Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (July-August 2016)

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#4,128      

Gunner23

G
Panama City, Florida
Gunner23
Obelix said:
Not sure if that is a valid comparison. As much as I do not like Alford, he stayed 6 entire years at UNM (so the P5 opportunity did not come early) and it would be a stretch to say that he under-performed there.

If Travis Ford has the same success for 6 years at SLU as Alford at New Mexico, then yes, I believe he will get a P5 job, although not UCLA level.
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Not singling you (or anyone else) out, specifically, but it seems that when Alford is addressed, no one mentions that he coached at a P5 school before he ended up at UNM. I know that the semantics may say that the P5 didn't exist "back then" (look at the strength of the teams in the conference when he was coaching the Sqwaks), but the Sqwakeyes are in a P5 conference and have been a strong basketball team for quite some time. It's not like he shot out of D3, SWMS, UNM, and ended up at UCLA. He was coaching in the BIG and ended up at UNM (for whatever the underlying issues were at the time...). IMHO, he under-performed at Iowa (both on and off the court) and ran to UNM to redeem himself...but it isn't like his first "big time job" is the UCLA gig he holds currently...

OK...hate Alford, rant over.... :D

:chief:
 
#4,129      

chief9

C
chief9
Obelix said:
There is no fight, it is a message board. If your post has little support/justification and someone calls you on it or disagrees with your argument, that's what a (sports) message board is all about.

As for Goodwin, it is a natural fan reaction. There are many posts full of envy about Goodwin and his decision. Ill will/bad things on Goodwin not in the sense of injuries or other things that cross the line, but let's not pretend here that the multiple posts all of a sudden about Ford under-performing at SLU, yet leaving Goodwin cold for greener pastures have nothing to do with his decision to pick SLU/Ford and not the Illini. :hand:
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I don't think it is fans wanting Ford to fail and then get a promotion. I for one have heard, and was chastised for putting it on here, that Ford himself has told other coaches he expects to be back in a Power 5 Conference within 5 years. He truly believes he is a top tier coach. I don't believe it, I don't think it will happen THAT fast (if at all), but he believes it and has been overheard saying as much more than once. They guy's ego is ON par wit Alford, as is his reputation for the way he treats people at times.... Again this is second hand from others who have working as coaches in D1... Take it for what it is worth. Don't shoot the messanger again.
 
#4,130      

OldGreg

O
OldGreg
Had a dream last night J-Good reopened his recruitment...yikes!:tsk:
 
#4,137      

TCTORNADO

TCTORNADO
TCTORNADO
They all want to come for the UNC football game to meet our new stealth recruiter. :D
 
#4,138      

MrOizo

MrOizo
Chicago
MrOizo
Joel Goodson said:
Disagree. Direct quotes that are very positive about Illinois. Some of them very recent too.
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Ah thanks, must have missed. I recall that he put out a list of schools and we weren't on it.
 
#4,139      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
dawgville
Joel Goodson
2018. Obviously, going to be a small class, regardless if Pickett redshirts (hope he does). Here's my best guess at the plan A targets, in order:

Ramey (Dosunmu is going to be a difficult get)
Gordon
Finke

Gordon would be great, but is he willing to play sparingly his freshman year? If we can overcome that, we have a good shot.

Ramey is an elite PG, IMO. Can't pass on a kid that good.

Don't ask where the rides are coming from. Will Groce oversign for Ramey and/or Gordon? My guess is yes (1 oversign, not 2).
 
#4,142      

aluma

A
aluma
How would Frazier and Lucas compare to one another?
 
#4,143      

FeelYourPaign

FeelYourPaign
So Cal
FeelYourPaign
Obelix said:
You assume/project too much of the existing team at this point as far as replacing Abrams, Hill, Nunn, Thorne, Mav, and Tate. It will take huge improvements from performance of existing wings (+ 2017 wings) to replace what Hill/Nunn had given us and what Hill will mean to this team this year. Replacing Thorne/Mav with two freshmen in first year (assuming we even add someone to Tilmon) will be a daunting task.

