Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#76      

Sedino

Sedino
Sedino
The Galloping Ghost said:
I feel you, but everyone is different. Former D1 college track athlete. I tore my ACL and the back half of my lateral meniscus in my early twenties playing flag football of all things (bad turf should be outlawed). My experience was much more like that @Govoner Vaugn Fan described. For context, I have a cadaver Achilles tendon as my ACL, rather than having part of my hamstring taken out. Six months post-surgery, I was stronger than I was pre-injury. Nine months post-surgery, I was every bit as explosive as I was pre-injury. However, that mental block was an absolute b****. My knee was fully stable and strong, but it took me an easy five more months before I felt comfortable. When I played basketball, I took runners and layups instead of going up for a dunk. When I played a sport that needed me to cut, I would decelerate into it. I was legitimately scared to hear those audible pops and feel that shotgun blast to my knee again. I had literal nightmares about it.

Medical science in this day and age is pretty darn incredible. An athlete can absolutely physically get back to where they were in no time. For me, the physical rehab was relatively easy (though, let me tell you, there were a lot of sweat and tears). The mental rehab took longer and was way, way harder.
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Are you able to play PG?
 
#77      

Mojoman

Mojoman
Mojoman
Tevo said:
Re: all the point guard concern -- isn't it more important to have a team that collectively passes, moves and makes good decisions/reads than to have a single player that you rely on do that? I'm not saying a good point guard doesn't help, but one of the frustrations and failings from last season wasn't specifically the point guard (aside from perhaps when the other team pressed), it was that NOBODY seemed to be on the same page. Guys waving frantically at each other where to go, or calling for the ball repeatedly and not getting it, or looking around for someone ANYONE to move as the shot clock winds down.

When you recall the amazing movement of the 2005 team, you likely picture 5 guys moving in synch, cutting off each other, delivering passes on time and on location. Sure, we had two great "point guards" in Dee and Deron, but more importantly, those guys worked well with each other, and the whole team was locked in. You didn't have a lot of Deron bringing it up, driving and dishing, or making one great pass to a teammate for an open look. You had a whole team running the offense together -- 5, 10, 15 passes before getting a wide open look.

This is my concern with the heavy reliance on transfers -- I think it's difficult to "teach" chemistry, and thus you'll have more teams that are collections of individuals rather than cohesive units. You'll have to rely on pick and roll because you can run it with only a couple guys instead of needing 5 working together. You'll need more "stars" who can "get their own shot" because you'll have a harder time teaching a whole roster of new guys to work seamlessly together.

The hope with a group of older players is that they will be able to pick up the team dynamics more quickly than new freshman, but whether they form great chemistry seems like a crap shoot. A "true" point guard will help that, but it won't solve the problem by itself. Having five guys who can move and pass pretty well with each other is likely better than one guy who is a star, and four who can't or won't run the offense.
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College BB is more and more like AAU summer circuits. Rosters change all the time. These kids are used to it.
Will work if you have kids who value team success and a coach who can help create that culture.

19 of the 40 starters in EE were transfers.
 
#79      

The Galloping Ghost

The Galloping Ghost
Washington, DC
The Galloping Ghost
Sedino said:
Are you able to play PG?
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Also, I was a shooting guard in high school lol.
 
#82      

PasadenaIllini

P
PasadenaIllini
Mojoman said:
Need to get clarification if Williams is eligible to play.
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Regardless of eligibility, planning on someone coming off an ACL injury who had not-good shooting stats last season to be our answer at point would not bode well, not to mention foul shooting stats that would make him a liability at the end of games. We have a short window of opportunity to take advantage of Shannon and Hawkins coming back to play. For our team to reach its potential, IMHO, we need a more definitive answer at point, particularly, one who can shoot well enough to open up space for the rest of our team to operate. Also IMHO, CHawk and TSJ deserve someone at the point who has demonstrated the definitive skillset needed to make their games the best they can be. I'm hoping the staff aren't done recruiting our team for this coming season.
 
