Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I hate that this has all happened with Belo. He started the year on a high. Pre season All American 3rd team and from reports the best player in practice nearly every day before the season started. It looked to everyone that he would have a stellar year and be drafted in the first round. We were all hoping he wouldn't go and we would get him for another year. Then the concussion happened and everything changed. It wasn't like the average one where you miss a few games and are good to go. It was much worse with lingering affects that still may be bothering him. Add in covid with symptoms for another terrible setback. It had to be terribly frustrating to not be able get back on the court. I knew we all wanted him out there as soon as possible. Maybe another poster had it right maybe we should have just red shirted him. I'm sure BU and the staff had never encountered anything like this before. So for Belo what he thought was going to be an amazing year turned into an absolute nightmare. Now I see that some other possible side affects are depression and mood swings, poor guy couldn't catch a break and we had posters on here just piling it on and still are. SHAME ON YOU! Not directed at any one specifically. I hope Belo and Brad can get things together so that we can get a full year of a healthy Curbelo and just put the anomaly of a year behind him.
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Disagree. You always look to be better and minimize your negatives.
No kidding.
I don't really agree with the comparison. I think the difference is, if Hester danced around and didn't get anything, that doesn't hurt the team. Getting very few return yards is more the norm than getting big returns. So Hester gave you the upside of changing field position, with very minimal downside, because he didn't lose yards a lot.
Curbelo gives you that upside of a world class assist, but he has the downside of turnovers and poor shots squandering opportunities. I think this is the divide many here have on how they view Curbelo. Some move those amazing plays to the forefront of their opinion, others move the boneheaded turnovers to their primary focus. Then you view him based on your focus. The reality is, he's both.
My take on how big of a loss he would be is, a sportscenter top 10 assist gets you no more points than a simple pass setup through good offense. While the showtime stuff is fun, if it comes with turnovers, drives directly into a double team, pounding the shot clock away dribbling only to take a bad shot I start saying get rid of the showtime and just make plays. So I think a guy who might not be able to reach Curbelos highs, but doesn't bring his lows could ultimately be better for the team.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Miller doesn't fit that narrative. A 6'5" Ayo length he is not. Personally, I know that attitude is everything and if I see the mood changes here at the house of Paign that I saw as a Freshman, I'd rather he not come. BUT, if his attitude would be all in and steady Eddy, then I am fine with his return.
I would be a terrible coach, because I think, regardless of play or whether they stay or transfer, we need to care about Andre (and every other player). They are people, not just pieces of a puzzle for us fans to fit together to win games. I want what’s best for our players as human beings. And as far as Adam, how much more LOYAL can you get than saying, “I made a mistake in transferring out, and I want to come back”? I support Illini players and coaches. This is called life. I hate to see us saying “we’d be better off without,” or “I don’t want so-and-so.” I want to cheer ‘for’ people, not against. Sorry, I’ll climb down off my horse now. Just my 2 cents. Go Illini!
Not to be the rain on the parade, but (just my opinion) the preseason expectation of Belo making the jump from at best the third player the opposing team game-planned for to an All-American was insane to begin with. It set up a “down” year, even without the concussion and lingering effects. Expecting a small guard, sixth man in a supporting role, to make the jump to All-American as a sophomore was unrealistic to begin with. A healthy Belo leading the Illini to a top 20 finish as our lead guard without “box score” stats was always the more likely scenario, imo.
THANK YOU.
did Not His Decision just evolve?
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
Yep! unless rehab has been amazing I just don’t see it.Podz over Miller?
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Oh, come on!!! That's a beach shack!!!
I understand this. Which is why I said I’d be a terrible coach. However, I’d like to think BU is a way better person than maybe we give him credit for (although I could also be completely wrong). I choose to believe in the good. I’m also silly poor, but happy with my life. Love the Illini!!!
For me it is 1 part the above and 3 parts he is coming off a game changing injury and I will be surprised if he is even 1/2 as good as he was before/would have been after this injury
by the time the season starts, it will be over a year post-injury. This isn't like the 1980s where they just say, "you blew your knee out" and we'll tinker with some things to see what we can do.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Let's be real. Loyalty and honor have been gone from big-time college sports for 40 years. NIL just changed the dynamic.
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
Skyy Clark is coming off a torn ACL but its only relevant with Miller i guess
Fair, but he’s 6’4” and sure as hell plays better defense than Plummer.
I’m not really sure where this poor attitude thing stems from with Miller.
Guy played hard every game and I’d expect that same effort even with coming off an ACL.
Was it because he didn’t smile or look happy all the time? During Loyola he seemed like one of the few guys that weren’t completely shellshocked.
I know it’s a Loyalty trope that it wasn’t his choice, but I honestly believe Miller transferring last year was not his choice.
Let’s see how the next few weeks shake out, but we can all agree this is better than chasing dudes that chose Weber State over us.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Point taken, but was only a partial tear Iirc. Supposedly less severe, correct?
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