We were a top ten team last year and have everyone coming back with two incredible freshman guards and one incredible transfer? Vaaks can literally play PG and so can Mirk. Theres only one ball everyone
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
There's so many things that are wrong here, not sure where to start.
1) Look around the country. There are not going to be five teams with a better roster than Illinois. There are blue bloods with three to five players total on their roster as we stand with not much runway to add.
2) A lot of people in here said the team before the season started last year was not going to be very good or was super flawed. Illinois just returned 3 guys would would have been TOP FIVE portal players. They also just added a five star level freshman and maybe the best possible (top 15 transfer) portal guard fit for their system.
Quentin Coleman does not need to be as good or better than Wagler to have a better team than last year. Tomi (knock on wood) will be healthier. Mirk DID NOT EVEN GET AN OFFSEASON last year. Imagine what he is going to look like with another seven months working with Fletch. Andrej is likely to make a leap in year two.
Also, Lucas Morillo is getting massively overlooked here. They think Ethan Brown can contribute as well as a depth add. Depending on if Lee sticks around or they add a veteran guard to replace him, that's more depth than you had there this past season.
QC, Vaaks, Drej, Mirkovic, Tomislav, Jake, Big Z, Morillo, Lee (add if he goes), Brown.
That is one of the best rosters in the country next season and can win a title.
Post in thread 'Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread'
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-hoops-recruiting-thread.42290/post-2448264
Everything is fine…
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-hoops-recruiting-thread.42290/post-2448264
Everything is fine…
Well, here are the two rosters:
Keaton / Kylan / AS / Mirk / Tomi. Bench: Jake / Ben / Z
Vs
Vaaks / Coleman / AS / Mirk / Tomi. Bench: Jake / Morillo / Z.
If I had to bet, Morillo would be a slight downgrade from Ben — though it could be a wash by the end. However, I don’t think the backcourt is as potent as last year (especially if it’s pre injury Kylan we’re talking about). The returners should make a year 2 jump no question — which would bridge the gap in the backcourt (from a year ago) to make it close. It’s why I said “slightly.”
…..
However, the guy for guy perspective has zero to do with our success being better or worse. It’s where you are in the current landscape of all other teams that matters. Michigan will be losing guys, Purdue will be losing guys, MSU etc etc.
How many teams can you find that are better than Illinois? It’s the main thing I tried to outline in that post.
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I agree here, I think players can make a jump but having one more “it” guy would be huge to put us in the upper echelon. I worry with huge portal and recruiting class teams building via spending like Indiana, Louisville, and Mizzou; though coach and culture of Illinois will be far superior. Many of the great teams last year are (likely) losing players, which helps.
I’m excited for this team and roster next year, these guys love playing together and it shows! But I just think we’re in a win now window with the retention we have before we reload next year. A slightly elevated lateral team I think contends for a Final Four. We still need improvements to defense to correct some glaring weaknesses from last year’s team imo. I don’t think I want preseason no. 1 and the expectations/target on our backs, but see us at least getting a top 5 ranking to start the year.
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Get on the Jalen Cox bandwagon. I hope we get him.
Your points are valid, but the concern stems from us wanting Blackwell to begin with. Our staff likely knew where they stood with guys coming back and newcomers, yet they still want Blackwell. What leads them to believe Blackwell is needed for this roster? And why wouldn't we need to replace a guy we wanted? This would be like the Bears making a major push for Maxx Crosby to become Super Bowl favorites. Then missing out on him before saying "we don't need a good rusher anymore."
Seldom does a player at this level fail to improve considerably from year to year. Actually...almost never. However, they need to be used in a manner that it shows.
Vaaks/Coleman is at least = to Boz/Wagler. Much better 3pt shooting on paper.
So now we have a big Z and a little Z....and little Z is 6'7"+? How many teams have had two kids with a first or last name starting with Z?
I'm not disagreeing with anything you are saying. if that's the roster as is, I'm as excited going into next year at I have been in 20 years and totally agree that's a top 5 team right now.
