Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
There’s no more PWO spots … But if there still was …
Those two guys you’re asking about would be in those spots …
Exactly … He can start by just being above .500 … 2 of the last 3 years below .500 …
Let alone making the tournament … What’s it been 3 years for that ??
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Losing records in conference each of the last 4 years.
Iowa is the new Wiscy -- may not have the most talent, but I bet McCollum will get them into the top 7 at least.
They're still loaded with talent. I agree they're not likely not bulldoze over everyone on their way to a NC. But there are only a handful of teams that look as talented on paper.
I don’t know. This kid may be NBA bound. His handles and finishes with either hand were smooth!
I still can't believe this. Muss had Arkansas cooking when he was there. shocked he left and shocked he's been irrelevant in the big ten at best and straight up garbage at worst
I don’t see one guy on their team who can average 15 points / game.
That defense will undoubtedly get worse after losing 3 lottery picks in the front court.
….
You could say the same thing about us as well — bit worse offense (I mean, we were historic) and bit worse defense.
However, our drop-off isn’t near as extreme as theirs on either end. You don’t just lose that front court and automatically become a top 3 team (unless you have those Duke/Kentucky level recruiting classes — which they don’t either).
Ever since his super sexy wife made him put his shirt back on he hasn’t been worth a damn.
I imagine coaching a bunch of relatively broke kids in Fayetteville presents a different challenge than coaching a bunch of millionaires in Los Angeles
I think we know what the top 8 will be, barring a surprise (Stoj, Vaaks, Mirk, Tomi, QC, Morillo, Jake, Z in whichever order).
However, the 9th should be available for spot minutes (think freshman DGL).
…..
I actually think our #9thMan formula is fine. Instead of bringing in X mid major who we’d point to as “the certified 9th man” …. you have 3 freshman, all with equal runway for that position.
Think of it as three lotto tickets. One of them should hit as a fine #9thMan player.
Eric Musselman needs to prove he can win?
Hes legitimately one of the best recruiters in the country and has won a ton. Arguably had a better resume than Brad only a few years ago.
He was a Marques Townes 3 away from going to the final four with Nevada(the Martin twins with Jordan Caroline were awesome). Then he went to Arkansas and immediately turned them around. Went to two elite 8s and a sweet 16 in his first three tournaments there.
The wheels fell off in a single season at Arkansas(would love to know the entire story there). Then he's been at USC for two years and they haven't been good but there's been a lot of factors.
In year 1, he had to completely build the team in the portal. They were mediocre but did have some talent which showed when they handed it to Illinois in Champaign.
Year 2, he lost Claude to a last minute portal but still added a ton of talent. Alijah Arenas had a major car accident where he was put in a coma and then tore his meniscus. Rodney Rice had a season ending injury in December, and then Chad Baker Mazara crashed out and was dismissed from the team(that last part isn't surprising with him on a struggling team). Stuff happens but Rice, Arenas, CBM, and Cofie all playing at the same time could have been a good team.
They've got a ton of talent coming in plus will return Rice and Arenas. USC is definitely a threat to win the big10. Its hard to bet against Izzo but I think USC has a significantly higher ceiling. It wouldn't surprise me one at all if USC ended up having the best tournament run in the big10 this year.
Dude beat Illinois and then #1 seed Kansas in the tournament 4 years ago.
Eric Musselman needs to prove he can win?
Hes legitimately one of the best recruiters in the country and has won a ton. Arguably had a better resume than Brad only a few years ago.
He was a Marques Townes 3 away from going to the final four with Nevada(the Martin twins with Jordan Caroline were awesome). Then he went to Arkansas and immediately turned them around. Went to two elite 8s and a sweet 16 in his first three tournaments there.
The wheels fell off in a single season at Arkansas(would love to know the entire story there). Then he's been at USC for two years and they haven't been good but there's been a lot of factors.
In year 1, he had to completely build the team in the portal. They were mediocre but did have some talent which showed when they handed it to Illinois in Champaign.
Year 2, he lost Claude to a last minute portal but still added a ton of talent. Alijah Arenas had a major car accident where he was put in a coma and then tore his meniscus. Rodney Rice had a season ending injury in December, and then Chad Baker Mazara crashed out and was dismissed from the team(that last part isn't surprising with him on a struggling team). Stuff happens but Rice, Arenas, CBM, and Cofie all playing at the same time could have been a good team.
They've got a ton of talent coming in plus will return Rice and Arenas. USC is definitely a threat to win the big10. Its hard to bet against Izzo but I think USC has a significantly higher ceiling. It wouldn't surprise me one at all if USC ended up having the best tournament run in the big10 this year.
8 paragraphs in near mouth-frothing level defense of an opposing B1G coach with a 51-49 record over 3 seasons in which he’s made the tourney zero times
Weren’t we firing Brad after the BTT?
Wonder how much of Lincoln's ranking slide had to do with the off court / academic issues (and not exactly basketball). When we first recruited him, and he was visiting all those games, he was ranked alot higher.
I agree and couldn't say it better.
To be fair, we did just bring back basically our entire team from the year prior. That should help with cultural continuity.
