I think when every single player on a roster, PLUS the coaches are trying to learn the schemes, it takes a long while.
This year, our coaches will all be more familiar and about half of our roster will be familiar. This will help.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April 2018)
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I think when every single player on a roster, PLUS the coaches are trying to learn the schemes, it takes a long while.
This year, our coaches will all be more familiar and about half of our roster will be familiar. This will help.
Should we have any concern that our staff is so focused on filling out the roster with 2018 commits and putting some work in with the class of '19 that we are going to be behind the 8-ball for our top guys in '20 and '21. I know we have worked on Miller, but the top kid in state for '21, Max Christie, has yet to be contacted by Illinois. Duke has reached out already, and Michigan is coming to his high school next week.
Any concern?
Any concern?
This...
TheDukeUIUC
- Twin Cities, MN
I wondered throughout the year how much this contributed to our slow starts. I know with past staffs we knew which asst had the scout for particular teams, but I don't recall knowing that information last year. Would be interesting know if there was a correlation between slow starts and who had the scouting responsibilities.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Our post scoring will be worse. I just don't see, aside from miracle jumps, how we replace Black on the inside-ish.
To someone more in the know of the BU system;
Did we run the system through the post like it should have been?
Are we trying to replace what Black did last year, or was that run out of necessity and not the desired scheme BU is building for?
Andres Feliz just named first team All-American! Congrats to Andres!
https://twitter.com/power_illini/status/983763889891495937
https://twitter.com/power_illini/status/983763889891495937
And, there you would be very, very wrong. Just not my cup of tea is all. Big fan of most all kinds of music, but some of those bands from late '60s/early '70s were not up my alley. Now, back to Illini B-Ball.
Alonzo Verge, 2nd team and Austin Trice, 3rd team.
I feel that in BU's offense FTs are even more magnified because they are included as part of the offense. When you penalize teams by fouling it opens the game up even more which helps our cutters.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
The fact that Verge is second team (and the second highest Fr on that list) gives us some context. This is a guy that would have easily been a high-major player if he had done the work in the classroom. He fell down recruiting rankings in high school because it was clear he wasn't going to qualify and he missed important AAU events.
How do you know we haven't contacted him?
I work at the school he goes to, played for and coached under his head coach, and am good buddies with all of the coaches on staff. I asked if Illinois has contacted at all, they have not. Villanova called last week too.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Asked and answered.
I'd love to see another post player sign but, IMHO, without another sign, next year we will be better at: passing, cutting, shooting, and intensity. Our rebounding I think will be even or a little better. Watch for Damonte here, as well as a big improvement from Ebo on the glass. If Kane gets some minor tick tock like Ebo did last year, who knows?
Our post scoring will be worse. I just don't see, aside from miracle jumps, how we replace Black on the inside-ish.
Kipper at the 4 would help the scoring but not improve the defense against the big teams. Only possibility on team is Matic and we don't have any idea if he has improved enough to help. As several people have mentioned this is the piece we need for next year in a grad transfer.
Deleted member 654622
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Didn't you say like last week that there is no way IL is getting this kid? His mom played at Northwestern and he loves it there. Something like he is going to Northwestern or Duke. Am I wrong? If that is the case then and IL doesn't have a shot at him, spend your man hours elsewhere
Twitter Tuesday: Latest on Romeo, Akinjo, Calloo, OK State
Next weekend, Illinois will host Calloo for an official visit. This is the only trip scheduled for the time being as the Illini, if they so deem fit, could press the Canadian senior during his visit and could leave the Champaign campus a committed man.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...latest-on-romeo-akinjo-and-oklahoma-s-targets
Next weekend, Illinois will host Calloo for an official visit. This is the only trip scheduled for the time being as the Illini, if they so deem fit, could press the Canadian senior during his visit and could leave the Champaign campus a committed man.
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...latest-on-romeo-akinjo-and-oklahoma-s-targets
I know going after grad transfers isnt the preferred method of filling a roster, but a 5th year big seems to be more worthy of a spot than another frosh, though I can see the argument for buying into more lottery tickets hoping one hits.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
What I really said was that other fans would write off Ayo as "the local kid" in order to make it seem like less of a win. Like when we shrug when the Loosiers pull in a star from Indianapolis, even though we secretly would have loved to have him. And I'm guessing that while we Illini fans are all too versed in the lack of public league stars going to Illinois, outside fans probably still think it should be "easy" for us to recruit them, and thus slam us for those failures, too.
Tevo
- Wilmette, IL
THE PIPELINE IS BACK OPEN!
Oh, I'd say about 4 more losses is the worst we could be.
If you haven't listened to the Werner interview with Steven Demeo, Andres Feliz's coach at NW Florida St., I recommend it. The interview starts around the 39:23 mark.
http://jeremywernershow.podbean.com...-inquirer-steven-demeo-nw-florida-st-college/
http://jeremywernershow.podbean.com...-inquirer-steven-demeo-nw-florida-st-college/
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Deleted member 175495
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He was suspended twice. If he doesn't miss those games he makes first team. I don't think you can judge anything based on him not making the first team. He had a first team type of year when he played.
True, true, but the only way I see this is by having threats at other key positions. For example, outside of Black, Frazier, and occasionally Kipper, who could score last year? Maybe Finke, but he did not show much and Te'Jon could occasionally create. We obviously will miss Black, but is there some other way to score next year? I do feel in terms of athleticism, we will be much better and creators that can score, we will be much better. So our defense could be better; despite having Freshman, and our drive and dish will be much better. Ayo has a chance to be a good creator, high IQ, etc... Frazier will probably keep growing. Feliz looks to me like a solid point guard that has some athleticism, can shoot enough to keep teams honest, and can create. Our backcourt is now more athletic, more creators, and has a higher basketball IQ. Can Kipper take the next step? Can Jones provide some quality minutes while providing athleticism? Can Samba Kane and Ebo provide some defense? I like long-term potential of Kane and feel he is underrated. The only signing I don't care for is Giorgi? He could be solid, but we will find out.
I think long-term we will be much better, but for next year, it will depend on multiple ball-handlers for the Illini and can we score enough to keep up with our athleticism.
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