#83      

Kendall Gill’s Uncle

K
Kendall Gill’s Uncle
PasadenaIllini said:
We also have plenty of holier-than-thou folks who love to throw sarcasm at people for expressing an opinion that isn't tinted with rose-colored classes. I mean, it isn't like this is a message board designed for people to express their opinions, right?
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If you’ve read any of my previous posts, I’ve never said they can’t be criticized. I definitely think they can be, I just don’t think you can make a judgment on our PG play until you see it in season. I wouldn’t have criticized them last year at this time bringing in Clark and Epps, but I definitely criticized them when I saw them play.

I just think some of the basketball strategy related comments on here are hilarious. Sorry, though I guess I can’t share my opinion. From my experience, people that say “holier than thou” are typically the ones who are actually that way.
 
#84      

Combo

C
Combo
Tevo said:
Re: all the point guard concern -- isn't it more important to have a team that collectively passes, moves and makes good decisions/reads than to have a single player that you rely on do that? I'm not saying a good point guard doesn't help, but one of the frustrations and failings from last season wasn't specifically the point guard (aside from perhaps when the other team pressed), it was that NOBODY seemed to be on the same page. Guys waving frantically at each other where to go, or calling for the ball repeatedly and not getting it, or looking around for someone ANYONE to move as the shot clock winds down.

When you recall the amazing movement of the 2005 team, you likely picture 5 guys moving in synch, cutting off each other, delivering passes on time and on location. Sure, we had two great "point guards" in Dee and Deron, but more importantly, those guys worked well with each other, and the whole team was locked in. You didn't have a lot of Deron bringing it up, driving and dishing, or making one great pass to a teammate for an open look. You had a whole team running the offense together -- 5, 10, 15 passes before getting a wide open look.
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You seem to downplay the importance of a capable PG, yet point out that the 2005 team had two great PGs. Don't you think having Deron and Dee contributed to the superb ball movement that team had from all five guys on the floor? Last year, TSJ, Hawk, and others could have moved w/o the ball like Richard Hamilton. It wouldn't have mattered cause no one was getting them the ball in the right place.
 
#87      

joeydirt7

J
joeydirt7
i would imagine if Johnson did come here, DGL would ask for his release. hes not gonna sit behind this dude agian.
 
#88      

Travis1173

Travis1173
Travis1173
PasadenaIllini said:
Regardless of eligibility, planning on someone coming off an ACL injury who had not-good shooting stats last season to be our answer at point would not bode well, not to mention foul shooting stats that would make him a liability at the end of games. We have a short window of opportunity to take advantage of Shannon and Hawkins coming back to play. For our team to reach its potential, IMHO, we need a more definitive answer at point, particularly, one who can shoot well enough to open up space for the rest of our team to operate. Also IMHO, CHawk and TSJ deserve someone at the point who has demonstrated the definitive skillset needed to make their games the best they can be. I'm hoping the staff aren't done recruiting our team for this coming season.
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Not to pick nits, but he’s coming off an Achilles injury. And UConn just won a National title with a PG who is every bit the same caliber shooter.
 
#89      

Illini90

I
Illini90
I lost Kofi's blue binder said:
Don’t quite understand how (or why) anyone new would commit when there are no scholarships available.
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I honestly believe Williams was just an insurance play by the staff. If they’re able to land someone better he’ll medical redshirt and work on getting his body healthy with one of the best in fletch. If not he’ll be ready to play at some point next season and they’ll just roll with him.
 
#90      

AyoDos11

AyoDos11
Southern Illinois
AyoDos11
Illini90 said:
I honestly believe Williams was just an insurance play by the staff. If they’re able to land someone better he’ll medical redshirt and work on getting his body healthy with one of the best in fletch. If not he’ll be ready to play at some point next season and they’ll just roll with him.
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Medical redshirts still take up a scholarship though. Someone is gonna have to leave/decommit in order to open a spot.
 
#91      

NarrowJ

NarrowJ
NarrowJ
I've essentially just come to realize over time spent here that if 23-24 Illini were the 95-96 Bulls we'd be discussing how there's absolutely no way we are going to be any good trotting Will Perdue out there at center and how old and washed up Ron Harper is.
 
