What's the split on posters who get/don't get this joke?
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread (Week of April 5th, 2021)
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texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
Anyone born after 1993 *probably* have no clue
Deleted member 747671
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Not at all. He’s a good player but hardly a star you can sell to a transfer/recruit. We’re looking at losing 4 starters and 6 of 8 rotation players, 2 all Americans among them. Prospective players are rightly seeing this as a rebuild.
Well, after reading the last two pages it’s clear there is no fanbase in need of a consoling hug more than us.
We will be fine, and anyone that says otherwise is conflating the disappointment and friend zonings of the Weber and Groce years (somewhat understandably, because we’ve been bad a long time) with what this Staff has, and is actually, doing.
We will be fine, and anyone that says otherwise is conflating the disappointment and friend zonings of the Weber and Groce years (somewhat understandably, because we’ve been bad a long time) with what this Staff has, and is actually, doing.
BMoreIllini
- Baltimore, MD
They should be seeing it as a prime opportunity for playing time under a coaching staff that has shown they can win with the right players. When we are good and have talented players, many here say it's going to be hard to recruit because we don't have playing time to offer. When we lose 75+% of minutes to graduation, transfer, or going pro, some of those same people say "well it's going to be hard to recruit here, we're in a rebuild". I think our slogan here should be "Always half empty".
We have a good brand of basketball, a coach who players have raved about, one player who's likely going in the first round of the NBA draft and another who may or may not also get drafted should he choose to declare so I'm not worried about us finding the players. Just look at what happened with AJ Storr, no one here really knew what was going on there until about 24 hours prior to his commitment. Everyone needs to take a breath.
But 60% of them won’t be here.
So a 12-21 team had all those guys and 2 years later nearly all the same guys are a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and they weren’t coached up? If anything, you made my point.
I’m talking about developing players over time. Ayo certainly didn’t show up NBA ready. He wasn’t even All -Conference. A lot of folks wondered loudly on this board if he could ever get there. Kofi was a giant mass of potential, but wasn’t really good at anything except being really big. Trent and Demonte weren’t exactly lock down defensive players & Demonte couldn’t throw water in the ocean.
Crow eaten.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
It may have been posted, but why did Hutch not start his college career at a D1 school? Late bloomer?
Black,Tejon.
I think your and CYE’s post illustrate the disconnect between two groups of posters. The guys recruited for next year thus far have talent and should be contributors or more during their Illinois careers, but certainly big question marks as to the impact they’ll have on overall team performance next year. With who we know we are losing (Ayo and Giorgi) and who it is possible to very likely we are losing (Kofi, AM, DMW and Trent), it seems a stretch that the 3 new recruits, oft injured Hutch and BBV, and big steps forward by Curbelo and Hawk are enough to keep the team squarely in the tourney let alone at the same level as this year. So far the team has missed on bringing in some other players for this year that seemingly would have helped with the former. Obviously still time, but understandable for some angst. I do agree that the likelihood of going back to the level of “success” next year of BU’s first two teams is unlikely. But I think I can speak for most fans in saying we’re hoping for another tourney bid without riding the bubble.
As for beyond this year, I like the prospects for Illinois basketball. Storr and Bass combined with this year’s class thus far bodes well for the future of the Illini. But still not feeling confident about the present (next year) yet.
Loyalillini10
- Urbana, IL
Sometimes, as a fan base, we can be the worst, and have the memory of a goldfish.
We just had an amazing season—most B10 wins in Illinois history. But, we had a heartbreaking loss in the round of 32 and so many can’t (or choose not to) remember anything before that. Underwood came into a dumpster fire. We had two losing seasons under him as he started to rebuild. In 2020, if it weren’t for the pandemic, Illinois would have made another tourney appearance with a solid seed. This year, we were a number 1 seed. Someone transfers, some targets go elsewhere, you ignore new recruits, and suddenly the majority of the fan base questions if BU is going to be successful and you question his recruiting abilities. Ffs, folks...
Dan, maybe you could create a “Festivus” thread where everyone can air all of their grievances. It may be therapeutic for our fan base.
We just had an amazing season—most B10 wins in Illinois history. But, we had a heartbreaking loss in the round of 32 and so many can’t (or choose not to) remember anything before that. Underwood came into a dumpster fire. We had two losing seasons under him as he started to rebuild. In 2020, if it weren’t for the pandemic, Illinois would have made another tourney appearance with a solid seed. This year, we were a number 1 seed. Someone transfers, some targets go elsewhere, you ignore new recruits, and suddenly the majority of the fan base questions if BU is going to be successful and you question his recruiting abilities. Ffs, folks...
Dan, maybe you could create a “Festivus” thread where everyone can air all of their grievances. It may be therapeutic for our fan base.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Walk ons...as far as the eye can see...
illini80
- Forgottonia
Because of his back injury in HS.
Deleted member 8896
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That mock draft was 3/29 the ones now dont have Kofi listed at all.
illininutt
- Tinley Park
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I would assume they already are. And it wouldn't look desperate anyway.
Deleted member 747671
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I hate the strawman arguments. I don't think anyone is questioning if BU is a good coach and we're a good program. I think there's a lot of legitimate nervousness and anxiety about next year's team. The last 2 years are really what are making us feel this way, as those seasons have shown us what we can be and raised expectations to a very competitive and fun level.
Big 7 footer from the Zags has entered the portal. Highly rated that never really cemented himself there. Maybe Gentry has a connection, being an assistant when he committed there. Wishful thinking I suppose. The list of suitors will be long as well I'd assume.
Hoping Kofi's decision doesn't cripple the team. He has to do what's best for himself though.
Hoping Kofi's decision doesn't cripple the team. He has to do what's best for himself though.
Based on his numbers he's essentially the Russian Brandon Lieb.
I'd say you are way off, but that would be generous.
For those who are curious, it's this guy. I'd take a flyer on him, for sure.
My 3 predictions
We will add 2 major transfers
Hawkins will be a make huge strides next year
Tyty will end up at Texas or UCLA
We will add 2 major transfers
Hawkins will be a make huge strides next year
Tyty will end up at Texas or UCLA
Pavel Zakharov: 10 games, 4.5 mpg, 0.8pts, 0.4 rebounds, 0 assists
Brandon Lieb: 5 games, 2.4 mpg, 0.8 pts, 1.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists.
So you're right. Considering Zakharov was a sophomore and Lieb a freshman, it's no comparison. I'd stick with Lieb.
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