Indeed. It amazes me that certain people can't see the, in many ways, masterful job BU did this year. When one considers all the injuries, coaching changes, etc. I find it incredible UI ended up where they did. It could have, and probably would have, been disastrous for any number of other programs. Did he ride the upperclassmen too much? Perhaps, and one can certainly argue that. However, imo simply focusing on that is to lose sight of how well the Illini did overall.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
- Status
All things considered, this team overachieved. Very short at the guard position, offensively limited, coaching disruptions, totally unexpected transfer, more injuries and illnesses than the law allows and yet for the first time in 17 years, we are big ten champs.
I will always love them because they came to Illinois and stayed when most players wouldn't have, however a serious question., if DMW and Trent were high school seniors now, would we be seriously recruiting them?
I will always love them because they came to Illinois and stayed when most players wouldn't have, however a serious question., if DMW and Trent were high school seniors now, would we be seriously recruiting them?
I'm genuinely unaware about where the comments about Podz dad are coming from. Can someone fill me in with objective information.
sacraig
- The desert
One person had a ludicrous take and everyone is making jokes.
That's probably a good way to sum up the majority of posts on here...
I saw that, but have no idea what his dad has to do with anything. And someone else said hitting the 3 against northwestern was the worst thing that ever happened to him. What did that mean?
I think someone mentioned much earlier in the thread but.....he does favor Juwan Howard and would definitely be perfect for the role if it ever was being made.
One person's boredom and Saturday drinking it appears
sacraig
- The desert
It means someone had a little too much to drink before posting.
a young man from Manual who's dad was an a time ball handler , Illini great and lottery pick and himself a a top 100 player in the country. Yes I think we would recruit him. Hell, he did start about as many games as anyone at Illinois all time right! If so yes if BU started him for two years he would certainly recruit him. They were not very short at the guard position. As u mentioned however Hutch was injured with a sports hernia. BU decided against Podz. and RJ. I for one would not be upset if Hutch came back . I hate to give up on someone due to random injuries. I'd rather pass on someone that can't shoot or doesn't listen than just bad luck. The guy I will pull for more than anyone if he were to leave would be Hutch because I feel he has had the least opportunity with the most ability.. .
Last edited:
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Yep , I see a remarkable similarity..................I really really do..........................
billybaroo
- Pebble Beach, CA
I think that the OP may have just been saying that his hitting the 3 created unrealistic expectations from some of the fan base.
If we're being honest with ourselves his being a Freshman on our team created unrealistic expectations from some of the fanbase. Until a player gets significant playing time and makes a few mistakes the assumption of many seems to be they're the next Illini legend, if coach would just give them a chance.
Two. Way. Players.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Monte had a HS clone, BU wouldn’t recruit him.
While it is important to be able to defend and rebound, we can’t have players who, at their best, don’t hurt you on offense.
I don’t think a lot people realize how good DMW was as a prep. Much more explosive athlete before his knee injury. He tore his ACL a few weeks after committing.
Last edited:
Ummmm, so I was posting in reply to how I believe the offensive and defensive schemes we ran this past season were in my opinion far more responsible for Omar's ineffectiveness than Andre Curbelo having a tough year. I then posted not a "master plan" but a scheme in which Omar likely could have been more effective given his strengths and weaknesses and then I concluded by saying how doing so would technically have been possible however clearly not in the best interest of the team, and as such his lack of effectiveness last year was less due to other players, bad luck, or bad coaching, but instead more because his strengths and weaknesses made for a very bad fit with our preferred offensive and defensive schemes, and unless we were to institute broad changes next season, he wouldn't be effective either.
That said, point taken. Doing deep dives into how to best utilize a particular player or make them more effective doesn't seem to be particularly enjoyed here and a recruiting thread isn't the best place for it, so I will refrain in the future from doing so in this forum as it's just a waste of time if nobody cares for it when I could more simply say "Omar wasn't a good fit for us and we weren't a good fit for him for a plethora of reasons. Best of luck to him elsewhere." and move on. Thanks for your feedback.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Peoria kid who was the co-MVP of last summer's Pangos camp:
Yep. Similar to how for the past 20+ years every backup quarterback for the Bears clearly should've been named the starter only to at some point be forced into starting leading to everyone clamoring for the 3rd stringer.
Is "Slim Jake" a nickname for Jacob Grandison?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Agreed … the “Sweet Sixteen jinx” is gonna be a thing until it’s not, but we literally won the Big Ten! We all would have taken that at the beginning of the year.
Wasn't yesterday his birthday?
So we’re no longer interested in 4 star legacy players from Peoria that run with the MIF?
There you go...probably it
- Status