Illini Coaching Staff

#101      

UofIChE06

U
Pittsburgh
UofIChE06
combes said:
Evans is for sure on the staff.

I've said this elsewhere, but coaches are fiercely loyal to their assistants who helped them get where they are. We are lucky that Underwood is open to hiring Walker. The odds of him getting rid of two of his assistants is small, IMO. I would guess a staff of Evans, Walker and Boynton.

I wouldn't be surprised if the third assistant from OSU is offered a job in some capacity unless he has something else.
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I would typically agree with that but two of Underwood's assistants at OSU were in their first year on his coaching staff. Not really a long partnership between Underwood and anyone except Boyton.

Evans does have ties to Underwood as they were both under Frank Martin but that doesn't really mean they have a close connection. Evans would actually be a pretty good fit at FSU to replace Gates if Gates were to come to UI. Evans has pretty strong ties to Florida. He grew up there and went to JC there.
 
#102      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
I looked into BU offense and the options from it. I think most players on team can fit well but they just need to learn it first. Finke would do well with the "Chicago Double" option. Black can do well by becoming more of a dual threat both on the block and 3 point threat. JCL will need to improve passing and ability to dribble/score of a high post option. Kipper is best suited to be a wing player in this system since he can hit the 3, use a high screen to dribble drive, and cut to the basket and post. Kipper is a good passer with his size.

Bottom line the multi-tool players are best suited for this offense. Regarding recruits I think Damonte and Smith could develop into what I just mentioned about Kipper. Frazier would be good with many of the options.
 
#103      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
BU on The Score this morning mentioned allowing the current staff to finish out the season and keep winning. Seems like he won't have contact about who's staying and going until the season is over. Probably sensible to avoid being a distraction.

He also mentioned finding a quality staff for the state of Illinois. But that it might not happen as quickly as fans want. Suggests to me that he's recruiting new guys, as opposed to just bring his osu staff.
 
#105      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
RichardKeenesHair said:
Hmmm, distraction from the NIT? Who cares. I would much rather he locked Walker up, assuming he is the key to Tilmon and Smith. If that is not the case and Whitman/Underwood are confident they are coming either way then I guess it doesn't matter
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Or if he wants to dump Walker and Tilmon and start fresh, that is absolutely his prerogative.

Connectivity to the Groce era is not an asset here. BU should play this in whatever way is best for the long-term future.
 
#106      

combes

C
combes
TownieMatt said:
BU on The Score this morning mentioned allowing the current staff to finish out the season and keep winning. Seems like he won't have contact about who's staying and going until the season is over. Probably sensible to avoid being a distraction.

He also mentioned finding a quality staff for the state of Illinois. But that it might not happen as quickly as fans want. Suggests to me that he's recruiting new guys, as opposed to just bring his osu staff.
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He has definitely met with Walker.
 
#107      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
RichardKeenesHair said:
Hmmm, distraction from the NIT? Who cares. I would much rather he locked Walker up, assuming he is the key to Tilmon and Smith. If that is not the case and Whitman/Underwood are confident they are coming either way then I guess it doesn't matter
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You have to look at it from a professionalism standpoint. Telling one coach he's staying is the equivalent of firing the others, during a post-season tournament. If need be, those decisions can be stretched out another week.

For all we know, that situation has been worked out and is just a matter of finalizing after the season. If so, Tilmon is probably aware of that. Why make it public and sell the other assistants down the river?
 
#108      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
TownieMatt said:
You have to look at it from a professionalism standpoint. Telling one coach he's staying is the equivalent of firing the others, during a post-season tournament. If need be, those decisions can be stretched out another week.

For all we know, that situation has been worked out and is just a matter of finalizing after the season. If so, Tilmon is probably aware of that. Why make it public and sell the other assistants down the river?
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This...
 
#109      

combes

C
combes
golferjohn1970 said:
Good post at least this can wait until after Illinois loses either tomorrow night or whenever. Do we think JW has nudged BU to at least keep Walker just to appease Tilmon and help with Mark Smith?
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Walker is an asset moving forward, not just with the current recruits.

