Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[Indy Illini Fan]

Braden Smith 6'0 180lbs handled point for Purdue pretty well. I think it's still a little early to declare he won't play much.

And he was the majority of the reason they lost to a 16 seed … Young and inexperienced guard play doesn’t win big games in March …

So why would Brad run a freshman out there again when his veterans said if you do that then we’re not coming back ?

This isn’t hard guys … We’re bringing in a VETERAN PG … DGL will ride the freaking pine if he can’t guard … Brad does not care whether the kid stays or goes … He will replace him if he leaves and will coach him if he stays but next year Brad’s focus will not be on DGL …

 

[KnoxIllini2]

Well that kinda mixes the two together.

I think Epps and his camp just decided he didn't want to be here and this wasn't the right environment and situation for him.

But someone said in one of these threads that "the productivity wasn't worth the NIL expectations" and that's flat-out wrong. I anticipate Epps being a big star at Georgetown, he is an incredibly promising player with very rare ability to get to the rim and finish.

And as a more general matter, I predict that as the NIL market develops, programs are going to find that continuity has a higher financial value than its currently being given.

Look at MSU and their roster continuity taking them to a Sweet 16.

This will be the second offseason that we live and die by the portal and I have to say… not the biggest fan. Should we get a PG we all feel comfortable can play close to 30mpg and this player CoHawk and TSJ must approve of, then I might warm back up to the portal.

Epps would have been a great 4 year player here, but onto the Hoya$ he goes where he’ll just get yelled at by a different coach about defense.

 

[HailtotheChief]

It is if your like 165lbs and want to play against 22 year olds in the B1G

I do agree with this on defense. However Harris was only 160lbs. Walker from MSU is only 180. Offensively speed and quickness seems to matter more and more when offense from the PG position. So many very good offensively gifted college guards are small or skinny in stature. Id love the transfer from North Texas that was player of the year in conference USA.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

And he was the majority of the reason they lost to a 16 seed … Young and inexperienced guard play doesn’t win big games in March …

So why would Brad run a freshman out there again when his veterans said if you do that then we’re not coming back ?

This isn’t hard guys … We’re bringing in a VETERAN PG … DGL will ride the freaking pine if he can’t guard … Brad does not care whether the kid stays or goes … He will replace him if he leaves and will coach him if he stays but next year Brad’s focus will not be on DGL …

So what’s Brad’s focus for this year then?

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Id love the transfer from North Texas that was player of the year in conference USA.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

So what’s Brad’s focus for this year then?

Win as many games as possible, as it should be every year.

 

[altgeld88]

I think a good chunk of Epps' decision was predicated on money (where good chunk is roughly half, and that may be a significant understatement).

The vast majority of us aren't ever gonna know what went down, but I'm very comfortable that Underwood saw some red flags and decided to part ways.

This ^^ + anyone who watched the game @ Bloomington and subsequent games saw red flags. It's sad because the young man stepped up in many ways when called upon and contributed offensively (if not on D.) Was clear to me by the end of BTT that he needed to depart.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

So what’s Brad’s focus for this year then?

 

[KnoxIllini2]

Win as many games as possible, as it should be every year.

So not meeting in Pizza Hut parking lots or destroying garbage cans? Damn.

 

[ChiefGritty]

So what’s Brad’s focus for this year then?

Pretty clear it's to be as old, battle tested, and able to execute the things he wants as possible.

Want a white hot take? After all the scuttlebutt about him flirting with other jobs this past month, it definitely seems to be the case that avoiding having a bad Illinois season be the most recent item on his resume next offseason is higher on his priority list than the long-term stability and development of the roster doesn't it?

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

So not meeting in Pizza Hut parking lots or destroying garbage cans? Damn.

Well the goal is to have a team that doesn’t require Brad to do that every game …

Josh had to order like 8 new trash cans and a TV or two this year per sources …

 

[TampaToo]

And he was the majority of the reason they lost to a 16 seed … Young and inexperienced guard play doesn’t win big games in March …

So why would Brad run a freshman out there again when his veterans said if you do that then we’re not coming back ?

This isn’t hard guys … We’re bringing in a VETERAN PG … DGL will ride the freaking pine if he can’t guard … Brad does not care whether the kid stays or goes … He will replace him if he leaves and will coach him if he stays but next year Brad’s focus will not be on DGL …

Do you feel the staff will stay in a holding pattern on Tyger’s decision, or will they be pursuing a plan B option asap?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Well that kinda mixes the two together.

I think Epps and his camp just decided he didn't want to be here and this wasn't the right environment and situation for him.

