Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[IlliniTilDeath]

Just playing devil's advocate, but what if the younger players have really taken to him and his ability to connect? We have a tendency to judge when we don't know what's going on in the locker room.

Come on - you don’t think AAU coaches and other current coaches know how to connect with college aged kids?

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

I’ll admit that I don’t know who the Illini could get…but here is what I would’ve tried to do.

1. Hire a great X and O guy! Sounds like we have really missed Gentry.

2. Hire a great recruiter! Although the new position is not allowed to recruit off campus(read 3)!

3. Move Geoff to into the new role that can’t recruit off campus, and put the great recruiter in Geoff’s position!

Again, I don’t know who Illinois could get, but I sure as hell would have tried to make the above happen!

This would also be my ideal scenario …

As for names that would be interested … I’m allowed to give out one of them … Similar to the route Texas Tech went … He was found completely innocent in any wrong doing in the recent conclusion of the Will Wade case and he would’ve been VERY interested … Current HC @ Link Academy …

Bill Armstrong, Associate Head Coach (BK), LSU Tigers

LSU men's basketball head coach Will Wade made it official on May 9 that Bill Armstrong, who has been a part of the Ole Miss men's basketball staff for the past 11 seasons, will be joining the LSU coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. He will join Tony Benford and Greg Heiar as the three...

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[pruman91]

Or, even worse, the entire string of sultans in the Ottoman Empire from the mid-1500s onward.

Unless you meant "Barkley." In which case never mind.

your so turrible alt.....lol.........you really really are............/sssssssssss

 

[BalloonsTheElephant]

Illinois about to put the full court press on PG Mikey Lewis.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

Just playing devil's advocate, but what if the younger players have really taken to him and his ability to connect? We have a tendency to judge when we don't know what's going on in the locker room.

That's certainly a great foundation for never questioning the staff.

If we looked like a well coached team last year, this would likely be much less of an issue. For me it probably would be almost no issue.

But we didn't. We looked poorly coached. So whatever positive you're saying TU brought, it didn't work many wonders last year. Do you think it will this year?

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Oh to have the wisdom to be able to speak for every college athlete with such authority. My lowly self thought there might be those who valued winning and helping the team over the perception that there is something wrong with using a better method. I was also under the misapprehension that asking would not hurt vs. needing to protect the adult student athlete from such devious thoughts. I guess I know better now.

Some of the advantages of the Barry method are that the motion is simpler and the tolerance for error higher, thus increasing the chance it works under pressure.

Oh, I was not criticizing you at all. Apologies if I came across that way. I'm not speaking for every player, but we have eyeballs. When is the last player, NBA or college, that you've seen succumb to addressing poor stripe shooting by shooting underhanded. You can go back 30+ years.

I'm not saying that you're wrong in your thought process, but to hold BU accountable for not mandating that change isn't reality. Honestly, tell me how that conversation would go, then what the result would be.

Again, I'm not disputing your point about it being a great method to improve arc, touch, etc. You're 100% right in that aspect.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Illinois about to put the full court press on PG Mikey Lewis.

They’ve been trying … Will be a tough get …

Looking to set up an OV …

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

That's certainly a great foundation for never questioning the staff.

If we looked like a well coached team last year, this would likely be much less of an issue. For me it probably would be almost no issue.

But we didn't. We looked poorly coached. So whatever positive you're saying TU brought, it didn't work many wonders last year. Do you think it will this year?

Your point is valid and probably the truth. The point is that assuming that he got the position solely because of bloodlines is probably unfair when we really don't know.

 

[WyattEarp]

Or, even worse, the entire string of sultans in the Ottoman Empire from the mid-1500s onward.

Unless you meant "Barkley." In which case never mind.

Sorry, about the tangent: But I feel like The Ottoman Empire would be a killer name for a furniture store.

