Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[RockfordIllini]

Sounding pretty likely Harmon will wind up joining the team, which I think is great. Bigger guard. Looks to play hard/play defense. Leading scorer on a pretty darned talented Utah Valley team (Bandogo transferred to Cincy, I think Woodbury winds up at P5 if he got his waiver). Looks to be adequate shooter. Can drive. High turnover % but looks like he can probably play spot minutes as a backup PG. And of course very small sample size but much better showing in the NIT than RayJ.

If we were bringing him in to replace Terrance and we needed him to play 30+ mpg and get 12-15 ppg every night I think we would be in big trouble. But I love him as a 7th/8th man. Think he will have several games for us where he gets hot against the backups and gets 15+. And also if he thinks Sencire is just going to concede that backup wing role he’s got another thing coming. Will be a dogfight for those minutes and I could see it coming down to who is playing/practicing better in a given week.

Not getting a difference maker at PG was a huge miss. But I am warming to the idea of Ty as a mismatch at the PG. He does have PG experience albeit at the HS level, and most college PGs won’t be able to handle his physicality. And between DGL, Moretti, Sencire and Harmon we should be able to cobble together another 12-15 mpg at PG. Plus Coleman, Terrance and Domask are all pretty good as secondary playmakers. I think we will be okay at a minimum and could be really good if everything clicks.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

If my job depended on success this year (and if BU leaves he isn’t getting Illinois salary anywhere else) I’m absolutely going after KK or Joe T. Ultimately, BU is responsible for the culture but if one player is throwing that off, it sucked from the start.

You beat me to it. Some of the same people who are saying win ONE more game at the end of the year, despite all of your accomplishments over the last four years or your gone... are the same people who are advocating to stay away from the kid and don't go all in because the kid is a "head case".

Somewhere along the line, our culture here went off the rails. Winning conference championships, conference tournaments, beating top 10 teams, consistently having top 15 recruiting classes, consistently being ranked, consistently being relevant is no longer enough. Some of the same people that feel that way are calling the kid(who they know nothing about) a distraction. Pot meet kettle.

This is the era we're in. The kids, the fans, the coaches....there's very little loyalty, which is unfortunate.

 

[Saturdaze]

This article posted after the season clearly identifies that Lloyd wanted him gone.

Kerr Kriisa transfers out of Arizona, which is definitely good for the U of A

If it’s good for the U of A, it’s not good for USC. Tommy Lloyd knows his backcourt wasn’t good enough; he wants an upgrade.

trojanswire.usatoday.com

No it doesnt

 

[Mojoman]

You beat me to it. Some of the same people who are saying win ONE more game at the end of the year, despite all of your accomplishments over the last four years or your gone... are the same people who are advocating to stay away from the kid and don't go all in because the kid is a "head case".

Somewhere along the line, our culture here went off the rails. Winning conference championships, conference tournaments, beating top 10 teams, consistently having top 15 recruiting classes, consistently being ranked, consistently being relevant is no longer enough. Some of the same people that feel that way are calling the kid(who they know nothing about) a distraction. Pot meet kettle.

This is the era we're in. The kids, the fans, the coaches....there's very little loyalty, which is unfortunate.

Actually I think what he was saying is if one player can so easily disrupt your team culture you didn't have a well developed strong culture to begin with.
Underwood has had challenges with building a really strong team culture and keeping distractions from impacting the floor since 19/20 season in my opinion. That will be the metric which determines if we break through in March and he keeps his job.

 

[LvilleILL]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

 

[Chickenmane]

I just don’t think Brad has been coaching the Illini long enough to definitively say that he can consistently produce a good team culture. Basically all the evidence in favor of it comes from the Ayo, Trent, Demonte team, so it’s entirely possible that the culture had significantly more to do with them than anyone else.

This isn’t intended as critique just that I don’t have access information outside of a pretty short track record.

