Looks like Whitman and Brad have chosen Trent to be the face of the program. The graphics on this article are well done.
2018 Off Season Thread
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Looks like Whitman and Brad have chosen Trent to be the face of the program. The graphics on this article are well done.
Makes sense. Even before he enrolled, he was signing autographs. Even after an awful year for the team he seems extremely positive. Great guy to promote the brand. Something we haven't had in a long long time.
haasi
- New York
If Trent ends up being a crucial piece of a resurgence of the basketball program, he will be Groce’s most lasting contribution.
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Illini_1979
- Oregon
Jeff Finke:
"Obviously there's a lot of conjecture out there and a lot of rumors and false stuff," he said. "Let me be on record. My wife and I are not moving to Phoenix. Michael has never talked to anybody from Grand Canyon. None of that has ever happened."
Where on earth do things like this come from?
That article was so refreshing -- thank you for sharing! It is amazing to read a star athlete at Illinois who loves the university at least as much and probably more than even the most passionate fan on this forum. That "love affair" section made me get a little misty eyed. After the last handful of years of Illinois athletics, bright spots like this are so appreciated. The university communications team also did a fantastic job with the graphics and writing on this story.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Jeff Finke:
"Obviously there's a lot of conjecture out there and a lot of rumors and false stuff," he said. "Let me be on record. My wife and I are not moving to Phoenix. Michael has never talked to anybody from Grand Canyon. None of that has ever happened."
Where on earth do things like this come from?
Doom and gloom message board posters.
Interesting (free) article from Bossi:
https://illinois.rivals.com/news/rival-views-which-coach-had-a-surprisingly-rough-first-season-
https://illinois.rivals.com/news/rival-views-which-coach-had-a-surprisingly-rough-first-season-
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The Finke’s.
Continuing the Groce-tradition of starting statements with the word “Obviously”.
The knee surgery will slow Michael down quite a bit (obviously).
When all is said and done, I can see Trent having as much if possibly not more affect for Illinois than even Dee did. I loved watching Dee play and promote the school, Trent is right there as well. Both have done more than most of us should expect a 18-19 year old to do.
Thank you Dee and Thank you Trent...2 PG with a passion for ILLINI basketball!
I'd be shocked if he doesn't know what he's going to of yet. Nothing has really changed in the last 2-3 months that would have a significant impact. That being said I have no idea what that decision will be.
Not sure what the surgery is but sounds like torn meniscus. Not a long recovery but may not solve the problem permanently.
Per link (not elaborate on specifics):
"Michael Finke first injured his knee when he was 15 years old. An MRI during his freshman season at Illinois when he was dealing with some swelling revealed what was already known — there were loose bodies in his knee, but it wasn't hindering him in any way.
Finke will take care of his knee trouble with arthroscopic surgery on Friday.
'His knee started locking up in the United Center game against New Mexico State this year, and he had to battle that the entire season," said Jeff Finke, Michael's dad, during Thursday's 'SportsTalk,' appearance on WDWS 1400-AM. "They just wanted to get him through and get him to where now Dr. (Robert) Gurtler can go in, clean his knee up and get him back on the court hopefully in the next month and be ready to go.'"
http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...8-03-08/illini-forward-has-much-consider.html
Its a scope for crying out loud, have had 4 of them, no real down time for the most part, if meniscus, 2-3 months max with exercise, anything more a lengthy program would be involved imo.
Maui next year with the likes of Duke, Arizona, Iowa State, Xavier and Gonzaga, I really hope BU is able to have us ready to compete, however, with Leron possibly not coming back, BU really has his work cut out for him.
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We’ll compete. We do that. Win? Meh.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
We might edge out SDSU and Iowa St, and it is a long way to go to see what happens with Arizona. So we potentially could be lower middle pack to last.
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
Agree absolutely. It’s not as advantageous a situation as I thought I was getting into when I spent 2 years working as an expat in Holland. I was in the 6 figure bracket and was disheartened to learn my taxes were considerably higher over there since I was on the European division’s payroll (albeit of an American company). The company agreed to make up the difference, but my taxes were not one penny less than if in the U.S.
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Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
So there were only two coaches nationally that (in their opinion) had a rough first year? I also question where he said, “culture ruled by competitive spirit are just as important as pure talent, Underwood and his staff had trouble getting their new squad to buy in on all levels”. I was never in the locker room but from what the players always espoused in interviews, post game and otherwise, “buy in” was something that did NOT seem to be a problem. Jmo
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At UIUC in particular or the entire NCAA in general? Obviously, about a third of D1 teams are in some sort of postseason tourney right now. That's gonna cut down a lot. Also, most teams have just recently (i.e. about a week ago) finished their seasons. So expecting more transfer news is probably jumping the gun.
As for us, I think there's been a ton of rumors already, and one of our biggest names has already left, with another seemingly with one foot out the door. I would imagine most transfers announce much closer to May than February. Give it another month.
Totally agree. This team took to CoachU's play hard culture right away. We had 1 or 2 bad games all year, so I don't know what Bossi is talking about.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I think they had problems totally buying in to the system. They all worked hard, but there were times when I think Kipper and Tejon fought the system. I think by the end of the year that had cleared up.
But overall, I don't think they bought in to the offensive system. We still ran crappy cuts after the reversal and just settled for the pass into the pinch post with the handoff, 2 man game. We didn't wait for the secondary, or even primary cut most of the time, which was frustrating. We did start getting the back door weak side cut for the alley oop, near the end of the season.
Defensively, I think we bought in. We may not have had some players that could execute well on that end, but I don't think it wasn't for lack of trying.
I'm sure the progress will continue in the offseason and into next year.
Smith transferring after one year is pretty much the definition of "not buying in", so it was an issue with at least one player.
Or maybe he realized basketball at a P-5 conference school isn't quite as easy as at Edwardsville or even as he thought it might be?
I still think the kid was athletically ahead of other kids growing up, had the skill set to succeed, worked hard and because of the first three things excelled and never maybe faced rejection or challenges that seemed too much?????
Either way he is skilled, and will do well, just not here, best of luck to him.
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