How seriously would we pursue McCullar and/or Malachi Smith hypothetically? I'm of the belief Smith is bound for South Carolina with Lamont Paris.
could be a very good option worth considering
SC has hit the portal very hard so far... but Smith won't end up thereChattanooga sports fans were speculating he would portal and follow his coach to South Carolina....
FWIW the B10 had the highest offensive strength of any conference this year according to EvanMiya. Anytime a conference is "exposed" in single elimination games is most likely random variance.Basketball has shifted in the past 10 years. The tempo has increased. And teams that score the ball have been rewarded. Yes you can’t have an awful defense and win (Duke/Iowa) but you simply have to be a top offense team anymore. It’s the reason the big ten is routinely exposed in the tourney. We don’t score enough. 2021 UCLA is a prime example. They were 11th in OFF and 46th in defense and made the final four. In 6 games in the tourney they averaged 76 ppg (season average was 73). While giving up 67 ppg (their season average was 68). They went over their averages on offense and met their defensive averages. But came in as an 11. Because the PAC12 plays a more uptempo style of offense which leads to more tourney wins.
If they need him too…..then yesSo Lieb is transferring too?
Eh the consistency of how poorly the B1G does in the tourney feels like it means something. But I do think it’s overblown by the media.FWIW the B10 had the highest offensive strength of any conference this year. Anytime a conference is "exposed" in single elimination games is most likely random variance.
My God, he'd be a great pickup. Everyone and their mother will be looking to add his *services*, though.One to keep an eye on ...
Doesn’t the B10 have like the the most or second most Final 4 teams since 2000? It does not consistently perform poorly.Eh the consistency of how poorly the B1G does in the tourney feels like it means something. But I do think it’s overblown by the media.
But the tournament is a high variance event anyways. I’ve long believed the talent level is the real culprit. Sheer lack of volume when it comes to high 5 star recruits in the big ten feels like the most likely reason in my mind.
I didn't go back to 2000, but in the last 10 tournaments the number of final 4 appearances looks like this:Doesn’t the B10 have like the the most or second most Final 4 teams since 2000? It does not consistently perform poorly.
If they need him too…..then yes
I will definitely miss this kid. I could tell that whenever he was out there, he gave everything he had, and was always battling inside. Even though he may not have been the most talented player, I commend him for always giving his all. Once an Illini, always an Illini!
One to keep an eye on ...
Was recruited out of high school by Virginia Tech. Hmmm....One to keep an eye on ...
If that’s true I rescind my earlier comment and blame the media for my stupidity.Doesn’t the B10 have like the the most or second most Final 4 teams since 2000? It does not consistently perform poorly.
So a full on overhaul was coming anyway with supersenior graduation and kofi moving on80%+ loss in minutes and points per game is the largest this year in DIV I next to LSU.
Of course. That team and it's scoring prowess still amaze me. About your final point, I agree that players today have the physical capacity to guard by default. It's the will and tenacity to defend, however, that separates the men from the boys. I think of Damonte and Trent, to use two examples of the (lol that I use this term) physically disadvantaged, and how they were among the top handful of defenders in the conference.And while this is true and I agree with everything you say, we are talking about one of the best teams in our and NCAA history. The amount of firepower they had, 2005 had, etc is absurd, and objectively, unsustainable in our history.
The interesting thing is, with where basketball is going these days, with athletic lanky wings and bigs who are good handlers and shooters offensively, those guys can generally guard by default, because of said length and athleticism.
I'll never forget BBV coming off the bench to defend Edey like a warrior during that Purdue game at the AH on MLK day. That alone, IMO, enshrines him as an Illini to remember.I will definitely miss this kid. I could tell that whenever he was out there, he gave everything he had, and was always battling inside. Even though he may not have been the most talented player, I commend him for always giving his all. Once an Illini, always an Illini!
Truthfully i think there best stretch was right before the Purdue game they were hitting shots ball movement seemed great and they seemed to be hitting there stride.But then again any team looks better when the shots are going in lolThis transfer portal thing is nuts... crazy how much its changed college basketball
In terms of post season play, its amazing how simple shot making/missing can makes coaches and their strategies look good or bad. Illinois guards for the most part just couldn't shoot when mid March came
80%+ loss in minutes and points per game is the largest this year in DIV I next to LSU.
He signed with TT before Chester arrived in VaTech if that's what you're getting at.Was recruited out of high school by Virginia Tech. Hmmm....
For those that need to hear this:You don't think Brad has a plan? Do you really think we will end up with 9 scholly players? There is more coming... and soon
well, that anyone else passes us up doesn't really change the fact that this is a major rebuild. Kansas also is Kansas. I've seen odds that have them as the favorites to win next year, so it's likely many of those players are coming back not to mention a top 5 recruiting class with two five stars.There's no way of even knowing the bolded until the deadlines to withdraw from the draft or officially transfer to another school have passed but there's are a lot more schools in the same boat than you might think. Out of curiosity I just looked at Kansas's roster and they have lost 87% of their scoring assuming none of the players that have already declared for the draft come back.