Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[RabidDawgClassic]

 

[FreshlySqueezed]

I'm not understanding the benefit of overselling our team in the off-season. Last year's team actually performed about like I expected. But if you listened to the hype you'd be disappointed.

Bingo. We started the year 33rd on KenPom and we were 33rd on KenPom entering the NCAA tournament.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Trent went from a traffic cone on defense to maybe the best defensive one on one defender in the country

But it's soft-headed and impractical to suggest it's possible for Jayden Epps to make a similar evolution at the same position in the same system.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Not sure how to feel about guerrier visiting. What does this mean to rodgers he in fact commits?

There's zero chance that Underwood is going to undermine his (and the program's) relationship with his top underclassman.

 

[sacraig]

But it's soft-headed and impractical to suggest it's possible for Jayden Epps to make a similar evolution at the same position in the same system.

 

[MDchicago]

But it's soft-headed and impractical to suggest it's possible for Jayden Epps to make a similar evolution at the same position in the same system.

Possible, yes? Likely, far less clear, with internal desire to play great D and and coachability being key variables that Trent excelled at and Jayden left many wondering about.

 

[Illini231]

@insiders what have you heard if anything about Tre White?

 

[DB11Headband]

There's zero chance that Underwood is going to undermine his (and the program's) relationship with his top underclassman.

^

Ty is the future of the program from a skill, and more importantly, culture standpoint. He is AT WORST going to be a 25 MPG 6th man next year. I still expect him to start, but if Brad and Co. grab the irons they have in the fire (currently in portal or not), 6th man is not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

But it's soft-headed and impractical to suggest it's possible for Jayden Epps to make a similar evolution at the same position in the same system.

Great point. It sounds to me like the biggest difference is that Trent was willing to soak up everything the staff gave him in coaching and work his butt off to get better...and Jayden is coming off as an entitled little head

 

[grantlab]

Ya know, I developed this reputation for being Mr. Sky Is Falling under the likes of Weber, Zook, Beckman, Lovie, Groce, et al. The sky was falling!

The way this board has swung from wanting BU gone and replaced with Sean Miller to incredibly hyped to add Hunter Dickinson to the team to now totally buying into going the mercenary route again, is that "positivity"? I'm probably combining different people's opinions into one blob unfairly, but I really struggle to understand where this board is at sometimes.

Our insiders are a lot of fun, but I feel like the whole "wheels are in motion! buckle up! the boom gifs are coming!" thing is empty calories.

I'm more interested in discussing our staff's recurring determination to have a positionless roster when during BU's tenure the less positionless we've been, the better we've played.

*I* think BU has cracked the code here with a big back-to-the-basket center as an anchor. And I worry that *he* doesn't think that.

I think the Big Ten has been the perfect case study as to why this does not lead to NCAA Tournament success. Every team I can remember anchored around a lumbering, back-to-the-basket Big got knocked out early in the tournament, while the senior-laden, “top 5 backcourt in the country” type teams make the Final Four. I think teams that need a Big Man to get 17+ PPG to have a chance at winning tend to run into trouble, especially over a 6 game stretch in March, but I agree that not every guy on the floor needs to be able to guard 1-5. In hindsight, aggressively gunning for the “positionless” brand of basketball felt like an extreme overreaction to 1 NCAA Tournament loss in what otherwise was a great 2021-22 season.

 

[IlliniwekKDR]

^

Ty is the future of the program from a skill, and more importantly, culture standpoint. He is AT WORST going to be a 25 MPG 6th man next year. I still expect him to start, but if Brad and Co. grab the irons they have in the fire (currently in portal or not), 6th man is not out of the realm of possibility.

How about 10 RPG being in the realm of possibility? I'd be cool with that

 

[ChiefGritty]

I think the Big Ten has been the perfect case study as to why this does not lead to NCAA Tournament success. Every team I can remember anchored around a lumbering, back-to-the-basket Big got knocked out early in the tournament

 

[DAM1298]

I feel like most people have made out the HD sweepstakes to be between KU, UK, Maryland and maybe Georgetown, but worth noting Ant Wright today tweeted he’s considering at least nine schools.

Ant and Hunter are close — both Michigan guys, Ant’s had him on his podcast etc.

 

[ElGran]

but the made for March mantra wasn't just a preseason and early season talking point, it continued throughout the season even after some of the team changes.

Our fans (like every team's) virtually always overrate how good we are. And if things aren't going great at the moment, they talk about how they'll be better in a month or two (eg "made for March.").

Unless we win it all we're always going to "underperform" according to many.

 

[grantlab]

Would hardly call Sanogo a “lumbering, back-to-the-basket Big” the same way I think of a Kofi, a Hunter or an Edey.

