Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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If Hawk and Dain are healthy all season, I would completely agree. Those two share the 5 spot and all is good. The game these days is about quickness, shooting, and ball movement and great guards and wings can carry a team to a title.
But if Hawk or Dain misses time for whatever reason, you're in a tough spot as bigs don't generally play 35+ min/game. So you'd have to have someone else contribute there, which would most likely be Mayer. IMO that's not ideal, which is why the staff needs to be looking high and low for another competent PF/C type. We have two rides left to give and I think "saving" both would be foolish.
You’re suggesting he had no solid leadership or good people at any of his myriad stops?
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Again, it's not about the talent. The kid passes the audition, lol.
How I’m reading the Dior situation is that he’s a take, but I don’t think there’s any guarantee from staff that he’ll get x,y,z when he suits up. He’d have to earn minutes competing against skyy, RJ, and Epps. As previously mentioned, seems like one of those four could be the odd man out in the rotation and that’s ok.
I think Epps is a stud and have a feeling he’ll beat out dior for minutes, but why wouldn’t the staff hedge at the guard position? Seems like a no-brainer and this off-season proves that the staff moves quickly and can absorb whatever departures follow.
I’ve already started looking at flights to Houston, the vibe is real
I think Epps is a stud and have a feeling he’ll beat out dior for minutes, but why wouldn’t the staff hedge at the guard position? Seems like a no-brainer and this off-season proves that the staff moves quickly and can absorb whatever departures follow.
I’ve already started looking at flights to Houston, the vibe is real
When did I ever say anything about Mayer? Also, like I said, BU gets paid millions for his opinions. And like you said, your opinions are limited to a message board, there are reasons for that
I agree about Ramey and probably Malachi. Even if we did go after them , they wanted much bigger roles, esp since college is running out. Ramey has wanted PG role too for a while, not combo or shooting guard.
You may indeed be right about Dior Johnson, but it's up to BU whether he wants to pursue and roll the dice. Skyy, TSJ, and Ty apparently tweeted approval. The talent is so tantalizing, though.
Just keep stacking athletic freaks and then run teams out of the gym with hockey like line-changes.
When we see a glaring weakness in depth on the bench at the 5 that causes us to lose key games is the concern.
Just my guess...if he passes BU and the coaching teams ok...who am I to say, they know what that would entail teamwise. Does seem kinda a risk/reward type of thing....
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Well, they don't know. They'll be making their best guess, as they do with every freshman. Chemistry is the big question mark this year with all the new parts and new roles for the old parts.
Take Butz as well, that would fill all 13.
Agreed, a lot of new parts..I was speaking to the ruffled feathers affect....just win your spot...
Agree there. Ruffled feathers don't bother me a whole lot. That's just the nature of the game. Always has been, but even more so now.
Kinda interesting though the juxtaposition between Epps and Dior. We come in late on Skyy and Epps doesn't seem to miss a beat. No rumors about asking out of his NLI. Dior bails under similar circumstances.
Nice to have so many options....the cream will rise to the top...
Whitmans Sampler
- Eastern Iowa
Agreed, that’s a tough sell for the staff to find a competent big who’s willing to accept 3rd string. Let’s cross our fingers they find another Giorgi out there in the wild.
I read we were after someone else but closing that seems to be the bigger need
Some of you are revealing why it's so important we pick up Nance. He's a classic 4, which we don't have. In case of injury or foul trouble for Dain, he could also plug the 5. Maybe it's an NBA-ready body that Nance needs for the League. Make sure to keep Fletch front and center in the recruiting process.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Bro this isn't gonna happen. The Nance ship has sailed and won't be returning.
Every recruit that enters a college program at this level knows there are 13 scholarships available and that most coaches are gonna fill them all. Like we always joked about Groce these recruits can count too. Brad is a very smart man as are TA,CF and GA... They are not gonna promise to not recruit over a player, you earn your minutes by practice and performance period end of story. You can bet that none of the incoming freshmen were guaranteed 30 minutes of playing time per game.
Prove you can play and defend and be a team player, you will then find minutes.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Epps wins the starting job. He is a confident winner and probably underrated.
@LvilleILL Is this what the staff had up their sleeve or were you talking about something else?Wouldn’t be recruiting over Epps … Dior, Skyy, RJ, TSJ, and Mayer. Brad has said multiple times he could start 5 wings, 5 guards. It don’t matter
Bring Epps off the bench as 6th man and nothing changes by adding Dior except style of play and some guys lower on the bench get their minutes cut. The best players always find a way on the court, and if they’re scared of competition (@ Pete Nance) then they shouldn’t be playing for Brad or the U of I anyways. This is an elite basketball program, playing time is earned here. You want guaranteed PT then you go to IU
If Brad thinks he can work with the kid and the kid is willing to buy in. I like the potential and if he transfers after a year … so be it … so does everyone elseWe will just reload again.
Not saying Dior is a done deal … Just that it is a possibility
I can't see how this is a reply to my comment.
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