icengineer
- Southern Illinois
Maybe Groce is just a really good set-up man, but not a great closer? Spent enough time in sales to see people be really good at generating interest, but not being able to get a big contract signed.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (April-June 2016)
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Maybe Groce is just a really good set-up man, but not a great closer? Spent enough time in sales to see people be really good at generating interest, but not being able to get a big contract signed.
Groce has closed on some really good players as an assistant and as a head coach. As Bill Self once said, and I paraphrase, "If you are not being told 'no' a lot, you are not recruiting the right players."
This is it, all of the negativity from the fan base has made it more difficult on Groce's recruiting efforts. He is going to be our coach next season and needs to be supported. I'm not a recruit but I would imagine a whiny fan base hating a guy that I want to play for would give me mixed feelings about the joining the situation. Let's hope he makes the tournament and lands a great class in 2017.
I believe that Goodwin and Tillmon are immediate impact players and would put us in a position to move into the top half of the big ten immediately and within 2 years, allow us to contend for a big ten title. Thats elite. They would also immediately create a team that other 4 and 5 stars would want to join. If you dont get that, you haven't seen them play. There's a reason both are now being sought after by the big boys.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
As an assistant isn't it the HC's job to close on a recruit? Thad Matta still seems to do pretty well without Groce's help. The Tilmon and Goodwins of the world I'd place a level above 'really good'. Call them great, or outstanding, (but not elite) players if you will. JCL I would put in that higher category, so I acknowledge that Groce has gotten one. I just think it needs to happen more than once (as the head coach) for us to know he can close 'at a high level'.
I believe that he will, (at least I hope he does) in the 2017 class. Just trying to generate some conversation!
The kind of talent we've had has lacked quality point guard play. That issue has been addressed. The injury situation shouldn't be undermined, and no they're not Demarcus Cousins/John Wall type elite but why wouldn't you think adding a 5 star big man and a player like Goodwin to the mix wouldn't be an awesome step in the right direction? These are two players that UNC, Kansas, MSU all want. Pretty sure those programs know what's good for them. They'd be great for us.
IlliniDent
- Chicago, IL
I am in no way switching cause and effect. As I said, he deserves a lot of the criticism he gets and I understand why people want him gone. But to say he should be fired next year (we know he isn't being fired this year so it is a pointless argument at this point) because he won't land players that haven't decided yet is just negativity for the sake of negativity. (Also I never said people wanted him to not land those players because they want Groce fired)
How about after the recruiting class fills out and our season ends we can look at whether or not he should be fired. If he lands a poor class and has a losing season, I think everyone here will agree he should be gone. If he makes the tournament and ends up with a solid class then maybe he should stay. At this point you are just stating future failure before anything has happened this year.
Also we get things haven't gone to plan so far, it's obvious. We get he has lost recruits in the past. We get that last year was awful. However, guess what, we already know he is staying on as coach for another year so we can move on from whether or not he should be fired now because it only hurts the perception of our program and is annoying to constantly listen to (especially in the wrong thread).
Well I didn't say the point guard problem was "solved". I said it's been addressed. And yes, it's been addressed with guys like Tejon, Damonte and others like Trent Frazier who are strongly considering Illinois. If you're already writing off Tejon Lucas as a BIG10 prospect, I'm sorry to hear that. The whole starting 5 players with TL's pedigree preseason poll argument is an odd one.
89illinigrad
- Chicago
If you don't think our team will make the tourney next year, then I would agree that you are a pessimist. I personally think we will make the tourney next year, with or without Thorne. If Thorne is given a waiver, then I think we are a top 4-5 team in the BIG.
I also think we would have made the tourney THIS year, if not for all the injuries. The biggest problems with our team this year was rebounding (Thorne and Black injuries) and defense (reliance on too many youngsters).
Now, what happens with Nunn, Black and Tate may play a part in how good we are next year. I think we are deep enough at the guard spot to absorb the loss of Nunn and Tate, but losing Black could really hurt.
Finally, if we make the tourney next year and Groce lands a good class (doesn't have to include Tilmon and/or Goodwin, but needs to probably be in the top 25), I think Groce should be given an extension and I hope all the talk about firing Groce will cease. (Of course, if he misses the tourney, then I agree that he should be gone).
We're in total agreement. Now lets go get these kids. Even if the worst happens, we'll still get a chance to sell them on a new coaching staff as signees.
Dan
Admin
Mayan Kiir listed offers from Louisville, VCU, Illinois and Long Beach State.
http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1665415-mayan-kiir-adding-offers-2017
http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1665415-mayan-kiir-adding-offers-2017
When recruits and their parents say "education" what they often mean or are heavily influenced by are the quality of the academic services offered by the athletic department in terms of tutoring and academic support and monitoring and all that. Not to mention the flexibility athletes have in terms of choosing a major and managing their sports schedule. I have always been told that Illinois is outstanding in that regard, especially for players who want it to be, but it's just important to note that the academic rigor of a school is pretty meaningless if a student-athlete isn't going to have meaningful access to it.
People hear "I want a good education" and think that a kid is just going to buy the most recent US News rankings and pick whichever school is highest. Not only does that not take into account the realities of being a student-athlete, it's a pretty bad way for anyone in any situation to pick a school. It's not what the "best" education is in a ranked, one-size-fits-all order. It's what the right education is for that student.
That being said, if it is compatible with Kiir's needs, any degree from Illinois offers something that a VCU or a Long Beach State cannot. That much is true.
Tilmon article
Not sure if this was posted:
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1665358-jeremiah-tilmon-taking-it-all
Not sure if this was posted:
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1665358-jeremiah-tilmon-taking-it-all
Lets be careful about saying its been addressed because others like Trent Frazier are strongly considering Illinois. It was addressed when Snyder told us he was faxing in his LOI.
Deleted member 10676
D
Guest
Don't know if this has been posted or not. But per last Sundays 'does he or doesn't he have an offer from us' conversation -- evidently, he was confused.
Robert @ALionEye So the basketball player from Louisiana who tweeted Sunday that he received an offer from Illinois just clarified: it was an offer from UIC.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
So since he already committed once to Pastner then your emphatic No must be about the statement that Illinois is running a solid 4th? Where do u think Illinois is right now on his priority list? Better or worse than 4th?
Overseas is an entirely different animal, as far as playing basketball goes. Most high schools don't have teams, but rather the local town may have a 'club-team' or two, and they may play against the 'club teams' in the surrounding towns... Usually that's the situation in Europe and the Middle-East. I lived in Western Europe for nearly 8 years.
While some Chinese high schools now have teams, the talent level is very low, and although many Chinese Universities now have teams, it's more rec league stuff, and they don't generally play other universities... I lived in China for over 11 years...
And the really good players go straight to their pro teams or the NBA...
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Being confused with UIC wants to make me bash my head into a wall
Yes, Da'Monte Williams is an Illini
And here's the proof: https://writingillini.com/2016/04/29/illinois-basketball-damonte-williams-out-with-sprained-foot/
Ignore the borderline-illiterate writer. The title of the article is basically the article. :tsk:
And here's the proof: https://writingillini.com/2016/04/29/illinois-basketball-damonte-williams-out-with-sprained-foot/
Ignore the borderline-illiterate writer. The title of the article is basically the article. :tsk:
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
Better
I think we are top 2. But as they say, second is the same as last.
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