I have seen Tilmon multiple times and like him a lot, but I believe many have exaggerated expectations in his first year. And even replacing Abrams/Tate assumes players like TJL, DW, and Frazier (non of them have played a single game) will be ready to play at B1G level early on. At PF, Black is still a question mark based on justifying his HS ranking.

It can happen, but I do not expect a big jump in program status in 2017-18 year. Not n the B1G with MSU, Indiana, Michigan, etc. and their recruiting. I hope the next two years are more of stabilizing years as far as making the tournament. Maybe my expectations are more conservative but I do not expect a big step up beyond making the tournament in 2017-18. Actually, assuming a healthy team, my expectations are higher in 2016-17 as far as single season record.
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I read this three times, was sure you were wrong. Mav can't be a senior ! Not possible. He just showed up middle of last year. But of course you're right. but I'm still surprised. Time flies.
 
#4,144      

OldGreg

O
OldGreg
Joel Goodson said:
2018. Obviously, going to be a small class, regardless if Pickett redshirts (hope he does). Here's my best guess at the plan A targets, in order:

Ramey (Dosunmu is going to be a difficult get)
Gordon
Finke

Gordon would be great, but is he willing to play sparingly his freshman year? If we can overcome that, we have a good shot.

Ramey is an elite PG, IMO. Can't pass on a kid that good.

Don't ask where the rides are coming from. Will Groce oversign for Ramey and/or Gordon? My guess is yes (1 oversign, not 2).
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Gordon would right away and play a lot. Not sure why you'd think otherwise?
 
#4,145      

IlliniOX08

I
Bucktown, Chicago
IlliniOX08
aluma said:
How would Frazier and Lucas compare to one another?
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Frazier is more of a scoring lead guard. Lucas is more of a facilitating point guard.

Not to say that Frazier can't facilitate and distribute or that Lucas can't score. Just what the strengths are. Both are more than capable of handling the ball as a "1" though (understatement?)
 
#4,146      

blmillini

B
Bloomington, IL
blmillini
Does anyone think Whitman and/or Lovie have had anything to do with the uptick in basketball recruiting recently? Even just a little? I think there is just an overall better vibe around the University of Illinois athletics in general.
 
#4,149      

Greensboro

Greensboro
Greensboro
CARPET said:
Do you actually believe that this years team will have a better record than next years?
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Obelix said:
I am not sure it will happen, but I do not think it would be unexpected. The reason is that I do not know what to expect from the team this coming year. Abrams, TJL, Black, Kipper, and Thorne are huge question marks. Yet, the team really depends on those players as key parts of the rotation (with the possible exception of Kipper who I have never seen play). So it is a question of health, level of health, and performance.


So it is unclear if the key players on the rotation above play anywhere close to their potential. If they do, it will be difficult for incoming 2017 recruits to replace the departing Hill (likely 1st team all-B1G), Abrams, Thorne, Mav, and Tate. Tilmon is really good IMO, but may not be a huge contributor as a freshman.

I do like the 2017 class, however, and its balance so far. IMO it is a great class to build around in their sophomore and junior years. JMO.
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This pretty much nails it..the question becomes a lot easier to answer once you know how good we will be this coming year. We have quite a few opportunities, but the better we are this coming year, the more likely we will be worse in 2017. We lose a lot of minutes/likely starters after this year & we will be back to a similar situation of the past where 1 & 5 will be concerns/questions. Tilmon is a great recruit at a the 5, but asking a freshman big to start, play a lot of minutes, & stay out of foul trouble isn't a strategy without a lot of risk (Think Meyers or Nana's freshman year). At 1 we will have a couple freshman pg/combo guards and a sophomore we haven't seen yet, may work out, but certainly some risk. A bit less concerned about 2-4, hopefully that will sort itself out this coming year, but still replacing our best player in Hill so it is hard to project we will be better in 2017. A good class of freshman just can't be counted on for instant success.
 
#4,150      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
IlliniOX08 said:
Frazier is more of a scoring lead guard. Lucas is more of a facilitating point guard.

Not to say that Frazier can't facilitate and distribute or that Lucas can't score. Just what the strengths are. Both are more than capable of handling the ball as a "1" though (understatement?)
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+1

Lucas is more drive-n-kick. Frazier is more pick-n-pop.

It will be nice to have options at the point, been a while...
 
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