Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#126      

altgeld88

altgeld88
Arlington, Virginia
altgeld88
foby said:
Bummer Ugh GIF by Teddy Too Big
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BTW, don't ever change that avatar. :illinois:
 
#132      

logjam

logjam
logjam
Epsilon said:
Is that the trade-off? I know the Mayer kid is tall, but he is listed as a guard. Wouldn’t he take one of the open wing spots?
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Or we could get our big and pg in one player and keep 2 scholies...
 
#134      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
One Man Fast Break said:
I really hope we don't actually keep 2 rides open. That would mean we're going in with 10 'real' scholarship players (plus Lieb), with 4 being true freshmen. That's awfully thin. I can see Underwood being frustrated at a crossroads with these guys that there's no room to play that will just leave (Podz types) but we need depth/competition at all spots because inevitably some of the guys you have won't be good enough. 2 open rides means we almost can't afford to be way off the mark on anyone (no Omar Payne types). Right now for instance, you're probably counting on Ty Rodgers being able to play the College 4 and Dainja to be able to give you serious minutes at the 5. If they can't, that's going to create issues (even with Nance) because Coleman and Nance can't be expected to play 35 minutes a night each night every game of the year.
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It sounds good in theory, but teams get hit with the injury bug. We should know. You need bodies that can fill in at all positions. Leaving 2 empty would not look so great if you have a couple players from the same position go down.
 
#135      

Ga65

G
Ga65
We are all up tight about the transfer portal but who left that was going to be a factor? Belo was the only one with significant playing time and his leaving seemed a mutual decision. We had hopes for Podz but he probably knew how he compared to the frosh and wasn’t happy with his projected playing time. TSJ will add more to the team than all the transfers out. So far the portal has been a net positive for us as I see it.
 
#136      

Calvin

C
Calvin
illini80 said:
It sounds good in theory, but teams get hit with the injury bug. We should know. You need bodies that can fill in at all positions. Leaving 2 empty would not look so great if you have a couple players from the same position go down.
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I already see a lot of depth on the roster, although you can never guarantee you have enough. I think one of the reasons I see that is the versatility. Definitely a number of guys that can play multiple positions. I do think the team needs another big. Seems like every season there are at least a few games where injury or foul trouble makes you go 3 deep.
 
#137      

lonelytylenol

L
lonelytylenol
Fanview said:
So room for Nance. Id be surprised if we didn't pick up at least a back up guard

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1521557868503310336
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Indy Illini Fan said:
Yes ... And I would not be surprised one bit if Brad leaves two open ...
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This is music to my ears.

I know a lot of folks on here are dreaming of filling all 13 rides with 5-stars, and thinking a survival of the fittest scenario is going to benefit the team.

I'm more in the camp that sees roster construction as needing to account for chemistry, development, and opportunity. Yes, there might be more experienced players in the portal who are going to be better players on day 1 of practice, relative to who we already have. But there's the opportunity cost of who isn't getting experience, who isn't improving because they aren't getting real playing time, etc.

What's the long-term risk to program culture (something the staff sure likes to advertise) if the balance of the rotation tips towards short-term rentals and / or first-year players? Does the program develop a reputation as one where there's little commitment to providing real opportunity for development?

I suppose this isn't exclusively about open roster spots, but I would prefer that spots 10ish (give or take) to 13 would go to either projects or guys who are bought into a low-minutes role, with maybe some upside in terms of leadership / culture.
 
#139      

GrayGhost77

GrayGhost77
Centennial, CO
GrayGhost77
illini80 said:
It sounds good in theory, but teams get hit with the injury bug. We should know. You need bodies that can fill in at all positions. Leaving 2 empty would not look so great if you have a couple players from the same position go down.
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Yeah. Empty chair doesn't really help much in practices.
Chairs GIF by Fenabel - The Heart of Seating
 
#141      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
Calvin said:
I already see a lot of depth on the roster, although you can never guarantee you have enough. I think one of the reasons I see that is the versatility. Definitely a number of guys that can play multiple positions. I do think the team needs another big. Seems like every season there are at least a few games where injury or foul trouble makes you go 3 deep.
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The 4 and 5 are my biggest concerns although I still want a point guard. Last year burns fresh in my mind.
 
#143      

Goldtop

G
Goldtop
Calvin said:
I already see a lot of depth on the roster, although you can never guarantee you have enough. I think one of the reasons I see that is the versatility. Definitely a number of guys that can play multiple positions. I do think the team needs another big. Seems like every season there are at least a few games where injury or foul trouble makes you go 3 deep.
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The big is the area that I would feel uncomfortable heading into this season if we didn't have one more big body in case of injury or foul trouble.
It seems that Underwood and others feel great about Dain and I like hearing that, but outside of him we do not have another big body.
Underwood did use a lineup with Hawkins in the middle once toward the end of the season that was fun to watch and seemed to work in a pinch. I guess we will see how it plays out.
 
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#144      

GILL-INOIS

G
GILL-INOIS
Tons and tons of guys in the transfer portal. It is all when BU feels he needs to finish out the roster. Few hundred names in the NBA Draft alone and only 58 picks this year. Number of those guys will sign with agents and either play overseas or G-League. I would be shocked if BU didn't see if he could land at least one guy that withdrawals before the June 1st NBA Draft deadline. Great time to be an Illinois fan and have "these so called problems."
 
#149      

DeonThomas

DeonThomas
South Carolina
DeonThomas
lonelytylenol said:
This is music to my ears.

I know a lot of folks on here are dreaming of filling all 13 rides with 5-stars, and thinking a survival of the fittest scenario is going to benefit the team.

I'm more in the camp that sees roster construction as needing to account for chemistry, development, and opportunity. Yes, there might be more experienced players in the portal who are going to be better players on day 1 of practice, relative to who we already have. But there's the opportunity cost of who isn't getting experience, who isn't improving because they aren't getting real playing time, etc.

What's the long-term risk to program culture (something the staff sure likes to advertise) if the balance of the rotation tips towards short-term rentals and / or first-year players? Does the program develop a reputation as one where there's little commitment to providing real opportunity for development?

I suppose this isn't exclusively about open roster spots, but I would prefer that spots 10ish (give or take) to 13 would go to either projects or guys who are bought into a low-minutes role, with maybe some upside in terms of leadership / culture.
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CHEMISTRY:

This is why I still expect Grandison to return.

He's a culture guy. And Brad trusts him. And he's a darned good 3-pt weapon.
 
#150      

Oldskoolkoach

O
Oldskoolkoach
Is there a transfer thread? Wondering if been much talk about Podz, BBV, or those from other schools destinations.

Don't want to drag mud into a somewhat clean pool of recruiting thread today, but curious.

It was reported podz had 25+ schools reach out...

BBV I had such high hopes for and liked his game, it just didn't fit what we were doing.
 
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