Underwood loves Guerrier.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
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Slater only posts locks
I don’t think this is as big of an issue as a lot people think. Would be more concerned about someone unproven at the collegiate level (i.e., how a backcourt of true freshmen Skyy Clark and Jayden Epps played out). I think Latulip originally made this point, but look at this year’s Sweet 16:
Mark Sears: Ohio -> Alabama
Darrion Trammell: Seattle -> SDSU
Baylor Scheierman: SDSt. -> Creighton
Tyreke Key: Indiana St. -> Tennessee
Tyson Walker: Northeastern -> Mich St.
Markquis Nowell: Little Rock -> KSU
Jordan Miller: George Mason -> Miami
Souley Boun: UTEP -> Xavier
Sir’Jabari Rice: NMSt. -> Texas
Tristan Newton: E Carolina -> Uconn
Malachi Smith: Chattanooga -> Zags
Countless of examples guards who were “unproven” at the high major level having a major role for their team playing in the 2nd weekend of the Big Dance. I think a guy like Dennis is exactly who you want to land — something to prove in the Big Ten. “Proven” guys like Matt Mayer from high major programs come with question marks: why go from Baylor to Illinois? (more NIL cash, want to be “the guy”, want to work on your body before the NBA, etc.). IMO, taking an unhappy high major guy feels like much more of a gamble… but who knows. It’s all player situational at the end of the day.
Edit: also, I don’t see Domask as the kind of kid that’s going to take plays off, mouth off to the media, complain, etc…
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I haven’t dug into the film on RayJ enough but a 20 PPG scorer who likes getting into the lane will draw help defense, and his 5.8 assists suggest he’s willing to kick it out.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
And if it makes folks feel any better Dennis was originally recruited to and played very successfully for Boise State. Not high-major, but a higher level than Toledo.
And he has some fringey NBA interest too.
I'm not worried about a Sam Maniscalco situation with him.
Coach Kowalczyk is an outstanding coach & his teams flat-out score. They averaged almost 86 PPG so #s might be a little inflated. And they had SEVEN guys that shot 36% or better from 3 & shot nearly 40% from 3 as a team. That's bananas!!! (Illinois shot 30% last year for reference.) When guys can knock down shots, it certainly helps the assist #s.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
C'mon man! Nobody's suggesting that by any stretch.
Adding RayJ, Shannon, Hawkins, and Guerrier puts us at #15 on Torvik. Who am I forgetting or is there one more transfer after this?
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Maybe HDick...Adding RayJ, Shannon, Hawkins, and Guerrier puts us at #15 on Torvik. Who am I forgetting or is there one more transfer after this?
RosterCast for Illinois - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank
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Haven’t watched clips of RayJ but am picturing more of a Hoggard or Pickett. Bully ball with some inside presence makes sense to me. Much rather see open shots created by passing than by dribbling.
Didn’t really see a big problem last year with Hawk backing up Dain at the 5. Need to see some defensive adjustments when playing Edey types but other teams have done it.
Stat I don’t like with Guerrero is assists. One per game bothers me more than ft%. Adding him with Hansberry probably gives us enough size and rebounding. Liked our ability to guard the rim last year with combination rather than with just one guy.
Passing will be the key with this team. Last year we were terrible. We have added some passers this year.
Don’t like adding 1 yr guys but developing players to leave isn’t working. If they truly enforce 1 transfer and then they must sit out a year it might settle down but really have no confidence in NCAA doing that.
Didn’t really see a big problem last year with Hawk backing up Dain at the 5. Need to see some defensive adjustments when playing Edey types but other teams have done it.
Stat I don’t like with Guerrero is assists. One per game bothers me more than ft%. Adding him with Hansberry probably gives us enough size and rebounding. Liked our ability to guard the rim last year with combination rather than with just one guy.
Passing will be the key with this team. Last year we were terrible. We have added some passers this year.
Don’t like adding 1 yr guys but developing players to leave isn’t working. If they truly enforce 1 transfer and then they must sit out a year it might settle down but really have no confidence in NCAA doing that.
Bigtex
- DFW
Guerrier would be oneAdding RayJ, Shannon, Hawkins, and Guerrier puts us at #15 on Torvik. Who am I forgetting or is there one more transfer after this?
RosterCast for Illinois - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank
T-Rank College Basketball Ratings and Rankings. And fun.barttorvik.com
Ray J two
Shannon three
Hawkins four
That rounds out the roster. as it stands now with: Domask, Harmon, Rodgers, Goode, Dain, Harris, Hansberry, DGL, Moretti,
You've been relegated to the Loyalty freshmen team, sit in one of the open walk on seats.
That's what we said this year! We may not win the B1G, but we are gonna be fast, athletic, and long and be ready for the tournament. We currently have no 1. We picked up some fringe starter guys, one with a BPM of .4.
Epps was a reported personal issue with staff and maybe asking for too much money. Skyy was upset about losing the starting role at PG and/or helping his dad with complications with diabetes.
The whole system is now a catch 22. Invest in young talent and they may leave. Go after big names in the portal and you may hit the jackpot or be without a chair when the music stops.
If you go with option 1, you are more likely to have some down years but build a better culture and sustained success if you go with option 2, you are more likely to have off years (like this past year) due to meshing issues and also lose your young talent due to being recruited over and not getting enough minutes. Or they start 30+ games and still leave. Who knows. I don't get paid to make these decisions, I just get to ask questions on a message board.
RichardKeenesCousin
Richard Keene's Cousin
can someone refresh my memory on him? I remember him, I lurked on the loyalty back then, but I don't remember the backstory.
One thing I have not seen yet but would love to is going after some portal guys with eligibility left so we are not turning over 90%+ of our production in a year. But I trust the staff to do what is best for the team, and if that means win now and worry about that next year I guess that is the new reality of college basketball.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Brought in as a senior grad transfer when that was brand new for Weber's last season to fill a hole at PG.
Had been a steady and reliable player at Bradley but was just a disaster at Illinois and just looked out of place physically. It kinda spiraled on him and it almost became like watching a guy with the yips out there, I felt really bad for him.
Maniscalco, Jaylon Tate, Ahmad Starks and Khalid Lewis were kind of a rolling problem of true PG's who just weren't talented enough to be Big Ten players, and because Tracy Abrams was so injury prone and we failed so badly in recruiting that position during that period we got stuck with them running the show.
RayJ is a different level player than any of those guys.
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What am I missing on Guerrier? 9.0 pts a game on 34% 3's and 58% FT. Doesn't seem like a guard; is he a 4? If he's the front court piece they wanted to add with Coleman and Dainja coming back, sign me up all day, but if he's meant to replace Hawkins or TSJ, seems like a lukewarm add? or is he some defensive savant that I should be stoked about?
Slater only posts locks
Slater and I talk frequently … Especially about the Illini … Great dude …
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RichardKeenesCousin
Richard Keene's Cousin
I'm here for it if we talk about ex-players that didn't live up to their hype as long as it isn't a cousin of mine.
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