Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Flyin' Illini]

I'm getting to the point where I'm checking out of college sports altogether. This is worse than free agency in the pros, not knowing year-to-year who's on what team. I enjoy seeing players grow and get better. This isn't enjoyable.

I have to agree. It was always fun to watch guys grow and mature over their college careers. Now there is no point in investing in any individual player, because anyone with a shred of talent is most likely only going to be here for one year and then on to the next stop. And seriously, why even recruit freshmen at all? Those resources could simply be allocated elsewhere to create a new team of upperclassmen every season.

 

[Illiniam1984]

I'll let the overreactions occur. It sucks for a number of reasons, but dad got involved and things went sideways. They have a plan and things will be fine. People can feel free how they want to but saying Brad is on the hot seat is a complete and utter joke.

TA leaving as well…

 

[mhuml32]

So at what point does Josh take a closer look at the turnover in Basketball (he may already be doing this)? I'll take the Purdue culture and results over what we've seen at Illinois.

I'm good with players getting their $$ at this point it's on the Head coach and his staff to build an environment where a player isn't enticed by more $$ at another school. Seems like Brett and the football staff understand this.

It’s an interesting social experiment with Bielema and Underwood taking opposite approaches to player acquisition.

 

[Rez]

Should I change my user name? I didn't make it because of Morez that's just a coincidence, but I wonder if it will bring back negative emotions when I post? Sorry just trying to make fun of some bummer news.

 

[FightingForWeWillWin]

I'll let the overreactions occur. It sucks for a number of reasons, but dad got involved and things went sideways. They have a plan and things will be fine. People can feel free how they want to but saying Brad is on the hot seat is a complete and utter joke.

Understand how Brad has made Illinois relevant again but top 15 paid coach with top 15 NIL money and how many sweet 16s has he made?? Not saying I want him fired, but we should expect better results.

 

[TampaToo]

Make no mistake, this sucks, but now you can go all in on building around Tomi next year and a bunch of money freed up.

In other words another whole new team?

 

[CleverHandle1]

Watch: Tre White will be next.

 

[blife]

Rez had 200 rebounds total this year. At $2M, that is $10,000 per rebound to put things in perspective. I really like Rez and hoped he stayed, but this used to be U of I college BB, it is not anymore. Sh#t way to end this week.

 

[illini0440]

I’m sorry but if Tomi walks then I think Brads tenure here at Illinois should be done

Kind of out of Brads hands. Tomi wants to be here. Wants to come back. They are talking $$$ right now. Comes down to ponying up form someone.

 

[mhuml32]

I think it’s starting to be more and more clear that some insiders feed us information the staff wants put out there and others are telling us the real deal…….

Any “insider” information out there has an intent.

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

Kind of out of Brads hands. Tomi wants to be here. Wants to come back. They are talking $$$ right now. Comes down to ponying up form someone.

So with Morez out— how do we not have the funds to keep Tomi???? It shouldn’t be that hard.

 

[Deep]

NCAA athletics has become a joke, actually it has always been a joke. I'm all for paying NIL but there has to limits on transfers and some sort of salary cap (if possible). There is no accountability or loyalty, from players to coaches, to a program/university. They are all mercenaries who will go to the highest bidder. If this is not fixed it will be the downfall of college athletics.

With that being said.........I like Brad but how is it that guys like Izzo and Painter can keep their programs in tact and Brad's falls apart every off season. Then he builds it back up to only fall apart again. This is not sustainable......there is no Every Day Guys......that's a joke.

 

[TampaToo]

I was hoping this would be done while I was traveling this week … Guess not …

But Hamer could be the “glue” guy! /s

 

[illini0440]

the problem with all of this is there isn’t any market price….the market price is whatever a team offers/says they will offer you. Numbers are outrageous. We’re getting the final visit for Dix and his number is $2 mil. Really like Dix but could you imagine him asking for that before NIL.

 

[dainjazoner]

you just cant defend and spin a guy who at the very least is a 10/10 guy for next year whos been committed since he was 16.

WHO WAS GUARENTEED EVERYTHING HE WANTED AND STILL LEFT.

 

[DocMorgan]

We’re very lucky here. I’m on the Premium UNC board and their portal thread is an epic disaster. Full blown panic and anger over there. Quite the different mood from here.

 

[Deep]

the problem with all of this is there isn’t any market price….the market price is whatever a team offers/says they will offer you. Numbers are outrageous. We’re getting the final visit for Dix and his number is $2 mil. Really like Dix but could you imagine him asking for that before NIL.

He is more like a $300,000 guy

 

[ChiefGritty]

I sure hope you get paid for all the PR spin you do for the Illinois basketball program.

PR spin = correct, calm take. Got it.

Reflexively trashing the motives and on-court quality of every single player who leaves the program is as a matter of fact the furthest thing from PR spin for Illinois Basketball, and makes Illinois Basketball and its fanbase look like a bunch of disgusting losers. It is the absolute number one worst thing about this board.

 

[The Galloping Ghost]

The success or failure of this past season was always predicated on who we brought back. We eschewed the idea of getting old and staying old to try and maximize talent. That lead to a rollercoaster season with a few highs, but a whole heck of a lot of lows. That’s all significantly more palatable if we bring back a core of guys. Morez was a guy we simply could not lose. That Brad managed to mess this up is pretty darn devastating. And from a fan perspective, college basketball just feels like you’re getting kicked in the teeth every off-season. At a certain point, it’s getting harder to justify.

 

[camo202]

How do these numbers get so big? Teams just keep "bidding" and the price keeps going up?

 

[21ChampaignSt]

This is the sport's fault. This is the powers that be's fault. They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot, don't blame BU for fighting in it, to mangle the metaphor.

Pave paradise. Put up a Pizza Hut.

 

[Gregjacksonfan]

Iwould it have been any different if Riley started instead of Ben…that’s the move that was made later in the season?

Was Morez promised a starting role before the season?

I’m not trying to defend Brad, but this ego and entitlement stuff with players is just as frustrating as Brads stubbornness with his lineups/and kid/Hamer roles on the staff this year

Trust me when you sit on the bench and watch a guy play in front of you that can’t shoot, doesn’t rebound and is poor on defense most players are gonna get pissed

 

[AndyKaufmanstutor]

I’m ignorant and confused…do players sign NIL deals for one year at a time or do they sometimes sign longer deals?
Is there any recourse for the university when a kid breaks his contract?
What an absolute show college hoops has become.

 

[chief]

TBH, losing Rez may have a domino effect on other recruits....where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

[Chief Stooge]

I'll let the overreactions occur. It sucks for a number of reasons, but dad got involved and things went sideways. They have a plan and things will be fine. People can feel free how they want to but saying Brad is on the hot seat is a complete and utter joke.

One sweet 16 in 8 years is not fine. Losing the majority of your roster every offseason is not fine. Some expect a lot more out of this university's basketball program.