Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[PepeSilvia]

The one thing that gets me is the excuses I hear. We got manhandled by Loyola, we never led, and people always go to the excuse that Loyola was underseeded but leave out the fact that in the next round they loss to 12 seed Oregon St

Then the next year we were lucky to get by Chattanooga and then got dominated by Houston who yes may have been under seeded but it's the NCAA tourney just show up and play

Then of course against Arkansas we didn't even show up to play when all we heard from Brad was "This team is built for March"

That's 4 really ugly games in the tourney

We absolutely did get throttled by Loyola but we actually were in both the Houston and Arkansas games despite playing terribly.

Against Houston they actually started to play with some life once they inserted RJ and Goode while benching Curbelo, Damonte, and Coleman(he waited too long to make the change honestly). Kofi cut it to 47-45 with 8 minutes left in the game. At that point Houston started knocking down jumper after jumper while the Illini missed some good looks.

Against Arkansas they cut it to 62-57 with a dunk by RJ. Got a stop and Hawkins had the ball on the fast break with Shannon ahead but overdribbled and turned it over instead of passing to Shannon. Arkansas promptly scored and hit their free throws.

They got outplayed in both games but actually did hang around and have chances to win. They likely beat Arkansas if they go to the basket and limit the ill advised 3s.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I agree that you shouldn't have to let a coach bottom out or sink a program.

I personally think Underwood has done enough to get 2 more seasons barring him not crashing and burning this year.

However, if a guy like Oats, Muss, or Miller was actually available and he doesn't make a run this year then I think you have to seriously consider it. The only way you make that change though is if you know you have a guaranteed proven successor in place.

100% this. Hoping for what's behind door #2 won't cut it (be careful what you wish for). Whitman is no dummy, so it's virtually unfathomable that he'd move on w/o having a new coach locked up.

FWLIW, I think there are select few who'd be a clear upgrade over Underwood. Also, I hope this becomes moot, after a very successful season (which is in reach, IMO). Chemistry is a tricky thing. As bad as it was last season, it could be great this season. I really like our roster. Yeah, a lot is riding on Ty.

 

[Ga65]

Got confused, thought it was recruiting thread. More like game thread which is always an intellectual delight.

 

[pruman91]

Tuesday is now the "Official Fighting Illini Dirty Laundry Airing Day ".....Good to know........................

The Snarkyness has reached an EPIC proportion level..................

Glad pru took us on vacation.........I really really am.................

me too............................................

me three............................................

3 is definitely NOT a crowd........It's really really not.........................................

 

[Keisersose]

This is going to be great to come back to in a few months lol...some of the negativity is crazy

Yeah we will see. I hope the concerns that I and others have are needless. I’m glad you are confident.

But you also were confident that there was no need to worry about us getting a top PG. even after Ray J chose elsewhere.

I’d have an easier time “trusting the coach” if I didn’t already have concerns before the events of this off season transpired.

Maybe he will prove that is a savant and is truly an elite coach.

Maybe it will be shown that he failed to build a roster and he hasn’t won a ton without Kofi on the team.

I guess we will see.

 

[john1952]

I know this is a recruiting thread and all but I’m kinda curious how many of you if in JW’s position and if he was willing and available would dump BU in a heartbeat to take Sean Miller? I probably would and I’m a bigger BU apologist than most.

Not likely JW is going to hire a coach who had been investigated by the the FBI, even given a coach with an impressive track record.

 

[john1952]

You guys are why we fired Ron Zook way too early. We are not Duke/Kentucky/UNC. This is the most relevant illinois has been nationally (recruiting wise and just interest wise) since Bill Self. Illinois fans love to act like they’re the greatest institution of all time. We gotta let people grow and set a foundation. I’ll take what BU has done so far, one of the winningest big ten team over the last few seasons. Y’all forget Groce? Y’all forget the last few years of Weber? Bruh we were struggling to even get in the bubble watch graphic for almost 15 years lol

In the last 50 years
2 Final Fours
4 Elite 8's
7 Sweet 16's
Amen.

 

[CoachHooleyHoo]

Brad has burnt some bridges … No getting around it … He has recruited some really good players but outside of Ayo and Kofi he has not kept any … And Kofi only stayed for one rea$on … Let’s just keep it on that …

At the end of the day, as a HC you can’t lose the boosters and that’s the road Brad is heading down … Josh will ALWAYS side with the boosters and that’s just how it goes … Especially when we haven’t touched a 2nd weekend …

Stability doesn’t mean jack anymore … These kids are pros now … They leave every year anyways … There is no culture … You need a guy who can COACH and a guy who can really, really get along with the boosters so he can recruit … Sean Miller does both of those things at an elite level … Muss does as well … Tang does as well … All would be upgrades …

Oats will be getting the next blue blood job that opens between UNC and Kansas … He isn’t coming here … Wouldn’t even consider it …

Now … I’ve got a sleepover to get to …

… GMAB

I do believe Miller would be an upgrade but he’s never been to a Final Four with some of the most talented teams in the country. And there were some shady things in the past. Most of those things are legal now but still…