We all are on message boards because we care more about Illini basketball than anyone else, and naturally we all want to look ahead to next year and the future and be as excited as possible.
But there's also part of me that thinks this is really bad for the chemistry and momentum going into the finish of the current season if everyone is already speculating on next year's roster, especially for the guys who might not be here next year or pushed into lesser roles next year.
I wish we could just all unite for the best finish possible for this year, all the guys on the current roster to play their best down the stretch and into the tournament, RJ to get things going like so many were hoping for and expecting coming into the year, everyone on the roster click when we all want it the most.
I don't know how it helps when people are already thinking about who will come in next year which obviously also means who won't be here next year. I look at how bad we played against Loyola, and then a few weeks later we find Adam Miller not happy and he's gone, and I look at last year and how guys struggled not just vs. Houston but we barely won the 4/13 game, and then Curbelo and so many others are gone....and it's obvious looking back that we were not pulling on the same page going into the most important games of the season in the tournament.
I know it will never happen, and I'm as guilty as anyone for logging on here to see what the insiders are saying about next year's roster/rumors (and our insiders are incredible and my favorite posters here), but I also think if this speculation all started April 1 or after our tournament loss that it would be a good thing. I mean these players already are under a ton of pressure to perform against the best competition in Big Ten and highest level of Division I basketball, I just wish they also didn't have to worry about their roster spots or roles or whatever the following year...there will be plenty of time to sort that out after the season. And I get all the 'times have changed, transfer portal...." I just want to see us all play our best in mid and late March and I think team chemistry/momentum is something that gets overlooked.
Just my two cents.