Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[dbeverly26]

I agree with this. But my read on the situation is that missing the tournament is more like the final straw vs the sole reason JW would make that move. I imagine the off court stuff like flirting with other programs, booster relations, player retention, and other issues that haven't been talked about on here are all contributing factors in addition to the on court results.

FWIW I, personally, don't think next year should be any kind of make or break year but I really do trust JW to do what's best for this program so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sure, if he loses the major boosters all bets are off (and I won't pretend to act like I know what's up there, anyway). I made a comment a while back about being less confident that the AD will make good choices here because power seems to be migrating even more towards high-dollar donors in the NIL era, and those donors tend to be...well, they tend to be a bit less patient and more emotional than you'd prefer your CEO to be, I guess. And I've got no idea how much truth there is to some of the more recent rumors that have been floating around regarding Williams and some other stuff, but all of that is important in how hot his seat should be.

As for using his past tournament success or lack thereof to judge his ability to rack up some tournament wins in the future, though? I'm not sold.

 

[cookie86]

so should Purdue fire Matt Painter and Iowa fire Fran? They haven't made it to the sweet 16 either

 

[dbeverly26]

so should Purdue fire Matt Painter and Iowa fire Fran? They haven't made it to the sweet 16 either

Er, Painter has made it six times with Purdue, I think, including last year. But Iowa should definitely fire Fran simply because it would bring me great joy.

 

[schnaurt]

so should Purdue fire Matt Painter and Iowa fire Fran? They haven't made it to the sweet 16 either

Painter went to the sweet 16 two years ago but lost to St Francis so not sure if that counts.

 

[redwingillini11]

Next year is make or break … When you’ve got guys like Sean Miller, Eric Musselman and others that would be interested … Boosters willing to support a move if it’s necessary …

It makes making a move a little easier …

 

[cookie86]

Er, Painter has made it six times with Purdue, I think, including last year. But Iowa should definitely fire Fran simply because it would bring me great joy.

Purdue got beat by a 16 seed last year

 

[destindog]

Next year is make or break … When you’ve got guys like Sean Miller, Eric Musselman and others that would be interested … Boosters willing to support a move if it’s necessary …

It makes making a move a little easier …

I might have missed something but what makes you think Miller and Musselman would be interested in this job.

 

[dbeverly26]

Purdue got beat by a 16 seed last year

Sorry, still thinking 2023 is this year. Anyway, six times isn’t never.

 

[WyattEarp]

Sure, if he loses the major boosters all bets are off (and I won't pretend to act like I know what's up there, anyway). I made a comment a while back about being less confident that the AD will make good choices here because power seems to be migrating even more towards high-dollar donors in the NIL era, and those donors tend to be...well, they tend to be a bit less patient and more emotional than you'd prefer your CEO to be, I guess. And I've got no idea how much truth there is to some of the more recent rumors that have been floating around regarding Williams and some other stuff, but all of that is important in how hot his seat should be.

As for using his past tournament success or lack thereof to judge his ability to rack up some tournament wins in the future, though? I'm not sold.

Watch Brad go to Southern Methodist and rattle off about 3 elite 8s and a final 4.

 

[21ChampaignSt]

so should Purdue fire Matt Painter and Iowa fire Fran? They haven't made it to the sweet 16 either

We shouldn't be comparing ourselves to Iowa. They could win their next 400 games and they'd still have a lower all-time win% than Illinois.

Purdue is a better comparison though.

 

[dbeverly26]

Watch Brad go to Southern Methodist and rattle off about 3 elite 8s and a final 4.

Would love to endure a decade of comments about how he could only win with Rob Lanier's players.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

LULwhut?!?

Soph Year:
- 10.4 PPG
- 4.2 APG
- 2.0 SPG
- 75% FT
- 29 mins/game

Lost in those stats is that once Big Ten season rolled around, Gill went into an RJ Melendez-level shooting slump. He never recovered from one horrendously brutal game at Iowa until his junior year.

 

[Tables@EddieMunster]

Re: Brad possibly (seeming small possibility) leaving after the year:

Just from reading tea leaves- isn’t the issue that Whitman feels like his patience and resources should have bought him some loyalty, so he was kinda ticked off Underwood was sniffing around other jobs last offseason?

 

[cookie86]

Sorry, still thinking 2023 is this year. Anyway, six times isn’t never.

yeah guess he's never made it out of sweet 16

 

[theNewGuy]

I might have missed something but what makes you think Miller and Musselman would be interested in this job.

 

[WyattEarp]

Would love to endure a decade of comments about how he could only win with Rob Lanier's players.