 

[Homecoming 2019]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

He's always appeared to have great handles and passing, only concern is lack of a shot, but I think his height/athleticism makes up for a lot.

 

[hoopsfan47]

Are you saying that TSJ and CoHawk are good shooters?

FWIW, I sure won't. Neither of them are good beyond the arc, but they could be more dependable. TSJ often shoots too quickly, off balance, and without squaring. He shoots too many air balls and good shooters NEVER shoot an air ball unless fouled or blocked. Hawkins simply has to work on a consistent and higher arc. We see him in practice doing just that and then in games simply throwing line drives at the rim.

Both are good and dependable from 8-12 ft. TSJ only shoots that shot about once a month as he is obsessed with getting to the rim and/or fouled. Nothing wrong with that except he passes up too many of those shots that should be taken once or twice a game....leading to making him tougher to guard...and he is pretty hard to guard now. Hawkins is also good from that range but for years has not taken the shot...until the end of last season. Both need to take the shot when open as it will make the team more efficient and open options. If they were to look to take that shot 3 times a game each, it would open the floodgates for Ty and DD....and the newbies.

 

[nmillini]

If my job depended on success this year (and if BU leaves he isn’t getting Illinois salary anywhere else) I’m absolutely going after KK or Joe T. Ultimately, BU is responsible for the culture but if one player is throwing that off, it sucked from the start.

Brad probably was too lenient last year with players not playing to our culture...would like to think he's lived and learned, and will more freely bench cancers as they develop.

 

[Mojoman]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

If staff feel that way, I doubt they get into a bidding war for Kerr, or even Toussaint.
With Harmon in as another backup there, they may just say let's go with who knows the system and we trust will try to execute what we want.
Will be good to hear how the team does in Spain.
If it is working that is great. Either way we will be better than last year. .

 

[Saturdaze]

You beat me to it. Some of the same people who are saying win ONE more game at the end of the year, despite all of your accomplishments over the last four years or your gone... are the same people who are advocating to stay away from the kid and don't go all in because the kid is a "head case".

Somewhere along the line, our culture here went off the rails. Winning conference championships, conference tournaments, beating top 10 teams, consistently having top 15 recruiting classes, consistently being ranked, consistently being relevant is no longer enough. Some of the same people that feel that way are calling the kid(who they know nothing about) a distraction. Pot meet kettle.

This is the era we're in. The kids, the fans, the coaches....there's very little loyalty, which is unfortunate.

I can‘t speak for everyone, but I think the items you mentioned are discussed as symptoms rather than the actual problem.

The BU supporters have been trying to defend him but the big picture is that the program under BU very clearly peaked Ayo’s last year and has been on a steady decline since then.

This offseason was supposed to be the one we reload, and that hasn’t happened. Domask and Harmon may end up being great additions but we are in an even worse position than last year PG. Saying we can’t find a PG because none match our culture is a program failure.

 

[nichi]

No it doesnt

From the article

"We can pretty clearly say that Kerr Kriisa’s entry into the transfer portal — leaving the Arizona Wildcats — was a coach-encouraged transfer."

 

[Mr. Roberts]

Actually I think what he was saying is if one player can so easily disrupt your team culture you didn't have a well developed strong culture to begin with.
Underwood has had challenges with building a really strong team culture and keeping distractions from impacting the floor since 19/20 season in my opinion. That will be the metric which determines if we break through in March and he keeps his job.

How can you perpetuate a solid team culture when so much of the roster is new every year? Not just an Illinois problem, by the way.

 

[Tevo]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

I tend to believe it. If we move past the "Dribble the ball up from the backcourt" task a PG has (which Ty seems perfectly capable of doing at an acceptable level), then the PG's role in a spread offense is to make that first pass and then get into his motion and positioning. As long as we have enough shooting, passing, cutting, post play, slashing, etc. across the 5 players, we should be able to run an effective offense (if we have one in the binder, that is). Ty doesn't have to float by the perimeter, doesn't have to shoot threes -- he can play his game.

