Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#728      
Everyone can react how they wish, but I'll always side with the player choosing what's best for them. I'm sure Podz, Melendez, Butler, etc. have a variety of reasons for why they left the program. For some of them it has worked out splendidly, others probably have regrets. Regardless, Illinois is going to be fine. Butler can be replaced with another player and the acquisition cost will be negligible. Who could excel and even come back at Illinois.


For these players, their careers are extremely short. Find a situation where you'll get the most joy (coach, playing time) and financial payout as possible. Someone mentioned it earlier, but we lose the perspective that many of us would instantly jump for a better work environment or higher pay. We also wouldn't feel the need to justify that decision to others. College athletes shouldn't have a higher expectation.
 
#729      
Towards the end of the season when teams like Purdue and UConn didn't guard him he didn't play 22 minutes a game and was a liability and kept bigs under the hoop. He played 8 min vs UConn to start both halves and wasn't guarded. I am sure that plus minus was awful with Clingan standing down low. Purdue left him unguarded to so if you think that won't continue and is ok then I disagree. More teams with good coaches won't put the big on Ty and dare him to shoot and clog the lane. He has to at least shoot to some degree and he really hasn't attempted a shot from beyond 10 feet in 2 years. I'm not hating on Ty I'm pulling for him. He is passionate and works hard but I'm am sure BU when they chat will tell him he needs a mid range jumper to play as much as they want him too. If he can get a shot which I have my doubts he would be a stud.
So you're saying that because Ty was ineffective against Edey and Clingan for the most part that means he'll be ineffective against every other big who guards him? Even Kofi was affected by Sophomore Edey's presence and we expect Ty not to be somehow? And against Clingan, Illinois was 0 for 19 on shots he guarded!!! Ty only had 5 of those shots, meaning 14 of those shots were missed by other Illini! Seems like every single Illini struggled against him. Illinois only shot 5 for 38 overall when Clingan was on the court and he was on the court for 22minutes, while Ty was on the court for 8. It's not like Illinois was suddenly amazing against Clingan when Ty was on the bench...

The funniest thing though is that of all the players on Illinois who went up against Clingan, I thought it was pretty apparent that Ty was the one who had the best shot quality and best opportunities. He didn't finish any of them, but he at least got to the rim against Clingan and had good looks which is more than anyone else on our team can say. Hell, Dain got absolutely obliterated by Clingan and he was shooting damn near 100% in the tourney before that game.

And one final thing. When you say Ty was awful against Edey and Clingan, and there's no possible point of optimism there, I'd agree with you if there wasn't that 2nd game against Edey nobody seems to ever want to talk about.

Game 1 vs. Edey: 13min, 0.45ppp, 2pts, 1-4shooting, 0FTs, 2rebs, 0asts, 0stls, 1blk, 2tos
Game 2 vs. Edey: 18min, 2.04ppp, 8pts, 3-3shooting, 2-2FTs, 4rebs, 0asts, 0stls, 0blks, 0tos
Game 3 vs. Clingan: 8min, 0ppp, 0pts, 0-5 shooting, 0-2FTs, 3rebs, 0asts, 0stls, 0blks, 0tos

So yes, he was quite bad in 2 of those 3 games, but that 2nd game against Edey, he was able to adapt to Edey's style of play and was extremely effective against him. Weird, right? As well, you caution other bigs will start doing this to Ty. MSU tried that the very next game after Purdue. Ty's stat line from that game:

Ty vs. Sissoko: 20min, 1.51ppp, 15pts, 6-8shooting, 3-4FTs, 1reb, 0asts, 0stls, 1blk, 0tos.

Most teams don't have a 7'2"+ defensive behemoth they can put on you. To say Ty wasn't effective against 2 of the best and largest defensive centers in the game, well yeah, same could be said for basically everyone who went up against them... Ty will never be the shooter anyone wants, but if he can learn the bpdy control to finish better at the rim, and maybe a consistent 4-8ft jumper or hook, both of which I think are absolutely not out of the question and quite doable, he will still be extremely effective offensively in most scenarios. And if he can get 8pts on Edey on 100% shooting and get to the rim as easily as he did against Clingan, then all we're talking about here is if he can do that and finish with consistency, because if can do that against them, he can do it against any big in the country.
 
#730      
Another benefit of not trashing players: They could still play for Illinois in the future. Post like these are from only 18 months ago:




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#732      
#734      
It seems Underwood shouldn't waste his time recruiting any non top 50 recruit if the plan is to bring in 5 or 6 transfers every year.

College basketball has basically become minor and major leagues. Mid and Low Majors are the minor league, and they will never be able to accomplish anything, because every good player they get will be taken by a P6 team. Gonna be hard to follow those smaller programs.

For the P6 schools, we just get a revolving door of new names year in and year out. There will be a guy or 2 that play 4 years, but for the most part it's 1-2 years per player. To me this means, you better win, because I'm not creating any real affinity to the team. College is different than the Pros because so many people have a more personal connection to the teams, but Pro rosters don't turnover at the rate college rosters are now.
 