 

[skyIdub]

It is so interesting that two people can look at the same set of facts and reach such different conclusions. Everything you say is valid and you may be absolutely right although "just lazy" seems a bit harsh. I would also add that if I were Brad and Tyler was my son I would not have hired him but instead would have quietly helped him get started at the bottom rung on the staff of another University and work his way up without being in my shadow. Hell, Brad started at the lowest JC coaching level and is now making a top ten salary in college hoops coaching so he knows the importance and satisfaction of working his way up and not having things given to you.

However, if Brad feels that Tyler is qualified, then hiring him is not lazy. It just opens both of them up to the nepotism criticism and unfortunately opens Tyler up to some questionable character shots on this Board today. We are better than that. Since he has been an ILLINI, he has gotten 3 degrees, represented the program well and by all accounts worked hard as both a student athlete and on the coaching staff. If there was a hint that he was a problem in the locker room or a mole for his Dad as a player and on the coaching staff, then I assume we would have heard it from one of our knowledgeable insiders. We have not. Hard to tell from today's board what qualifications he lacks for the low level job that he was actually hired for on this staff.

Instead, the unfair criticism seems to come down to his lack of recruiting experience and/or that he was not a star basketball player in college or the NBA. Not very many great coaches ever were great players and few if any of them started at the level of coaching that Tyler has started at. They did not need to or want to pay dues at that low level.

Like you, I am not ready for another soap opera season, which is why I think this promotion (it is not a hire) may very well be a good thing for the stability of the program. Brad trusts his son and Tyler does not strike me as a "yes man". If anything, it may be that Tyler is actually in the best position to question Brad's stubbornness when others can't because it is better received for Brad to hear it from his son. All I know is that Brad made the hire and until we see it play out all we can do is wish Tyler well in his new position and trust that Brad identified that Tyler had the right qualifications for his specific job duties and role with the overall coaching staff. If that wasn't why he promoted Tyler, then shame on Brad.
Count me in the apparent minority of ILLINI Loyalty members who believe that last season's team chemistry issues taught Brad some very valuable lessons between putting individually talented players on the floor and putting a team together that will grow, improve and in the end put the Tournament disappointments behind us. I look at this group of experienced players and see the potential for better team chemistry and play (especially on defense) than at any time since Brad arrived. Time to find out how good a coach Brad really is because based on his track record I am still not sure that we know.

The point is he didn't have to hire him into one of these spots. He was/is already involved in the program.

The question is...is this the best way to utilize those positions.

 

[Old Farm Illini]

3. Move Geoff to into the new role that can’t recruit off campus, and put the great recruiter in Geoff’s position!

I wouldn’t have been opposed to this but it would be a very demoralizing demotion. It seems it would be best to just move on without him entirely.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Illinois about to put the full court press on PG Mikey Lewis.

 

[Johnny Lawrence]

The point is he didn't have to hire him into one of these spots. He was/is already involved in the program.

The question is...is this the best way to utilize those positions.

If I am not mistaken he just retained the job he was already in. The NCAA just expanded what that job was allowed to do.

 

[Boskydell]

'Rez is a monster. Why ain't you watchin'?

 

[Illiniam1984]

Delete

 

[BRucks]

The DIA.

He filed his complaint with Illinois Loyalty. Does that count?

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

For those who care, Meanstreets and the other 3-0 team in their group tip off at 3:30.

Televised?

 

[WyattEarp]

I wouldn’t have been opposed to this but it would be a very demoralizing demotion. It seems it would be best to just move on without him entirely.

1.) I am guessing since Brad and Geoff go back to the Pyramids…a Jamall Walker situation is off the table? I’m just saying there is sort of a precedent there. Different sure…but a precedent nonetheless.

2.) Who is the staff’s weakest link on the offensive side of the ball? Because I keep hearing different/conflicting info? Geoff stinks at X’s n O’s? Hamer stinks at X’s n O’s? Or is it both?

3.) If Gentry’s schemes were so amazing why aren’t we running some of those sets in Gentry’s absence? (Those that apply to our personnel that is.) Surely if he’s the crackerjack everyone says he is…we have a back catalog of film/files/notes somewhere right?