Underwood has known Walker for a long time. I think there is a plan in place.
 
#110      

Combo

C
Combo
Second and Chalmers said:
Or if he wants to dump Walker and Tilmon and start fresh, that is absolutely his prerogative.

Connectivity to the Groce era is not an asset here. BU should play this in whatever way is best for the long-term future.
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Winning in the short-term helps the long-term future. And keeping Tilmon helps us win next year.
 
#111      

combes

C
combes
FiveStar said:
Danny Henderson isn't really Underwood's "guy" though. He was added to the staff cause Underwood had an opening and he wanted an inroad to the Texas HS scene, specifically DFW. Hiring Walker for recruiting connections in state is the exact same move.
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And he is likely the one who is losing his spot. Just saying that if he doesn't have another job in sight, he could be brought here in a non-coaching role. Probably not, but I'm sure Underwood is looking out for his OSU staff the best he can. These are people, not chess pieces.
 
#112      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
Combo said:
Winning in the short-term helps the long-term future. And keeping Tilmon helps us win next year.
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Agreed. Showing progress in the next couple seasons will be crucial. Walker will be key to that, especially given the talent in the STL area.

I keep telling people, Chicago is important, we all get that, but the high-level talent in the Chicago area has been down for a while. Several years without a McDonald's AA and no sure thing burger boy in the next couple classes. Recruiting downstate in the near term is just as important as Chicago.
 
#113      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
Combo said:
Winning in the short-term helps the long-term future. And keeping Tilmon helps us win next year.
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A third assistant who knows what Underwood wants and is an excellent teacher might have a higher win value for next season than Tilmon. Or maybe Tilmon is available even without Walker. Or maybe Tilmon is gone even with Walker.

My instinct is the same as all of yours. That retaining Walker will secure Tilmon, and to pull that off would be a win for Underwood. But I am willing to entertain the possibility that a coach who was an integral part of a failed coaching administration both on the floor and on the recruiting trail, plus a recruit who isn't an obvious fit for the new system we're running might not represent the maximum long-term value for one of those three slots. It's POSSIBLE.
 
#114      

combes

C
combes
Second and Chalmers said:
A third assistant who knows what Underwood wants and is an excellent teacher might have a higher win value for next season than Tilmon. Or maybe Tilmon is available even without Walker. Or maybe Tilmon is gone even with Walker.

My instinct is the same as all of yours. That retaining Walker will secure Tilmon, and to pull that off would be a win for Underwood. But I am willing to entertain the possibility that a coach who was an integral part of a failed coaching administration both on the floor and on the recruiting trail, plus a recruit who isn't an obvious fit for the new system we're running might not represent the maximum long-term value for one of those three slots. It's POSSIBLE.
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If Walker stays, it will be on his own merits.

Tilmon does fit the system. Underwood said on the Score that he had to change his defense this year and go with less pressure because he did not have a rim protector to back up the rest of the team.
 
#115      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
combes said:
Tilmon does fit the system. Underwood said on the Score that he had to change his defense this year and go with less pressure because he did not have a rim protector to back up the rest of the team.
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Relying on an inevitably foul-prone true freshman to do that might not be feasible. But we'll see.
 
#116      

UofI08

U
Chicago
UofI08
Second and Chalmers said:
A third assistant who knows what Underwood wants and is an excellent teacher might have a higher win value for next season than Tilmon. Or maybe Tilmon is available even without Walker. Or maybe Tilmon is gone even with Walker.

My instinct is the same as all of yours. That retaining Walker will secure Tilmon, and to pull that off would be a win for Underwood. But I am willing to entertain the possibility that a coach who was an integral part of a failed coaching administration both on the floor and on the recruiting trail, plus a recruit who isn't an obvious fit for the new system we're running might not represent the maximum long-term value for one of those three slots. It's POSSIBLE.
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Agree 100%. This needs to be Underwood's call and only Underwood's call.
 
