When all else fails, call in the Bunk!
Brad Underwood Named Illini Basketball Coach
- Status
When all else fails, call in the Bunk!
At first I was pretty bummed about BU but I recall the SFAustin team that was pretty darn good against WVU and ND in the tourney. After looking at his offense, I'm very excited. Just some quick points eventhough I haven't thoroughly evaluated his offensive scheme.
1. Smart, Disciplined, and Committed players will excel. This offense is constant motion and appears to have a timing element to allow for primary and secondary looks, if those fail come the 3rd and 4th option. Players need to cut and pick and most make some reads. Once again requires BB IQ.
2. The problem with Weber and Groce was the offense was totally geared at the top of the key and perimeter. Very few back door and alley oops during the last 10 years, so defenses pushed further away from the basket. This offense has baseline and top of the cutters constantly.
3. Hope DJW stays and becomes motivated. He was one of the best at picking space for backdoor plays, unfortunately he rarely played or was fed. JCL will need to become a total player, and will need to cut. Kipper and TJL are probably the best fits for this offense right now. Can see Damonte, M Smith, and Frazier doing well, once again it requires smart, disciplined, and committed players to learn and execute this offense.
Somebody said Carroll is eligible as a grad transfer. I would think this would be on the table considering we could use a rebounder, scorer, and somebody familiar with the offense. He might want to leave since the staff just left and the star PG is likely going pro.
Keep Walker and all the recruits, add Mark Smith and a grad transfer (PF) and we are looking good next season.
1. Smart, Disciplined, and Committed players will excel. This offense is constant motion and appears to have a timing element to allow for primary and secondary looks, if those fail come the 3rd and 4th option. Players need to cut and pick and most make some reads. Once again requires BB IQ.
2. The problem with Weber and Groce was the offense was totally geared at the top of the key and perimeter. Very few back door and alley oops during the last 10 years, so defenses pushed further away from the basket. This offense has baseline and top of the cutters constantly.
3. Hope DJW stays and becomes motivated. He was one of the best at picking space for backdoor plays, unfortunately he rarely played or was fed. JCL will need to become a total player, and will need to cut. Kipper and TJL are probably the best fits for this offense right now. Can see Damonte, M Smith, and Frazier doing well, once again it requires smart, disciplined, and committed players to learn and execute this offense.
Somebody said Carroll is eligible as a grad transfer. I would think this would be on the table considering we could use a rebounder, scorer, and somebody familiar with the offense. He might want to leave since the staff just left and the star PG is likely going pro.
Keep Walker and all the recruits, add Mark Smith and a grad transfer (PF) and we are looking good next season.
People worried about Underwood on D can calm down a bit. His last year at SFA his team led the country in both turnovers forced per game and turnover margin, I believe.
Offensively I know a lot of you are watching those videos of the spread. The cuts put so much pressure on the defense. The gen of the offense is your player at the pinch post. He is so important that in our program we call him the playmaker. The high post guy can make so much happen. Somebody like DJ/Kipper or even mark smith would be absolute hell there.
In games, Underwood is gonna watch specifically how other teams guard that high post guy. He said it multiple times when I saw him explain the offense/counters. Teams that run deny defenses and force baseline are gonna have to do some adjusting of their principals based on how the offense sets up, or we'll get baseline layups all day. Teams that packline are gonna have to figure out how to guard the high post when the defense sags to help on cutters. Then, Underwood will have a counter or adjustment for everything. Basketball at Illinois is gonna be fun again.
Offensively I know a lot of you are watching those videos of the spread. The cuts put so much pressure on the defense. The gen of the offense is your player at the pinch post. He is so important that in our program we call him the playmaker. The high post guy can make so much happen. Somebody like DJ/Kipper or even mark smith would be absolute hell there.
In games, Underwood is gonna watch specifically how other teams guard that high post guy. He said it multiple times when I saw him explain the offense/counters. Teams that run deny defenses and force baseline are gonna have to do some adjusting of their principals based on how the offense sets up, or we'll get baseline layups all day. Teams that packline are gonna have to figure out how to guard the high post when the defense sags to help on cutters. Then, Underwood will have a counter or adjustment for everything. Basketball at Illinois is gonna be fun again.
TJL-great passer, good pick and roll player. Sees passing lanes well. Will definitely fit and read all options out of the flow well.
JCL- Will have to adjust to cutting and finishing. There are some double screen away plays Underwood uses as counters that JCL will kill on.
DJW-If he stays and works it wouldn't surprise me if he became our best player in this offense. His all around skill set is built for a truly positionless offense. He'd be hell cutting on the perimeter to the rim (first cut), into the postup (second cut) and at the high post.
Kipper-Ditto DJ, word for word.
AJ- wildcard. The consistency of the continuity might be all he needs to break out. He will get kick out 3 looks and if he can finish at the rim on cuts he will be very valuable.
Finke- Another great offensive fit. His ability to play inside and out will allow Underwood to move a guard into the high post to create mismatches.
Leron- Really only see him as a high post guy. He can hit the elbow j if his man sags on cuts. Will have to get used to cutting and probably putting the ball on the floor from the high post. If he does get moved to the perimeter (there is a "push" counter that pushes the high post guy out) he will be a good second cutter which allow him to cut into the post, where he should be comfortable.
A post on how recruits fit will be coming.