I guess it's hard for me and maybe others to understand how the NIL pool works. in my mind we have a bunch of money allocated to get Blackwell and that likely would be less if it's not him. my assumption is there would still be money... so why sit on it. maybe that's not how it works but from the outside that's how it comes across. we have heard the final four opened up the pocket books so figured use it all
The thing i feel will happen is that Vaaks will be one of the top 3pt shooters in the country. The shots he had and took last season were much more difficult and at a very high number. In this system with our core the quality of shots he takes should be much better. The departure of Bam on D may be missed but one thing i think Coleman will do is shoot the ball much better than Bam did. I feel like our offense will have much better shooting from 3 and that is saying something. I know Keaton shot it over 40% but i think Vaaks can shoot much much better than 35% here with this group and AC will too. I hope Mirk just can stay around his 38% mark or do even better. If we have 3 starters around or even better than 40% with Jake off the bench then look out. I honestly think Vaaks and AC could both be over 40% from 3.
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What I am saying is that we were lacking a piece last year to jump into that top tier. We were in the next year down from the top teams.
For next year we have lost our best player. So to lose our top piece and replace with someone not as good, but then expect us to jump into the top tier this year anyway is......let's say optimistic. Im hopeful some players can make some positive strides. Expecting everyone to do so isnt realistic. Odds are some players due to injury and other circumstances will take steps back as well.
We have a once in a lifetime chance right now for this upcoming season, and barring another top 5 pick freshman and accross the board sizeable improvements, I feel like we are still short.
Ill cheer. Ill hope. However without another major piece my expectations will be a top 10 team at the end of the year, not a championship contender.
Hope I'm wrong.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
I don’t think you truly know if teams you’re comparing us to are gonna be better or worse vs this year because of those gains and construction unless all you’re speaking to is our preseason rank (which I get if that’s the exercise)
Duke, Michigan, and Arizona were Preseason ranked 6,7,13 and they ended up having historic seasons.
In any event, I’m finishing a puzzle with my toddler so not worth arguing - I L L my friend!
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It's wild that we are consistently beating Wisconsin out for their states top recruits.The Wisconsin Mr. Basketball is like the 9th or 10th man in our rotation right now.
This is the greatest timeline.
Podz, Domask, and now Zens we're all Mr Basketball in Wisconsin.
I trust the staff 1000%. Imagine the chemistry that has obviously been built between our core guys and then bringing in a guy from a rival squad, who expects to be the alpha, and oh yeah would be the highest paid player on the roster. With all the mouths to feed offensively that seems like a recipe that could turn sour real fast. Im cool with what we got. Let the balkans run things and bring our highly heralded freshmen along.
….Some of you guys need to google the name Quinton Coleman. Some straight disrespect being placed on a blue chip guy like that. Like we get 2-3 dudes like him every year. Psh. Unreal.
….Some of you guys need to google the name Quinton Coleman. Some straight disrespect being placed on a blue chip guy like that. Like we get 2-3 dudes like him every year. Psh. Unreal.
All of loyalty waiting for Indy to post his Blackwell update!
This is a good question. Illinois has already spent around 15 million this offseason, which is easily top 10 in the country. If you saw what type of numbers teams were willing to pay Mirkovic, Tomi, and Drej, you would be floored. Illinois can afford Blackwell, but they are also confident in the incoming freshman/Vaaks (they spent a ton of Vaaks, Coleman, and Morillo) to fit in really well with your three to five. There's also very high optimism that Ethan Brown will make a impact right away.
Certain people in Blackwells camp did not want him to take the risk of going to Illinois, when Vaaks/Coleman/Drej are all potential breakout pieces and he would have been a secondary option (if those guys breakout).
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They may have had someone willing to pony up for Blackwell, doesn’t mean it’s money in a slush fund. More like a grant application. You have to justify the expense to the provider.
How will we be better? Was TJ better as a senior than he was as a junior? If you watched David Mirkovich play and didn’t see the raw materials for a future All-American, I don’t know what to tell you… That kid was just scratching the surface last year, and he was already really good.
Chemistry & connectivity come with reps. All these guys were more or less strangers a year ago. Now they are brothers. If you don’t know why that is important, you need to watch more ball.
i mean this as a genuine clarification, not disagreeing (especially with an insider
) , but perhaps @wncillini was getting at… instead of “one of the best” wouldn’t we have been THE best with Blackwell? And would go from “can win a title” to “even more likely to win a title?”