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Purdue got beat by a 16 seed last year

That was a sweet 16 seed though

 

[Goillinikobd]

Here is a pre season big ten ranking and discussion on big ten from sparty peeps. Pretty extensive write up on the illini and hit most of the points discussed here.

https://spartanhoops.com/big-ten-2023-24-preseason-rankings/

I pulled out an interesting part of the article

In addition the idea of Coleman Hawkins as a versatile swiss army knife has always been greater in thought than practice. Over his three year career he has proven to be a below average 3PT shooter (28.1%) despite his desire to prove otherwise (four 3FGA per game last year at 28%), is as likely to turn it over as make a good pass (1.8 APG to 1.5 TOV career, 3 APG to 2.5 TOV in 2022-23), has poor shot selection in crucial moments, and doesn’t offer a true low post scoring presence despite his 6’11’ stature. He’s an above average defender with switch-ability, but in essence should be a solid role player offensively (3rd/4th option), instead of a primary offensive focus. If Illinois is going to be good next year, a lot rests on Hawkins becoming a more mature and focused player, which at this point in his career he simply hasn’t proven yet.

The roster in short just feels a touch incomplete. If they could somehow add a primary play maker like Rutgers Paul Mulcahy, who just recently entered the portal, it would spring the rotation up several spots for me, but after personally being much too high on Illinois last season, this feels like prove it to me spot for the Fighting Illini in 2023-24.

 

[dbeverly26]

yeah guess he's never made it out of sweet 16

Except for the time he lost in heartbreaking fashion to UVA in the elite 8 back in 2019. Which, depending on how you look at it, was either four or five years ago.

 

[WyattEarp]

I pulled out an interesting part of the article

In addition the idea of Coleman Hawkins as a versatile swiss army knife has always been greater in thought than practice. Over his three year career he has proven to be a below average 3PT shooter (28.1%) despite his desire to prove otherwise (four 3FGA per game last year at 28%), is as likely to turn it over as make a good pass (1.8 APG to 1.5 TOV career, 3 APG to 2.5 TOV in 2022-23), has poor shot selection in crucial moments, and doesn’t offer a true low post scoring presence despite his 6’11’ stature. He’s an above average defender with switch-ability, but in essence should be a solid role player offensively (3rd/4th option), instead of a primary offensive focus. If Illinois is going to be good next year, a lot rests on Hawkins becoming a more mature and focused player, which at this point in his career he simply hasn’t proven yet.

The roster in short just feels a touch incomplete. If they could somehow add a primary play maker like Rutgers Paul Mulcahy, who just recently entered the portal, it would spring the rotation up several spots for me, but after personally being much too high on Illinois last season, this feels like prove it to me spot for the Fighting Illini in 2023-24.

As much as I hate to say it…that sounds like a reasonable/fair assessment.

The second bolded part just sounds like lazy journalism. Yes it’s all speculation…Yes, there are SOME returning players…but the season in question and the previous season are different animals.

(HOPEFULLY that proves to
be the case.)

 

[BashCtIllini]

That was a sweet 16 seed though

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Would love to endure a decade of comments about how he could only win with Rob Lanier's players.

I will admit that as someone who still appreciates Bruce for what he accomplished for us when he was here despite how his tenure ended, that it does give me a little smirk of satisfaction when I hear people basically begging to can Underwood so we can hire a great x's and o's floor coach who has experience taking talented players on a long tourney run. It's like we're coming full circle.

 

[GrayGhost77]

I pulled out an interesting part of the article

In addition the idea of Coleman Hawkins as a versatile swiss army knife has always been greater in thought than practice. Over his three year career he has proven to be a below average 3PT shooter (28.1%) despite his desire to prove otherwise (four 3FGA per game last year at 28%), is as likely to turn it over as make a good pass (1.8 APG to 1.5 TOV career, 3 APG to 2.5 TOV in 2022-23), has poor shot selection in crucial moments, and doesn’t offer a true low post scoring presence despite his 6’11’ stature. He’s an above average defender with switch-ability, but in essence should be a solid role player offensively (3rd/4th option), instead of a primary offensive focus. If Illinois is going to be good next year, a lot rests on Hawkins becoming a more mature and focused player, which at this point in his career he simply hasn’t proven yet.

The roster in short just feels a touch incomplete. If they could somehow add a primary play maker like Rutgers Paul Mulcahy, who just recently entered the portal, it would spring the rotation up several spots for me, but after personally being much too high on Illinois last season, this feels like prove it to me spot for the Fighting Illini in 2023-24.

To be honest I pretty much agree with all of this. I've never been as high on Coleman as others. He oozes potential but has yet to show the mental makeup to put it all together. Not sure if he will.

Right now without that crucial missing piece, i.e. a proven, mature distributing point guard who is also able to score and reasonably defend, this team again looks like a a good overall collection of parts without the cohesiveness to put it all together and play like a great TEAM. I suppose the off-season isn't over yet and I'd love for them to prove me wrong (both the players AND the coaching staff).

 

[illini0440]

I might have missed something but what makes you think Miller and Musselman would be interested in this job.

One of Indy’s closest buddies in the industry is Sean Miller….he also talks to a lot of agents and ADs

 

[Kostas]

I might have missed something but what makes you think Miller and Musselman would be interested in this job.

For one, taking the winningest non-championship having team to the pinnacle would essentially make them a deity to most of us on the forums. They've already got money, so reverence is next.