Didn't see the quote but if it has to do with a key then it could mean the keys to the team right away at SLU and uh oh we are done for. Figured I'd jump ahead of the next thought there.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)
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Didn't see the quote but if it has to do with a key then it could mean the keys to the team right away at SLU and uh oh we are done for. Figured I'd jump ahead of the next thought there.
Is that Ole Ward? What's he doing with that key??!?!
It all depends on what kind of kid you are. I totally understand the allure of SoCal and UCLA. But it all depends on who you are and what you are looking for out of your college basketball experience. Some of those things that sell UCLA- the glitz and glam, etc. are not what I would have wanted as a distraction. A lot of young people can be easily de-railed by glitz, glamour, and easy access to some difficult distractions.
Deleted member 10676
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And he just followed John Petty. There's going to be an Alabama Fab Five! 
I still think if we made Selena Gomez the official pop singer of Illini basketball he'd commit in a flash. (Or whatever she does -- makes films, sings, or does she just pose for sexy pics?)
I still think if we made Selena Gomez the official pop singer of Illini basketball he'd commit in a flash. (Or whatever she does -- makes films, sings, or does she just pose for sexy pics?)
+100000
Imagine what other boards say about Groce when we get a recruit over them. Not a knock on Groce, but the idea of discrediting all of these coaches who have accomplished much more is a bit difficult to justify.
Deleted member 10676
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I don't want to derail this into an Alford thread, but just for the record, my original post about Alford had nothing to do with his coaching prowess or lack of prowess, his success or non-success vs Groce, or the fact that UCLA is a great place to go to school. If you don't know the guy's history, you should check it out.
A good summary.
http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_ba...82/ucla-steve-alford-iowa-hawkeyes-background
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Eleven national championships is a much bigger deal than any of that other stuff.
True, but whereas Groce's record suggests "mediocre and unproven", we have seen Alford on the big stage, in the spotlight, at several different stops and he has been revealed to be, frankly, a tire fire of a coach.
Like, to use another example, Groce would have to become a much better coach to be as bad of a coach as Rick Barnes is, you know what I mean?
Maybe Alford can get better. Apparently they're going to reinvent the way they play this year to accomodate Lonzo Ball. We're living in a world where Quin Snyder is a quality NBA coach, so anything is possible.
There is no single player that is a must get for Illinois basketball....Goodwin has a chance to be an outstanding college player..I personally believe he is going to encounter some rough air finishing at the rim in whatever conference he plays in..and the NBA is a distant dream being pumped by a very experienced recruiter and marginal coach (Ford)..so if someone is going to hand him the keys, at least til next year when Ford offers the keys to an actual point guard, then great!...fwiw, his game has a better chance of improving in the B10 instead of the A10..just so much closer to the physicality of the NBA..
GO ILLINI!
To a 2017 recruit? Doubtful.
Concur with other posters, not happening
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
FWLIW, I subscribe to this worldview.
I know that Louisville was thought to be at least much less of an option once Malik Williams committed. Not sure who leads.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
It's a pretty easy history lesson. I think most 17 yo boys have heard the names John Wooden, Bill Walton, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar/Lew Alcindor. Especially 17 yo basketball playing boys who I'm sure have watched NBA and college bball games.
They might know Walton as the crazy announcer who does some NBA games. The rest? Doubtful, IMO.
Mike
C-U Townie
They don't know Kareem?
Height+Vertical+Hook Shot = most points in NBA history.
Just because they know the names of these guys, doesn't mean they're in any type of hurry to resurrect the 70s and 80s of UCLA basketball.
Realistically Kareem retired in 1989, 27 Years ago, ...many have probably heard of him, my HS Sr son is a fan of Larry Bird from video games...but no they have never seen him play & most don't know enough to really move the needle IMO.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Not at all. Kids don't grow up in a vacuum. Their parents and coaches are well aware of the history. There are a lot of other schools on the west coast that have trouble attracting top recruits. UCLA has never had problems getting talent. It wasn't that long ago that UCLA went to three straight final fours, and they consistently send players to the NBA. I'm not a UCLA fan. In fact, I kind of resent them, but you can't deny the program's success and clout. If it was all about the beach and girls, the top players would also be going to schools like Pepperdine and UCSB. Those kinds of arguments rely on stereotypes and reek of East Coast bias.
The exposure of LA is what separates Ucla from the other schools mentioned. And be real, those "recent" final fours came under a different staff, so Alford and co. can't sell that as their work. Therefore, beaches, girls, and LA spotlight/exposure are part of the selling points to 18 year olds whether you like it or not.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
Nonsense. It doesn't matter who the coach is. UCLA sells, not USC or Loyola Marymount, or other LA schools. An Pepperdine is in LA, too.
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I'm guessing very few would know who he is, yes. These are kids, they're playing hoops, talking with friends on social media, playing Xbox, etc. Not poring over NBA history.
Yeah, those final fours might be slightly more relevant than the 11 titles - which is what I was addressing. But even those happened when these recruits were very young, so again, I doubt they know or care too much about them.
And jeez, I'm not trying to "deny the program's success and clout", give me a break. I'm trying to explain to your foggy old brain that a top bball recruit doesn't view it the way you do.
"East Coast bias"? WTF?
UCLA has mid 2000 final fours but what people don't understand is to an 18 year old, that is pretty much half their lifetime ago. Yeah the east coast bias thing, idk. I grew up in Chicago and live in Texas. Maybe I have real world bias.
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