How soon we forget that we just had a couple of 5 year guys hang it up last year in Frazier/Williams. Also, Kofi & Ayo opted for pro ball instead of coming back for another season. Hawkins is eyeing his senior season, and if he doesn't come back, it's because he is playing professionally. I don't see any starkly contrasting differences here.
Illini Basketball
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How soon we forget that we just had a couple of 5 year guys hang it up last year in Frazier/Williams. Also, Kofi & Ayo opted for pro ball instead of coming back for another season. Hawkins is eyeing his senior season, and if he doesn't come back, it's because he is playing professionally. I don't see any starkly contrasting differences here.
He should work with a shooting coach.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Hilltop Hoops must read Loyalty
If the Epps rumors on true, yeah it sucks, but I've never been sold on Jayden. He's small, and his jump shot is VERY streaky. His defense is okay, but his lack of size is an issue also on defense. Don't get me wrong, it sucks, and I would love for him to stick around, but kinda saw it coming and we will be just fine without him.
Put it this way, he helped us win the Texas game, but he wasn't the reason we won that game. Other than that game, he wasn't "Monumental" in any singular game. If we need to replace him, we can do so.
Put it this way, he helped us win the Texas game, but he wasn't the reason we won that game. Other than that game, he wasn't "Monumental" in any singular game. If we need to replace him, we can do so.
Nothing good about losing a freshman who can create his own shot on a team that doesn't have guys who can do that.
I was pretty connected to the Illinois program from the mid-80s to 95, when I had to leave Champaign and relocate for work.
I knew Lou and Mary fairly well and had good access to the program. Got to know Coach through church, and he gave me open access to practices, press room, etc… Also got to know Mark Coomes pretty well and we would meet up fairly regularly outside of team stuff. Chill and drink a beer kind of thing.
Lou was not one to curse at players. Many thought he was timid perhaps? Not real fiery.
But I can tell you, as relatively calm as Lou was during games, practice was a different story. He was all over those guys.
He was a yeller and in their face….albeit, it was without cursing and never crossed a line.
Point is, I think all coaches have this trait, and also believe there’s a need for it.
The conversation, I believe, is what’s an acceptable amount….one that I won’t weigh in on at this point. But they all yell.
The Iowa game we lost was the one that stands out where he carried us offensively for large chunks of that game. But being able to score on Iowa is something literally any team in the country can do *cough* Eastern Illinois *cough*.
Check out his record from 2018 to 2021. He'd never have survived here.
In fairness to Jayden, he's a freshman. Most offensively talented freshman guards can't play defense at a B10 level. That's been proven year after year. A year of experience and offseason strength and fitness training does wonders. Is it possible he never is able to pick it up? Sure. But it's also possible he can eventually play on that end of the floor if not to a plus extent, at least to a serviceable.
As well, I think we need to somewhat move past the he's leaving because he didn't like getting yelled at conjecture. Yes, that may be part of it, but it has been suggested that there were multiple reasons for his unhappiness and desire to leave. It just seems from the info that has been leaked (which is minimal), that it isn't that simple.
Maybe I'm not going full Loyalty yet, but I just don't think he deserves to be buried for this decision yet. Nor do I think Brad should be either yet. There just isn't enough information.
And one final thing, the leaks of him possibly leaving actually came before the oncourt "blowup" between him and Brad. And while I'm sure that didn't help matters, it is suggested there was a lot more going on even before that point in the season.
Losing Epps is a devastating blow if for no other reason than there’s no one else on the roster that can do what he does.
Lots of pressure on DGL. He better show up and be ready for 30+ minutes a night. Morretti is nowhere close physically to even be an option next year. I watched Robert film him on warms ups and he looked like a HS player
Lots of pressure on DGL. He better show up and be ready for 30+ minutes a night. Morretti is nowhere close physically to even be an option next year. I watched Robert film him on warms ups and he looked like a HS player
I wish one could ignore by talking point: CYQ (coach yelling quotient), "i'm not sold on epps," underwood can't keep guards happy...
Going to need to see a list of potential transfer PGs better than Epps. I haven’t seen any guys that fit that category other than Tyger Campbell. And he’d only be here 1 season.
Our lead guard hasn't gone portaling yet
Honestly losing Epps won’t be to big a blow depending on who they get in the portal. Epps is an undersized shooting guard who isn’t that special from 3. If Epps was gonna be the teams primary ball handler next year, the team was in trouble anyways.
What did Underwood do this year that made everyone turn on him? It's not like he started yelling at players this year He also had to replace every starter from last year and still made the tournament. I want a tournament run as much as the next guy, but is the Arkansas game the make or break on if he can coach or not? I'm just kind of confused. Do you remember what this program looked like when he took over?
The bad taste from Loyola (which we got the pants coached off of us) was the start for many I think. No success in any tournaments since then.
The defense of Underwood as if he can do no wrong baffles me on here sometimes. The question should be what he DIDN'T do. We underachieved big time this year and have had very little success in the tournament. I see some people blame everyone but him. He needs to do better.
I think because of his age some people don’t realize how unproven he is relative to other coaches.
He inherited a team at SFA that won the conference the year before. He spent 3 years there, which were some of SFA‘s best years ever, but his best players were recruited by the previous coach, and he moved to OSU before he could see a class he recruited graduate.
OSU was a rollercoster season including a streak they lost 6 in a row. He also inherited Juwan Evans who had a drop in 2FG%, 3FG%, FT%, etc compared to previous year with Travis Ford. They lost first game in both conference and NCAA tourney.
Outside those 4 years his HC career is with Illinois and I think most at this point consider it meh.
He inherited a team at SFA that won the conference the year before. He spent 3 years there, which were some of SFA‘s best years ever, but his best players were recruited by the previous coach, and he moved to OSU before he could see a class he recruited graduate.
OSU was a rollercoster season including a streak they lost 6 in a row. He also inherited Juwan Evans who had a drop in 2FG%, 3FG%, FT%, etc compared to previous year with Travis Ford. They lost first game in both conference and NCAA tourney.
Outside those 4 years his HC career is with Illinois and I think most at this point consider it meh.
I hope this isn't a popular take.
I thought Epps was great, especially as a freshmen and I will be quite bummed if he left.
I'm sure he would say he needs to do better also, but the blame being put on someone who has turned the Illinois program around baffles me. There's just as big an argument that the question should be what he DID do. Otherwise, only one team each year can say they had a good season.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Epps WAS NOT a point guard.. He is a 2 guard who was forced to play the point because of Skyys exit.. Bamba from WSU would be a good example of an good replacement. I see Ty playing more point next year along with whomever we pick up. I think we will all be happy next year with the team we might have.
Tevian Jones
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Talent aside, Epps taking himself out of the Northwestern game and refusing to help his teammates fight back never sat right with me. Idk everything that goes on behind closed doors but it’s a really bad look. Wish it would have worked out, but I’m happy to give the scholarship to someone more bought in #ILL
JJE
- Bethalto, IL
Last night I watched The Redeem Team on Netflix. It's a documentary about how USA basketball failed in 2004 (bronze) and what they changed to get back to gold in 2008. The similarities of the 2004 olympic team that failed and this year's Illinois team was pretty crazy.
If we have talent without buy in and continuity we are going to get similar results next year.
I know that sounds cliche, but Underwood has to figure out a way to have key players buy in again and stay on the roster for 2-3 years.
If we have talent without buy in and continuity we are going to get similar results next year.
I know that sounds cliche, but Underwood has to figure out a way to have key players buy in again and stay on the roster for 2-3 years.
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