Hmm risking your life and defending your country or playing a game...
which requires more mental fortitude and seriousness.
Illini Basketball
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which requires more mental fortitude and seriousness.No doubt! And my point is this: Coach wants to say some demeaning stuff to a player, I hope that, in the event said player whips a fastball at coach from 15 feet or tells coach to get off his ****ing back, I hope the repercussions are along the lines of coach yelling "then show me on the damn floor instead of telling me about it!" rather than "ride some pine" or dismissing that player from practice. Can't be provocative and then be all sensitive if someone gets heated. That's how I know you have my back.
When is the date to remove your name from the draft?
Just had a chance to read through the last several pages. Man, I swear, some of you all are just too much. Does Brad yell a lot? Yes. Is he intense? Yes. Should this come as a surprise to anyone who commits to play for him? Heck, no! Epps is a good player with a lot of potential but he clearly has some deficiencies as well. Sometimes, it's just not a good fit. We aren't the only team dealing with this issue. Most teams are having more than one player transfer out every year. I wish Epps well at his next stop but let's stop with all this "the sky is falling" talk. We'll be OK. And as for the extensive list of previous transfers someone posted...the only guy who has much success to speak of after transferring out is Podz, who left not because he didn't like Underwood, but rather because he didn't see a way he would get on the court. Who else on that list would you have preferred stayed? Lastly, without rehashing any of the sordid details: several of those players were told (or highly encouraged) it would be best for them to transfer due to non-basketball related issues.
is falling" talk. We'll be OK. And as for the extensive list of previous transfers someone posted...the only guy who has much success to speak of after transferring out is Podz, who left not because he didn't like Underwood, but rather because he didn't see a way he would get on the court. Who else on that list would you have preferred stayed? Lastly, without rehashing any of the sordid details: several of those players were told (or highly encouraged) it would be best for them to transfer due to non-basketball related issues.
And…. 18 year olds that go into the military are kids too.
Coleman stuck around last year and it paid off with playing 30 mpg and being a key part of a 20 win NCAA team.
If he can perfect his inside game and learn how to play 2 man game with Dain who knows where he might get drafted in 2024. I don't think he has offensive skills to be get drafted in 2023. Too many turnovers, average 3 point shooter. Pro's - great athleticism, ball handling.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Both are situations where you have to perform at a high level under pressure in order to succeed. While the stakes are decidedly different, the mental approach is very similar.Hmm risking your life and defending your country or playing a game...
And in both situations kids find out very quickly that they do not have the mental fortitude to do either thing.
Folks can say that a person's actions were bad without saying that that person is a horrible human being.
I want IL to succeed and think Brad can lead it, but hard coaching and losing control are two different things.
Not wanting our coach to be known as a red face screamer of f bombs at 18-20 year olds is not a silly recruiting concern, particularly when he brings in kids that are obviously not into it and are not tied to a program like they used to be.
3 point girl
- texas
If you do what the Coach asks you to do & play your hardest every single second you are on the court you probably wont get yelled at.
Not in any way, shape, nor fashion are they kids. They are not treated like kids, they are expected to act and perform as adults, they are held accountable as adults. The military does not have the luxury of coddling kids and accomplish their very difficult and often deadly missions.
While all us old folk may think of them as "kids", they most certainly are not.
Underwood would never admit it, but having no point guard besides two 19 yr old kids was a mistake.
(both of which were never point guards.) My guess is we will have one or more upper class portal point
guards next year.
Hawkins has accomplished pretty much all there is to accomplish from a team success perspective outside of a deep run in the big dance. I love hearing this from him.
I hope he has a successful NBA career whether it starts this year or next, it would be huge for the program to get another guy in the league.
But I’m excited to think if he does come back, it will be somewhat in part tied to another promising season for the team.
Hawk is saying:
* Will try the NBA
* If not then the Illini
* And, if not (proper team around him at IL), will try the portal
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I was a very good center fielder but marginally good hitter in high school, and my head was sometimes sort of in the clouds worrying about girls and being cool and whatnot. My coach was on me constantly, often pretty harsh. I remember bitching about it to my friend who never played and he just laughed and said, "Dude, at least he yells at you..."
Coaches know when to give up, and they'll only get worked up if they REALLY want to get the potential out of a player. And a player is lucky if he realizes this early enough to be motivated by it and improve!
Dee_4_Three_83
- Mahomet, IL
My 6 year old son met Epps at a YMCA event yesterday and was proud that he was able to get Jayden's autograph for me...I was proud too...
Now, I am rooting for Jayden still, unless he goes somewhere in the B1G. But I'm just bummed.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
And one of those 19 year old kids wasn't even really a point guard. I think Underwood probably would admit that mistake. And I think his transfer portal dealings will show he means it.
So much dribbling by players who shouldn't dribble this year. That should never be ignored in discussions about our offensive problems.
Mmmm…yes and no…I do think people slept on Plum a little bit…myself included. He wasn’t Allen Iverson at getting downhill but he was better than he got credit for.
I feel like Epps has a repetoire/better bag of tricks with the floaters and finishing around the hoop and such.
Epps is good shooter. Plummer was a great shooter.
Plummer last year > Freshman Epps
Plummer last year < Upperclassman Epps
JMO…I think we’ll be alright though….Brad usually finds a way.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed, and it meshes perfectly with his apparent frustration (without coming across as whiney or petty) after the Arkansas loss. The kid wants to win and play on a big stage in March, and he seems fully bought into this program. It probably frustrates him ten times more than us that the last couple of years have not gone as planned. He's the exact type of player we need more of!
I think he would too. But would he admit that Izzo was right about Skyy.
(I don’t even like typing that.) It feels like the two frenemies (Brad & Tom)
are less cordial since Tom had that goon go after Ayo. But then again, they might play euchre together for all I know. Lol
This came directly from SEVERAL of my coaches’ mouths in high school.
If they are correcting you (often yelling to get your attention) it means they are willing to spend valuable time trying to shape you into the player/person they need you to be.
Be concerned when the yelling/correcting stops.
Okay buddy
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