Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Except it should be antithesis.Best word of the day...so far!
I agree but he needs to improve on his shooting to keep them honest. If he does enough to the point that they don't play off of him It would be tremendous in opening the floor for himself and others.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Someone on Loyalty helpfully posted this video of UConn's WBB coach Geno Auriemma opining last month on what a Charlie Foxtrot the transfer portal is. And he explains both sides of it. An illuminating lecture, and applicable to MBB, too.
“I’ve never had a really good player leave my program, in 37 years, that left and made it big at a top 10 or top 20 school,” Auriemma said while seated next to UConn seniors Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. “That just isn’t going to happen. If you can’t play for me, if you can’t play for us at UConn, you can’t play anywhere at this level. I let these guys be who they are. I just have certain demands on the court, and they have to meet them or they don’t play. They know. I’m fair. If nothing, I’m fair.
“I asked Christyn one time, Christyn, is it hard to play here? She said, ‘Damn right.’ I said, ‘Why?’ She said, ‘Because you’re demanding.’ I said, ‘Do you want me to change?’ She said, ‘No.’”
“You don’t come (to the Final Four) 14 years in a row because you go, ‘All right, sweetheart, how do you want to do it this year?’” Auriemma said. “Sorry. There’s lots of schools you can go to. You know those 850 people in the portal? Three hundred of them are not going to find a school to go to because they’re going to realize (the problem) is not the school they just left. Just like last year. A thousand kids in the portal, 250 of them had no place to go, and the (programs) they left don’t want them back. Whatever happened to go and figure it the hell out?”
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soupy17
- MI
Let me preface this by saying there is no denying Emoni's talent and if he's willing to be coached and Brad is ready to take him I'll welcome him with open arms.
That being said the games to the left of the red line are with Bates and the games to the right are after he went down with injury (Bates did play 15 minutes total off the bench in Memphis's two tourney games). Metric is Barttorvik's Game Score https://barttorvik.com/team.php?team=Memphis
Between their record with and without him and efficiency with and without him, it's hard to call the difference a coincidence.
That being said the games to the left of the red line are with Bates and the games to the right are after he went down with injury (Bates did play 15 minutes total off the bench in Memphis's two tourney games). Metric is Barttorvik's Game Score https://barttorvik.com/team.php?team=Memphis
Between their record with and without him and efficiency with and without him, it's hard to call the difference a coincidence.
Dr Copejam
- The Rock
The height, length, mobility, handle, passing, versatility, defense, rebounding, shot blocking. The only thing missing is consistent shooting.
sacraig
- The desert
Some interesting numbers for sure. I do have to wonder how much is on Bates and how much is on Hardaway, though. Could a better coach reach him better, for example?
At the end of the day, I trust the staff and if they think a guy is going to benefit the team, I'm willing to believe them until proven wrong... for now.
the national
- the Front Range
Somehow I get the feeling that Brad is totally collected in all this Chaos.
I’ll take the post up game. You get to the free throw line more often.
I mean, he’s right, but like Delle Donne(sp?) did ok for herself.
I know a bit different.
TwoElevenEastDaniel
- Cochrane's-Orchid-Tonic
I-L-L ain't nothin' to F with.
Bigtex
- DFW
Lieb and bbv are likely 12-13 on roster. If they are playing something has gone wrong like this past year. Doesn’t mean they can’t contribute but hard to see much contributions in games
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yes. She was unusual in that (IIRC) she never set foot on a practice floor at UConn and knew she needed to be close to home (Delaware) with her family and to sort out some personal troubles. In fact, she didn't even play hoops for a year or so after enrolling at Delaware. Not many 18-year-olds have that degree of self-awareness.
Emoni Bates gives me Alex Legion vibes.
More like Dominique Keller. #dreamkiller
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
Pointing out depth chart of who on the roster can play the 5, not necessarily playing time.
Obviously hawk will be played at mostly the 4 and Dain I don't think is capable of 30+ min at the 5.
So the question is, do you go and get a transfer to play even though you have depth but not very talented depth or do you strengthen the depth of another position or do you leave it open for midseason transfer.
The great programs don’t have rocky transitions or mass transfers/decommits when coaches leave. Not surprised to hear Cam is staying with his commitment.