But someone said in one of these threads that "the productivity wasn't worth the NIL expectations" and that's flat-out wrong. I anticipate Epps being a big star at Georgetown, he is an incredibly promising player with very rare ability to get to the rim and finish.

And as a more general matter, I predict that as the NIL market develops, programs are going to find that continuity has a higher financial value than its currently being given.

unless you know what his ask was (or ballpark, minimally), you're in the speculation zone

 

[Illini_1105]

 

[IlliniInTexas]

I know that we like to speculate about starters, but wouldn’t our most efficient lineup be more like:

Transfer PG
TSJ
Domask
Ty Rodgers
ColeHawk

In other words, I want Ty to play as many minutes he possibly can, and it’s hard to run him and Dain out there together as 2 non-shooters…

 

[Heisenbobble]

Pretty clear it's to be as old, battle tested, and able to execute the things he wants as possible.

Want a white hot take? After all the scuttlebutt about him flirting with other jobs this past month, it definitely seems to be the case that not having a bad Illinois season be the most recent item on his resume next offseason is higher on his priority list than the long-term stability and development of the roster doesn't it?

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

 

[FinallyMadeAnAccount]

I know that we like to speculate about starters, but wouldn’t our most efficient lineup be more like:

Transfer PG
TSJ
Domask
Ty Rodgers
ColeHawk

In other words, I want Ty to play as many minutes he possibly can, and it’s hard to run him and Dain out there together as 2 non-shooters…

This would be my ideal lineup since I love Hawkins at the 5, but one of the insiders said he won't and doesn't want to play the 5 this year

 

[ChiefGritty]

unless you know what his ask was (or ballpark, minimally), you're in the speculation zone

I'd pay Epps more than Shannon to play for us next year.

That's not what the marketplace currently says, I know. The marketplace also once said you should be paying tens of thousands of dollars for pictures of cartoon apes.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Do you feel the staff will stay in a holding pattern on Tyger’s decision, or will they be pursuing a plan B option asap?

They’ve got multiple irons in the fire …

We won’t come out of this empty handed … If Tyger and Dennis both go pro … (highly unlikely) and I have heard nothing that makes me think both will or even one of them will …

We’ve got dudes who can go poach … If you know what I’m saying …

 

[HailtotheChief]

He is a beast in a small package!

 

[GetAWin]

This ^^ + anyone who watched the game @ Bloomington and subsequent games saw red flags. It's sad because the young man stepped up in many ways when called upon and contributed offensively (if not on D.) Was clear to me by the end of BTT that he needed to depart.

Northwestern home game - he sat on bench pouting while rest of the team stood up and cheered their teammates on... he lost respect then.

 

[OB positive]

Assuming TSJ and Hawk come back and we land a PG i would expect a line up like this. I feel RJ would have started had he stayed. That thought combined with most feeling like Domask > RJ as a player is one reason I see this as the line up next year.

Experienced pg-Dennis?
TSJ
Domask
HAWK
Dain
If TSJ leaves then Ty or possibly Goode.
I know there are various thought on Domask but being a top 5 player in the Valley and a balanced skill set I have higher expectations from him than most it seems.

Yes I think it is going to be harder keeping Domask out of the starting lineup more than most people think. If we have someone who keeps him out of the starting lineup that would really bode well for us.

 

[Heisenbobble]

I'd pay Epps more than Shannon to play for us next year.

That's not what the marketplace currently says, I know. The marketplace also once said you should be paying tens of thousands of dollars for pictures of cartoon apes.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Pretty clear it's to be as old, battle tested, and able to execute the things he wants as possible.

Want a white hot take? After all the scuttlebutt about him flirting with other jobs this past month, it definitely seems to be the case that avoiding having a bad Illinois season be the most recent item on his resume next offseason is higher on his priority list than the long-term stability and development of the roster doesn't it?

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

I'm not sure what you can do to prioritize that and winning. I think moving forward, protecting and maintaining the brand of Illini basketball will take us farther than worrying about the long-term stability of the roster.
Guys want to play for a winner. Losing doesn't generate loyalty, even when guys get big minutes.
Winning attracts good players. As long as you have good players, you have a chance.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

Pretty clear it's to be as old, battle tested, and able to execute the things he wants as possible.

Want a white hot take? After all the scuttlebutt about him flirting with other jobs this past month, it definitely seems to be the case that avoiding having a bad Illinois season be the most recent item on his resume next offseason is higher on his priority list than the long-term stability and development of the roster doesn't it?

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

So he wants Tyler to get paid next season? All jokes aside that’s news to me about Brad job sniffing.

Here’s my white hot take, BU’s next job, should he leave, won’t be in the NCAA.