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#735      
Possible hot take: Programs like Illinois should only be taking incoming freshman that are going to play in their first year or rare situations where the player's talent and commitment to the program makes them almost a lock as a long-term asset. Everything else should be filled by the portal/NIL.
I think that's the takeaway from our recruiting approach. It'll either be 1 and done or 2 and done potential player or transfers. Maybe a flier every now and then on a high effort good character 4 star who will just be recruited over and buried on the depth chart until they play like an NBA prospect or leave on their own volition. I personally don't like it, but that's the game right now. And when 4 year eligibility gets struck down by the courts in the next couple years, it's not really going to matter anyways I guess. I just feel bad for the kids who actually do want to get a degree while playing NCAA ball at a major university. No more kids like Jack Ingram. Sad, but that's where we're at.
 
#737      
There's a reason for the likely decommitment with player/players we are bringing in. All I will say for now.

To be honest, I am a bit disappointed in Jase's mentality. While he probably would not play much at all next year still think it's a bit soft
Barely top 100 recruit with no other P5 offers wants absolute guaranteed playing time on a team coming off an E8 and B1G title?

Get real son. Look at Coleman, if that type of development isn't proof of concept enough then sayonara.
 
#738      
I call the situation like it is or like I've heard it on good authority ... Just like I do with any situation ...

No reason to sugar coat it ... If I said nothing and he left, y'all would be whining that I didn't let y'all know ahead of time ... 🤷‍♂️ Can't have it both ways ...

We certainly didn't tell him to leave ... But this is the freaking U of I ... We ain't begging anyone to stay ... And we certainly ain't taking demands from a kid who's only P5 offer was us ...
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#740      
I think that's the takeaway from our recruiting approach. It'll either be 1 and done or 2 and done potential player or transfers. Maybe a flier every now and then on a high effort good character 4 star who will just be recruited over and buried on the depth chart until they play like an NBA prospect or leave on their own volition. I personally don't like it, but that's the game right now. And when 4 year eligibility gets struck down by the courts in the next couple years, it's not really going to matter anyways I guess. I just feel bad for the kids who actually do want to get a degree while playing NCAA ball at a major university. No more kids like Jack Ingram. Sad, but that's where we're at.

The program might be changing their approach now but the existence and recruitment of Butler implies otherwise from as recently as February. Jack Ingram would still do fine in the current model - he started at Tulsa (recruited by Self? can't remember) but then moved over here to fill a need. He's not that different than someone like Harmon. What you won't see anymore are the Calvin Brock's or Bill Cole's of the world. They either start at a lower level and earn a spot in the top programs or vice versa.
 
#742      
prep recruiting is kinda pointless now anyway to an extent. I’m 100% okay with butler leaving. Opens up another spot for the portal.
Moving forward, what’s the average over under of player’s years on scholarship at Illinois ? 1 1/2 years ?
 
#744      
Where do we draw the line and say being critical of a player or recruit is "trashing" or "mud-slinging"?

For everything that gets said in game threads and post-game threads about our current players who are giving their all for our program, I am a little taken aback at the defending of other players that goes on here. I was critical of Zach Edey a while back and you would have thought I was on a Purdue message board.

Someone points out a committed recruit wants guaranteed playing time and their opinion is that's soft, and then they're getting reamed by people saying he's "dragging their name through the mud"... well just wait until he gets into a game and turns the ball over a couple times. Guessing only then it's okay to hurl the insults.
 
#746      
I call the situation like it is or like I've heard it on good authority ... Just like I do with any situation ...

No reason to sugar coat it ... If I said nothing and he left, y'all would be whining that I didn't let y'all know ahead of time ... 🤷‍♂️ Can't have it both ways ...

We certainly didn't tell him to leave ... But this is the freaking U of I ... We ain't begging anyone to stay ... And we certainly ain't taking demands from a kid who's only P5 offer was us ...
This is the goods, here. Illinois is Elite now, and by God, they need to start acting Elite--this is an example!

Now, let's do this!
 
#747      
ugh. I see no selfishness in his game. really don't want the EDG motto used as cover.

this appears to be a case where a newb is about to get buried, whereas he had some hope for tick before we added. cest la vie, but it sucks
What does EDG have to do with unselfish play? The whole every day guy moniker is about bringing the effort to be better every day, not taking plays off, and expecting to earn something rather than having it given to you.
 
#748      
Where do we draw the line and say being critical of a player or recruit is "trashing" or "mud-slinging"?

For everything that gets said in game threads and post-game threads about our current players who are giving their all for our program, I am a little taken aback at the defending of other players that goes on here. I was critical of Zach Edey a while back and you would have thought I was on a Purdue message board.

Someone points out a committed recruit wants guaranteed playing time and their opinion is that's soft, and then they're getting reamed by people saying he's "dragging their name through the mud"... well just wait until he gets into a game and turns the ball over a couple times. Guessing only then it's okay to hurl the insults.
Yup, same people throwing dirt on the people actually connected and sharing their insights would be the ones calling Jase soft if he transferred after his freshman year instead lol

"You sound like Bruce Weber"..FOH. If Bruce had the cojones to tell recruits no and cut bait when needed he might still be the coach here.
 
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