JCL- Will have to adjust to cutting and finishing. There are some double screen away plays Underwood uses as counters that JCL will kill on.
DJW-If he stays and works it wouldn't surprise me if he became our best player in this offense. His all around skill set is built for a truly positionless offense. He'd be hell cutting on the perimeter to the rim (first cut), into the postup (second cut) and at the high post.
Kipper-Ditto DJ, word for word.
AJ- wildcard. The consistency of the continuity might be all he needs to break out. He will get kick out 3 looks and if he can finish at the rim on cuts he will be very valuable.
Finke- Another great offensive fit. His ability to play inside and out will allow Underwood to move a guard into the high post to create mismatches.
Leron- Really only see him as a high post guy. He can hit the elbow j if his man sags on cuts. Will have to get used to cutting and probably putting the ball on the floor from the high post. If he does get moved to the perimeter (there is a "push" counter that pushes the high post guy out) he will be a good second cutter which allow him to cut into the post, where he should be comfortable.
A post on how recruits fit will be coming.
His defense can't be that bad as he was an assistant to Huggins. May take longer to develop. Going to enjoy the style and think we have the athletes to be successful and first year may be successful as it will take the rest of the conference a while to adjust. What WV did to us this year is what the Flying Illini did to teams in that era. Not sure we have that kind of ability but still fun to watch development of future teams.
Bardo4assistant
- springpatch
Recruiting thread closed so it's here... I'm watching OSU big12 tourney games and 17.5 per game from Carroll is much needed on a Hill-less landscape. Love his game
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Pretty safe assumption, IMO.
Appears from viewing some of the YouTubes that Brad Underwood has a personality similar to Bobby Knight, demanding a very disciplined, almost militaristic demeanor from his players, unlike Coach Groce's approach. Should be interesting how the current players adjust to this coaching style.
Damonte- Will be a great fit as a cutter, particularly the fist cutter in this offense. If his man gets hung up on the screen and there's bad help he could get an alley right away. I can also see him at the high post facing up his man and attacking. A lot of people said he played center for his team because of his height. If used to playing with his back to the basket, that could help him as the second cutter.
Pickett- From everything I've heard he is an all around, versatile scorer. In this offense his versatility will allow him to play anywhere, and maybe see the floor earlier than expected. I would have killed to see Malcolm in this offense doing what I think Pickett will be able to after 4 years.
Frazier- We all saw Evans right? In all seriousness, Underwood wants to score in transition first, Frazier can push and figure it out. In the half court he should be hell as a cutter and in the backside pick and roll. As he develops I see underwood Isolating him in the high post every now and then.
Tilmon- The crown jewel. I've never seen him play, but was recruited by Groce for a pick and roll system. He will get to do that every possession in this system too. If he has a high post face up game, even better. If he gets pushed to the outside he could be good as the second cutter who ends in a post up.
Smith?- The coveted one. In the videos I've seen he is obviously a primary ball handler but also shoots it well, and even appears to post a bit. This level of versatility suits him well in this offense. If he's as good as I think he is, I could see him growing into our most versatile, important player that Underwood moves all around. Obviously Groce was recruiting him for a pick and roll offense. He should get opportunities to shine on the backside turning the corner looking to finish.
Pickett- From everything I've heard he is an all around, versatile scorer. In this offense his versatility will allow him to play anywhere, and maybe see the floor earlier than expected. I would have killed to see Malcolm in this offense doing what I think Pickett will be able to after 4 years.
Frazier- We all saw Evans right? In all seriousness, Underwood wants to score in transition first, Frazier can push and figure it out. In the half court he should be hell as a cutter and in the backside pick and roll. As he develops I see underwood Isolating him in the high post every now and then.
Tilmon- The crown jewel. I've never seen him play, but was recruited by Groce for a pick and roll system. He will get to do that every possession in this system too. If he has a high post face up game, even better. If he gets pushed to the outside he could be good as the second cutter who ends in a post up.
Smith?- The coveted one. In the videos I've seen he is obviously a primary ball handler but also shoots it well, and even appears to post a bit. This level of versatility suits him well in this offense. If he's as good as I think he is, I could see him growing into our most versatile, important player that Underwood moves all around. Obviously Groce was recruiting him for a pick and roll offense. He should get opportunities to shine on the backside turning the corner looking to finish.
yes I forget who said it but saw it on twitter. Walker continues to coach NIT
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Deleted member 10676
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Probably? With the way Mizzou is throwing money around and Cuonzo waiting to pounce? Jamall isn't just hoping to hang onto a job. He's got at least one pretty big poker chip to play.
illini80
- Forgottonia
One would have to think that JW has promised him a payday.
He is, indeed, extremely intense. It's obvious just watching him teach to other coaches. He talked about never taking a day off, not even with the flu, because he never wants to give his guys a chance to relax. From a mental standpoint it's gonna take a tough guy to play for him. From a physical standpoint, our guys fit sooooo well.
If you would have told me when I woke up this morning I was going to watch a 4+ minute highlight clip of Steven F Austin vs West Virginia on YouTube I would have told you you were crazy. :thumb:
Bardo4assistant
- springpatch
Underwood did seal training at OSU with team as Groce did. I wonder if he'll do that again
Ubermensch
BOOM! Feed my ego.
Would appear the routine practices and workouts would suffice as intense as the YouTubes show.
might be time to deactivate his OSU twitter account lol
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