#92      

PasadenaIllini

P
PasadenaIllini
Travis1173 said:
Not to pick nits, but he’s coming off an Achilles injury. And UConn just won a National title with a PG who is every bit the same caliber shooter.
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Please forgive my error on the specifics of the injury. Mia culpa. I'm not sure how my error changes the post-injury concerns.
And Tristan Newton shot 36.6% from 3 last season. That's about 15 percentage points north of what Williams managed. UCONN's worst 3-point shooting guard, Andre Jackson Jr. shot 7 percentage points more than Williams. Moreover, I love our team, but comparing what we have returning to the talent UCONN had last season is an apples vs. bowling balls comparison. Just because UCONN were able to dominate with a guard who was a so-so 3-point shooter doesn't mean we would be able to do the same with our guys who didn't perform half as well from 3-point land as the UCONN team did last year.
 
#93      

Illini90

I
Illini90
AyoDos11 said:
Medical redshirts still take up a scholarship though. Someone is gonna have to leave/decommit in order to open a spot.
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Essentially medical red shirted player still gets paid out of the programs budget to be there but it doesn’t count towards a programs scholarship count is how I read it? Could be wrong tho
 
#94      

BashCtIllini

BashCtIllini
BashCtIllini
Illini90 said:
Essentially medical red shirted player still gets paid out of the programs budget to be there but it doesn’t count towards a programs scholarship count is how I read it? Could be wrong tho
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could be moot, shouldn't we assume he already used his medical redshirt at Iowa State since he didn't play at all?
 
#95      

PasadenaIllini

P
PasadenaIllini
NarrowJ said:
I've essentially just come to realize over time spent here that if 23-24 Illini were the 95-96 Bulls we'd be discussing how there's absolutely no way we are going to be any good trotting Will Perdue out there at center and how old and washed up Ron Harper is.
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Because we're returning the collegiate equivalents of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin for this upcoming season?
 
#98      

nichi

N
nichi
Illini90 said:
Essentially medical red shirted player still gets paid out of the programs budget to be there but it doesn’t count towards a programs scholarship count is how I read it? Could be wrong tho
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Nope. Plus, he already used his medical redshirt last season. He only gets one. He could take a regular redshirt. Either way, redshirts count as scholarships.

Upon further review, I am dubious that the arrogant NCAA will grant a waiver for a second penalty free transfer. They will likely say that the fact he missed the season with a serious injury is moot, since he was otherwise eligible. A medical redshirt is not a listed exception.

Note they are no longer granting waivers for coaching changes.
 
#99      

Tevo

Tevo
Wilmette, IL
Tevo
Combo said:
You seem to downplay the importance of a capable PG, yet point out that the 2005 team had two great PGs. Don't you think having Deron and Dee contributed to the superb ball movement that team had from all five guys on the floor? Last year, TSJ, Hawk, and others could have moved w/o the ball like Richard Hamilton. It wouldn't have mattered cause no one was getting them the ball in the right place.
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Yeah, my point was that everyone needs to move, and screen, and pass with some purpose and skill. Having JUST the point guard with decision/passing skills won’t do much when the team is not on the same page. Without a “true” PG, we can still have a good season if the rest of the team is clicking. And we could have Chris Paul out there and still have a bad season, if the rest of the team is disorganized.

The question for me is not “Who will play PG?” It’s “will the other 7 guys who play regular minutes work well together?” 4 or 5 of them were on the team last year, and the results were okay but frustrating.
 
#100      

Govoner Vaugn Fan

Govoner Vaugn Fan
New Orleans
Govoner Vaugn Fan
nichi said:
Nope. Plus, he already used his medical redshirt last season. He only gets one. He could take a regular redshirt. Either way, redshirts count as scholarships.

Upon further review, I am dubious that the arrogant NCAA will grant a waiver for a second penalty free transfer. They will likely say that the fact he missed the season with a serious injury is moot, since he was otherwise eligible. A medical redshirt is not a listed exception.

Note they are no longer granting waivers for coaching changes.
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Can't he cite the 'Jess Settles' rule?
 
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