He was really hot and cold. Maybe it was injury, maybe he expended too much energy on defense and running the point, but he was not Soph Trent or even Fr. Trent. If Epps and Skyy can't combine for 12 ppg, 4 apg, and 3 rpg we are in a lot of trouble.
What people also need to realize is we will be getting significantly taller. As far as we know right now we are replacing two 6'1" guys, a 6'2" guy, and a 6'3" guy, who at times had to play PF, with guys that are 6'2" Epps, 6'3" Skyy, 6'6" Rodgers, 6'7" RJ, 6'7" Goode. Will definitely lose some size in the paint, but our perimeter players will be much bigger.
I don't think he meant that RJ was better than Plummer last year; just that RJ as a sophomore will be a better all-around player than Plummer was this past season.
Out on a limb a bit, not not a total hot take, IMO.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
I am not at all trying to discount what Trent did for this program. We are not on the trajectory we are on without his footprint. I just think Skyy and Jayden at the very least can match his (offensive) contribution come Nov (not a hot take whatsoever, and it’s concerning if they don’t).
Fall ‘22 RJ>Plummer (all-around). Love Plum, and his impact on the team this year was beyond anything any of us could have imagined, but I expect a HUGE jump from RJ this coming year. My post was based on a forward-looking outlook.
Joseph Kerr
- Fort Wayne, IN
Frazier did not have a great last two years as he was wasted in playing a different role than we needed for him to really be in (his defense perfect, just not the scorer consistently(a little over 11 per game, 39.7%). Skyy could be more natural where he is at and with his talent, do exactly what we would need and ask of him - uptempo, shots in 7 seconds, dude can pass and score, how is his D as a freshman.
Plummer gave us points from three, our second best scorer, but a weakness on D. He turned the ball over about the same as he did assists, and he would have a big game and then meh. Whoever comes in will have to replace the 3 point shot, ft % and only needs to improve the points to points given up per game. I think Goode can be an Altenberger shooter when used and I think using rotation in the 2 and 3 slots will pick up the offense as Sencire will surprise people. If we get 9 to 11 from this position.
Hawkins hopefully goes from 5.9 to say 11 since we aren't stuffing in into the middle 90 percent of the time, and get his 6 points from his back up?
Demonte, 3.9 points per game on full game minutes. This is where we need to gain on offense. Using Hawkins, Ty, Sencire, RJ, Goode, we should pick up points to cover.....
Kofi, this is where the committee has to score more, faster and I think Dain will give us double digits, but if you realize that the backups at center averaged 4 points a game, there is some ground that can be gained there. I think Dain will be a better defender than Kofi. Kofi had some monster blocks but didn't average a lot of them, nor did he have the footwork to not be exploited, Dain and Hawkins and Verdunk do. My opinion.
Nothing against last years group, but they were not consistent night in and night out and still managed to win the B10. I really think we will score easier and have more options, not lose as much on substitutions, and we will finally have some size where we can win on mismatches and not have them beat us based on exploited size or weakness. Would I like an experienced scorer? Sure would be nice to add one in the portal, but this team is starting it's journey young, would you settle for one good year and a national championship in year 2 or 3 or just make the tournament and then get exploited because we couldn't play with the size and speed of a non-Big 10 foe? I can take the heat for my opinion, It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing milkbone underwear.
To add to this, it will be his second year in the program. And that matters. I expect good things from Hawkins, Goode, and Melendez--and expect less from the new recruits--for this reason. Pleasant surprises happen, but they call them "surprises" for a reason.
Joseph Kerr
- Fort Wayne, IN
Oh and look at the Celtics this year....more talent than years before? Dude they had two talented scoring PG's in past years. What they are this year is a better team, consistent and always have someone stepping up to be the next man up. Sound like an Underwood mentality to you?
I disagree, I would put Skyy,a soph RJ, soph Goode, a year older Hawk and Dain and those 5 would beat last years starters, We did not have a good record against teams who are long and athletic. I feel Brad would only need to land one solid transfer (shooting guard) and a grad transfer 5. We will be the deepest team in the conference and a top 10 starting the season.
The fact that you don’t even have RJ in the starting lineup tells me everything I need to know…
They are always scouring the portal. And potential portal kids are always back channeling schools they are interested in…..let it all play out….once portal season is over I’ll share a little behind the scenes of some things
We have one player in the top 50 on our team.
Top 10 staring the season is extreme hyperbole.
In fact if we don’t make some splashes in the portal I expect a bottom half of the league finish.
Trying to be optimistic that freshman Ty could beat out a player who sat the whole year behind DMW.
I’m very fond of Underwood in general but RJ behind Damonte on the depth chart was a head scratcher.
TBF RJ was probably about to take a good chunk out of DMW's minutes before he had appendix surgery.
Joel Goodson
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