Coaching can at best create schemes where players get open practiced shots on offense and create schemes that limit open shots on defense or give those shots to lower percentage shooters. The rest is how well the players perform when these opportunities occur. Player performance is part skill and training and part luck. For this reason regular season performance is a much better indication of coaching then the tournament where luck plays a significant role due to the small sample size and single elimination format. Having top players helps but overall in todays NCAA anyone can beat anyone in a single game. Yes NCAA tournament wins are great but they do not reflect coaching ability and recruiting ability nearly as well as season record. So for me I see our record during Underwood’s tenure as a much better indicator as to well Underwood has performed. And it is really good. Additionally his ability to keep team adversity under control is also a plus. So though you may feel like being angry and upset maybe take a step back and look at the big picture and trust a little in the teams overall past success not the teams one game failures.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Just showing my support for another commentor's opinion. Sorry if I offended your ILL sensibilities, Rog.
I don't think anyone should be calling for Brad's head yet but you do eventually have to start winning some games in March. Obviously you need to consistently get there which he has been doing but you do need to start making some sweet 16/elite 8 runs.
The 2021 team was really really good and did underachieve in the tournament but I honestly don't think the last two years teams were that good. The 2022 team was Kofi and Trent without really anyone else making much of an impact. Last years team was probably more talented all around but lacked the consistency that Kofi brought.
I think he's done a good job in the transfer portal but he really needs to improve his hs recruiting. He needs to start getting some classes with multiple contributors. The last 3 classes look sparse. Hawkins and Goode are the last guys remaining from their classes. I like Harris and Rodgers but they're unproven same with Goode who in hindsight should have probably been red shirted last season.
He hasn't recruited a good guard since Ayo and honestly that was probably his best class getting Ayo, Griffin, and Jones though the latter two left.
I'm just saying that Brad's seat will likely start to warm up if he doesn't start to win in March and this year is important because they're going to lose a lot of talent.
Yeah, because no one else has ever gone off topic on here before.
I’ll sleep easier knowing the self-proclaimed Topic Police are on patrol.
You have to realize part of the reason our offense was not efficient last year is we were not a good shooting team and we tried to play too much 1v1 which eliminated players wanting to cut
If Hawkins can get to over 35%, Domask over 35%, TSJ is over 38%,Goode over 40% our offense and how teams guard us change.
The driving lanes for players open up and it will be easier to get it into the post. As long as we don’t force 3s our percentage from outside will go up
If Hawkins can get to over 35%, Domask over 35%, TSJ is over 38%,Goode over 40% our offense and how teams guard us change.
The driving lanes for players open up and it will be easier to get it into the post. As long as we don’t force 3s our percentage from outside will go up
I have found that the vast majority of supporters of zone defense were guys that played zone in high school because they weren't good enough to play man.
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