I think we need another legitimate 5.
True, though I don't think it was or is a given that Nova is in that category of program, rather than the category of programs built up by one phenomenal coach who may not be able to withstand his departure.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
I think the interesting thing this year vs last year is playing time.
I'm not sure I trust anyone on this roster RIGHT NOW with playing 30+ minutes a game.
The depth of talent on this team is ridiculous but the experience just isn't there.
If we go into this season with some minor additions or more incoming freshman, my expectations for this team is all about growth. I expect a tourney but anything higher than a 10 seed I would consider a success.
If Brad wants to go get some impact transfers, he needs at least 2 guys that will play 20+ minutes. I think that would produce quality competition and you would see a lot of different units on the floor and you could see 12 or even all 13 players enter the game. We would not be the favorites but a B1G tourney championship is not out of reach.
If brad wants to go big buck hunting, he needs a 30+ minute a night guy. A top 4 seed would not be out of the question but playing time for the kids would be diminished significantly.
Personally, I just want to see the kids to play
I'm not sure I trust anyone on this roster RIGHT NOW with playing 30+ minutes a game.
The depth of talent on this team is ridiculous but the experience just isn't there.
If we go into this season with some minor additions or more incoming freshman, my expectations for this team is all about growth. I expect a tourney but anything higher than a 10 seed I would consider a success.
If Brad wants to go get some impact transfers, he needs at least 2 guys that will play 20+ minutes. I think that would produce quality competition and you would see a lot of different units on the floor and you could see 12 or even all 13 players enter the game. We would not be the favorites but a B1G tourney championship is not out of reach.
If brad wants to go big buck hunting, he needs a 30+ minute a night guy. A top 4 seed would not be out of the question but playing time for the kids would be diminished significantly.
Personally, I just want to see the kids to play
Wait a minute. So we should settle for jumpers then everytime? Should we do away with post ups altogether then?
What about exploiting a mismatch? How about when we go cold as a coal mine from
outside?…and we desperately need a score.
How about the Baylors, the Texas Techs, Houston’s, and the Virginias of the world that all generally guard slashers and straight line drives (uniquely) but exceedingly well. How about against a tough zone team. What if you can’t: beat ‘em down the court, or if they adjust take away the high post flash, and you simply
can’t shoot from 3pt land that day…
Sure, efficient execution, distort the zone,
ball reversal…blah, blah…but what if none of that works?
What else is there? How about a post up?
We don’t wanna go back the other way and be completely one dimensional towards the OTHER extreme do we? Because of some
recency bias of seeing Kofi mauled inside all year. Playing that way won us a regular season title…it works. I agree playing
fast paced and facing the basket more is appealing…but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.
Probably sounds that way, but I’m not trying to be snarky. I’m really not.
I just think a post up is a tool in the toolbox
you don’t wanna throw out. It’s part of basketball period. A lay up is the best shot in b-ball. But a contested post up
ain’t bad. And it’s sure as hell better than a contested J.
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Sure hope you aren't Tyler with this attitude. Or anyone actually associated with the program. To act like it doesn't matter if one of maybe...3 returning players of note stays or goes is a terrible way to build a program. You might get a team every so often that wins big but at what cost? I hear all this talk about our "culture". We can't take Emoni Bates because he wouldn't fit it. But what you are saying is there truly is nothing to fit in to. Pushing out good players for marginally better players(or the hope that they are better) is not a team culture. It shows a complete lack of development or commitment from the coaches. And if this is the direction the program wants to take then no one can ever complain when the next guy leaves. Or the guy after that. This site should change its name because Illinois Loyalty would be dead.
Perhaps this is the direction of college basketball. If so mark it down as the beginning of its downfall. No one wants to have that kind of detachment from the players they root for. NBA free agency is bad, but this is way worse. At least NBA players typically get a multiyear contract before they bail. I don't know how the NCAA can sit back and continue to let this unfold each offseason. It's a joke.
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
If there’s anything we have learned from Underwood is he values a specific culture. I would expect he has good insights on who can fit in based on that criteria and probably is an indicator of why the staff passes on certain players. As far as the NIL Kofi left, it’s highly valued and not thrown at just any player.
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