 

[Joel Goodson]

How about 10 RPG being in the realm of possibility? I'd be cool with that

yeah, I can see double digits some games, but average? that's a bridge too far for me and I'm a huge Rodgers guy. I think we'll see some double-doubles. As an upperclassman, I expect him to be a double-double machine

 

[Old Farm Illini]

The only reason last year’s team was overhyped is because we somehow beat 2 top 10 teams in the first 2 months when no college basketball team truly had an established identity yet. Then we were “national championship good” heading into the first Penn State game.

Sure, there was offseason “hype” last year, but I don’t think anyone in their heart of hearts last October believed we had the roster construction to make a Final Four with how much we’d have to rely on a freshman point guard, nor do I think next year’s team will truly that have that hype barring some ridiculous Shannon / Hawkins / Dickinson / Dennis run in the portal

It was overhyped but the potential was there. We had a high ceiling and high floor which gave us a chance to make a run and compete against anyone on any given night. As the season went on, it became more clear that things just weren’t clicking well enough to meet the potential. Still, we lost to a team that made the Sweet 16 that lost to the eventual national champions. Given that we had a couple bad concussions, relied on so many underclassmen, lost our best shooter for most of the season, had a hot mess with the pg position, and an energy drink binge, the season on paper played out as well as most would have reasonably expected.

 

[Bigtex]

Our fans (like every team's) virtually always overrate how good we are. And if things aren't going great at the moment, they talk about how they'll be better in a month or two (eg "made for March.").

Unless we win it all we're always going to "underperform" according to many.

but if memory serves me correctly, the mantra came from coach and repeated throughout the season even as we headed to the end of the year tournaments.

 

[WyattEarp]

Right. This narrative is far too simplistic.

It’s always…hey, let’s construct a roster that’s “made for March” based on what is hot at the moment. It can be done multiple ways.

If you’re good enough you win. Some combination of: enough depth, enough weapons, knowing how to win the close ones(usually experience but not always)…see if you’re good enough.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

The only reason last year’s team was overhyped is because we somehow beat 2 top 10 teams in the first 2 months when no college basketball team truly had an established identity yet. Then we were “national championship good” heading into the first Penn State game.

Sure, there was offseason “hype” last year, but I don’t think anyone in their heart of hearts last October believed we had the roster construction to make a Final Four with how much we’d have to rely on a freshman point guard, nor do I think next year’s team will truly that have that hype barring some ridiculous Shannon / Hawkins / Dickinson / Dennis run in the portal

Definitely not a Final Four run, but we DID enter the season ranked #23 and were ranked #19 before we beat UCLA or anyone else of note. That would certainly imply expectations of a 5-6 seed, contending for a Big Ten title again based on the preseason league rankings and another Second Round expectation with a real shot at the Second Weekend ... not a #9 seed and First Round loss.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Our fans (like every team's) virtually always overrate how good we are. And if things aren't going great at the moment, they talk about how they'll be better in a month or two (eg "made for March.").

Unless we win it all we're always going to "underperform" according to many.

I actually disagree with this completely ... we have homers like everyone else, but I would argue Illini fans' emotions swing more wildly than other fan bases I see online, and that includes a VERY sizable contingent of Illini fans who are excessively negative/pessimistic in an almost preemptive way to safeguard themselves from future disappointment.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

The only reason last year’s team was overhyped is because we somehow beat 2 top 10 teams in the first 2 months when no college basketball team truly had an established identity yet. Then we were “national championship good” heading into the first Penn State game.

Sure, there was offseason “hype” last year, but I don’t think anyone in their heart of hearts last October believed we had the roster construction to make a Final Four with how much we’d have to rely on a freshman point guard, nor do I think next year’s team will truly that have that hype barring some ridiculous Shannon / Hawkins / Dickinson / Dennis run in the portal

Go look at the preseason thread. You'll see plenty of over the top predictions.

 

[Sedino]

But it's soft-headed and impractical to suggest it's possible for Jayden Epps to make a similar evolution at the same position in the same system.

Best defenders are also the most coachable players. Trent was the definition of coachable. Looking up "coachable" in the dictionary has a massive picture of TF that takes up the entire page.

Epps is so far from that he may as well be listed as an antonym on the same page.

 

[billybaroo]

Can we get back to talking about Paul's chili?

 

[ChiefGritty]

Would hardly call Sanogo a “lumbering, back-to-the-basket Big” the same way I think of a Kofi, a Hunter or an Edey.

Sanogo isn't as tall as those guys, but he has the similar ability to overpower guys to score in the post, and to rebound. And he's not a guy you want dribbling or defending in isolation on the perimeter.

Him being this big broad shouldered guy wearing #21 bully-balling guys down low I was constantly reminded of Kofi watching him.