In late shot clock situations, you need SOMEONE who is the prime option -- but it doesn't have to be the PG. And whoever is designated as the "guy bringing the ball up" doesn't have to be the first defender back, and thus limit his rebounds.

Finally, once we get into the halfcourt, or even on the break, we will have size mismatches that we should be able to exploit. The other team's (usually smaller) PG will have to guard someone, and that someone should be able to take advantage of that.
Point being: As long as we have the personnel to cover all of the various tasks on the floor, we don't have to fall into classic definitions of what a 1, 2 or 3 does. With good coaching, we should be able to minimize deficiencies and maximize mismatches.

The season doesn't come down to who plays PG -- it comes down to the coaches being able to get everyone on the same page, understanding their roles, and being put in roles they can perform. We have all the talent we need, right now, to have a great season. But they need to be coached up.

 

[Combo]

He's always appeared to have great handles and passing, only concern is lack of a shot, but I think his height/athleticism makes up for a lot.

Great? Is the the BU school of hyperbole? His handles and passing are certainly good for a PF, but for a guard, no.

 

[foby]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

That's exactly what I want to believe.

 

[skyIdub]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

Edit: One sip of coffee....smh

But...mine is bigger?

 

[Saturdaze]

From the article

"We can pretty clearly say that Kerr Kriisa’s entry into the transfer portal — leaving the Arizona Wildcats — was a coach-encouraged transfer."

Is that the only sentence you read in the article? That’s only the authors conjecture with no supporting evidence other than they missed Ben Mathurin in the tournament.

 

[Joel Goodson]

correction: NY kid, goes to school in PA

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1672058365852131328

 

[Bucktown]

From the article

"We can pretty clearly say that Kerr Kriisa’s entry into the transfer portal — leaving the Arizona Wildcats — was a coach-encouraged transfer."

That is just some writer’s opinion without supporting evidence.

Saturdaze beat me to it.

 

[PIT_ILL]

Believe what you want, but I have heard Ty looks really good in the pg role so far

Has he developed an outside shot? He has to be at least somewhat of a threat to be effective imo

 

[nichi]

Actually I think what he was saying is if one player can so easily disrupt your team culture you didn't have a well developed strong culture to begin with.
Underwood has had challenges with building a really strong team culture and keeping distractions from impacting the floor since 19/20 season in my opinion. That will be the metric which determines if we break through in March and he keeps his job.

That's been an Illinois thing in both major sports for a number of years. Football appears to be turning it around.

It's complicated, but top level recruits still don't see us as a destination. We have had pretty good, not great overall talent. A lot of that has been from turning over stones and finding players.

It's a strange situation in basketball when they've got the father of a walk-on going to social media to complain his son was recruited over.

 

[nichi]

Is that the only sentence you read in the article? That’s only the authors conjecture with no supporting evidence other than they missed Ben Mathurin in the tournament.

That's your opinion.

 

[PepeSilvia]

Has he developed an outside shot? He has to be at least somewhat of a threat to be effective imo

Not really necessarily true as long as you put a bunch of shooters around him.

Royce White played the point for Iowa St and couldn't shoot at all but was an absolute monster. Averaged 13/9/5 while attempting only 12 3 pointers all year also shot under 50% from the ft line.

Part of the problem if Rodgers can't shoot though is that you can't have both him and Harrison the floor at the same time and honestly probably shouldn't play much next to Dain either.

 

[logjam]

Not really necessarily true as long as you put a bunch of shooters around him.

Royce White played the point for Iowa St and couldn't shoot at all but was an absolute monster. Averaged 13/9/5 while attempting only 12 3 pointers all year also shot under 50% from the ft line.

Part of the problem if Rodgers can't shoot though is that you can't have both him and Harrison the floor at the same time and honestly probably shouldn't play much next to Dain either.

I thought Harrison was a good shooter....lol