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

1.) I am guessing since Brad and Geoff go back to the Pyramids…a Jamall Walker situation is off the table? I’m just saying there is sort of a precedent there. Different sure…but a precedent nonetheless.

2.) Who is the staff’s weakest link on the offensive side of the ball? Because I keep hearing different/conflicting info? Geoff stinks at X’s n O’s? Hamer stinks at X’s n O’s? Or is it both?

3.) If Gentry’s schemes were so amazing why aren’t we running some of those sets in Gentry’s absence? (Those that apply to our personnel that is.) Surely if he’s the crackerjack everyone says he is…we have a back catalog of film/files/notes.

1. You’re right … Brad won’t do it …

2. Both …

3. Stubbornness … And letting people who shouldn’t call the offense and come up with ideas … Call the offense and come up with ideas … Then scrapping it mid year and running Brads offense …

 

[skyIdub]

If I am not mistaken he just retained the job he was already in. The NCAA just expanded what that job was allowed to do.

Oh...I was under the impression these were new positions different than his.
New Asst. positions. I didn't think he was an assistant before?

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1677082427838066688

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1677081976023416833

 

[Keisersose]

All valid observations.

I was not aware of BU promoting his kid.
Agree it is questionable if we had better options.

But I do seem to recall that Tyler had a friend who had data that convinced Underwood to scrap the crappy defense he brought from the SFA level we had been playing.

It didn't work at OSU and I had college coaches tell me it would not work at this level in BT either.

Maybe should have hired Tyler's buddy.

 

[grue2]

Oh, I was not criticizing you at all. Apologies if I came across that way. I'm not speaking for every player, but we have eyeballs. When is the last player, NBA or college, that you've seen succumb to addressing poor stripe shooting by shooting underhanded. You can go back 30+ years.

I'm not saying that you're wrong in your thought process, but to hold BU accountable for not mandating that change isn't reality. Honestly, tell me how that conversation would go, then what the result would be.

Again, I'm not disputing your point about it being a great method to improve arc, touch, etc. You're 100% right in that aspect.

Apology accepted. Yeah, I ready the first response as quite condescending and insulting.

I think we are still on different pages. The best way to get a change is to convince others it is in their interest. I'd *ask* the poor free throw shooters if they were open to trying a new method. It would raise their game, their pro chances, and make it more likely they would be on the floor at the end of close games. It is up to them to decide if they are open to the idea and are willing to spend the hour trying it. If at least one person buys in, the odds of someone else buying in goes up.

I, evidently mistakenly, assumed people would realize it was better to ask and convince vs. dictate.

 

[WyattEarp]

All valid observations.

I was not aware of BU promoting his kid.
Agree it is questionable if we had better options.

But I do seem to recall that Tyler had a friend who had data that convinced Underwood to scrap the crappy defense he brought from the SFA level we had been playing.

It didn't work at OSU and I had college coaches tell me it would not work at this level in BT either.

Maybe should have hired Tyler's buddy.

Yeah…you’re talking the Frank Martin (on the line up the line stuff right-o?

It did work at S. Carolina and K-State…well sort of… sometimes…with some of of the right teams. lol.

But yeah, it was just too balls-to-the wall to run consistently in these better conferences …with such a nasty gauntlet of 20 game season; and where its so well-scouted. You just give up too much if you’re not turning people over almost constantly. (It ultimately fails the cost-benefit analysis test.) lol

I don’t necessarily think he was a fool to try it…but yeah. I agree. To his credit, he changed course.

I’m not calling you a liar. But who told you it was a no-go/I’ll-advised if you don’t mind me asking. (Because they ultimately get to be right! Whoever they were.)
Somebody bigtime or somebody at one of the other levels? Not that, that means anything necessarily. Some of these folks at the lower levels can flat out coach.

I’m curious to see if we stick with the more traditional coverages this season. If he goes to a more a standard press at all? Or more often?

 

[ptgrd23]

Illinois about to put the full court press on PG Mikey Lewis.

Mikey Lewis, Prolific Prep , Combo Guard

Mikey Lewis is a 6-3, 170-pound combo-guard from Henderson, NV.

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