#117      

FiveStar

F
FiveStar
SescIllini said:
I looked into BU offense and the options from it. I think most players on team can fit well but they just need to learn it first. Finke would do well with the "Chicago Double" option. Black can do well by becoming more of a dual threat both on the block and 3 point threat. JCL will need to improve passing and ability to dribble/score of a high post option. Kipper is best suited to be a wing player in this system since he can hit the 3, use a high screen to dribble drive, and cut to the basket and post. Kipper is a good passer with his size.

Bottom line the multi-tool players are best suited for this offense. Regarding recruits I think Damonte and Smith could develop into what I just mentioned about Kipper. Frazier would be good with many of the options.
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I actually think Kipper is a nightmare at the high post in this offense. Strong guy who can set good screens and score off one dribble to the rim. If he can hit the elbow J too, I think he might be our best player at that spot.
 
#119      

miggytorres

miggytorres
miggytorres
TownieMatt said:
BU on The Score this morning mentioned allowing the current staff to finish out the season and keep winning. Seems like he won't have contact about who's staying and going until the season is over. Probably sensible to avoid being a distraction.

He also mentioned finding a quality staff for the state of Illinois. But that it might not happen as quickly as fans want. Suggests to me that he's recruiting new guys, as opposed to just bring his osu staff.
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Is there a link to audio available?would love to hear this
 
#120      

combes

C
combes
UofI08 said:
Agree 100%. This needs to be Underwood's call and only Underwood's call.
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He has made that call. Now it's just the timing of it.

Underwood knows the value of Walker and has known Walker for years. I just read today that Underwood recruited Walker's older brother when he was a jc coach.
 
#121      

UofI08

U
Chicago
UofI08
combes said:
Well, obviously it's a good start to a rebuild. Having Tilmon is way better than not having Tilmon. Is that even a debate?
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The conventional answer of is it better to keep Tilmon vs lose Tilmon is definitely yes. But a raw, freshman center in a new, spread uptempo offensive system.... Maybe it's not a huge loss if he does leave?

Keeping Walker is as much about upcoming St. Louis recruiting as it is keeping Tilmon imo.

Perfect world, Walker and Underwood get along great, Tilmon stays and has a huge year while the Illini make the tournament easily.
 
#122      

UofI08

U
Chicago
UofI08
combes said:
He has made that call. Now it's just the timing of it.

Underwood knows the value of Walker and has known Walker for years. I just read today that Underwood recruited Walker's older brother when he was a jc coach.
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That's awesome. Thanks for the info. I was trying to figure out their connection. I'd say it's more likely than not that Walker stays, but I don't anticipate an official announcement yet.
 
#123      

Indy Illini Fan

Indy Illini Fan
Indy Illini Fan
I really hope our assistants wind up being:
Walker
Heirman (LaLu coach)
Gates (FSU)

I think that Heirman will bring Bowen with him as a part of him being an assistant on staff. Then we will add Mark Smith and Carroll from OSU. That is a team that is extremely talented, and a staff that will be able to reload with recruits every year.
 
#124      

WesterveltVictoryCigar

WesterveltVictoryCigar
WesterveltVictoryCigar
Indy Illini Fan said:
I really hope our assistants wind up being:
Walker
Heirman (LaLu coach)
Gates (FSU)

I think that Heirman will bring Bowen with him as a part of him being an assistant on staff. Then we will add Mark Smith and Carroll from OSU. That is a team that is extremely talented, and a staff that will be able to reload with recruits every year.
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That would mean Underwood doesn't keep anyone from his current staff, seems very unlikely to me.
 
#125      

mattcoldagelli

mattcoldagelli
The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
mattcoldagelli
Indy Illini Fan said:
I really hope our assistants wind up being:
Walker
Heirman (LaLu coach)
Gates (FSU)

I think that Heirman will bring Bowen with him as a part of him being an assistant on staff. Then we will add Mark Smith and Carroll from OSU. That is a team that is extremely talented, and a staff that will be able to reload with recruits every year.
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Evans is going to be on this staff.