Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#127      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
We need Storr badly. But even with him, this transfer portal puts us in position to recognize honestly that we are rebuilding, not reloading.
I continue to find the concept creep around these terms strange.

And I'm in a weird spot because I hated the way last year's team was constructed and still on some level do in a vacuum. We just got a 99.999th percentile outcome. We have the good fortune of a coaching staff capable of delivering high percentile outcome and essentially hit a runner-runner inside straight draw at the most important position on the floor.

Is this team going to be ranked as high in the next AP poll as it was in the last one? No. Is it going to be a better basketball team? That's going to be very difficult considering how excellent we were last year.

Does the roster construction we're doing make more sense in my head than last year? Absolutely. Maybe that's the kiss of death, who knows.

But adding Boswell, White, Booth and Morez is a no joke injection of a level of raw talent last year's team did not have especially beyond TSJ. The sky is the limit for this group and we still have significant additions to come.

It's all pretty gross in terms of what the portal is doing to the sport, but as far as Illinois winning future games is concerned, we're doing the nice job everybody was hoping for and expecting.
 
#128      
We need Storr badly. But even with him, this transfer portal puts us in position to recognize honestly that we are rebuilding, not reloading.
Rebuilding typically means you expect a poor season - see Michigan. Reloading means even though you have significant turnover you still expect excellent results - see Duke, UConn, Kansas. Illinois is reloading. We expect to be contending for B10 title and making a strong run in NCAA.

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#133      
A small part of me is in this camp too. We have a really, really good player with Boswell, but then a lot of role players and/or pieces that still need to be developed. The amount of production out of those guys is always a wait and find out approach. I'd put Maddox in that category as well. We seem to be chasing a guy that we won't really be sure of what we're getting(if gotten)

If we don't get at least two PROVEN scorers at the high D1 level....this sure feels like a low floor/solid ceiling group.

Keeping my fingers crossed that we're going to see some high profile guys coming our way.
We only had one "PROVEN scorer at the high D1 level" heading into last year and we were just fine.

All this hand wringing before the portal even closes is wild, to me.

I'm not directing at this at any individual poster, but man, I feel bad for these types of people. Life seems like it would be much more stressful when it's lived this way.
 
#137      
I like Domask but I think they need Storr for the scoring. They lose so much with Shannon gone. And I think when you got to March you need more athletes.
We got 6 ppg from our PG and we will get double that from boswell at the very least. 9 PPG from Gurriere at the 4... Which I think Booth can top (or should). And our 6th man Harmon averaged a whopping 5 points. Tre White/DGL/morez/Goode are all going to score more than that this year. It will most likely be more spread out than last year but if we don't get Storr we should be alright.
 
#138      

Illini2010-11

Sugar Grove
So I think for anyone dooming about our prospective selections, it's pretty important to note that Brad got just about everyone we wanted on the portal last year. It isn't likely that's going to happen every time.
Wait, he got the PG we wanted last year?

Either way, Brad has been fantastic in utilizing the portal.
 
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#143      
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Portal is crazy. Lot of teams with 75% roster turnover between graduation and transfers, Illinois is right up there but bringing in good talent. Hopefully this portal class stays longer since they are not senior/grad students like Quincy, Marcus and Terrance.

Could be worse
Iowa lost Mcaffrey, Perkins, and Bowens to portal and and has only signed Thelwell Moorehead State point guard 10 ppg
Wisconsin lost Storr and Essigian to portal and hasn't signed anybody from portal
 
#145      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
Anyone else think White might be the steal of the portal season? Seems like a kid that will really benefit from our system and culture. Assuming he buys in, I think we’re all in for a treat.
White being the steal of the portal season and White basically not even playing at all and having one foot out the door by Christmas are both very possible outcomes.

High ceiling, low floor. A totally worthwhile and smart gamble when you're bringing in so many new faces.
 
#146      
I mean sure. There are also black swans. It's disingenuous to say there is no correlation between swans and the color white.

So you believe that the staff have seen something that the national guys haven't. Fair enough. I trust the staff enough to give them the benefit of doubt.
I do have concerns about the current/rumored transfer class, but it's more because of what they have/haven't proven rather than their rankings.

There's a long way between high correlation and no correlation between transfer rankings and future team results. I'd say it's low enough not to be concerned about it. Last year, 247 had the following team transfer rankings. Alabama did well (their transfers had proven results, I might add), and Kansas might have done well without injuries, but the others weren't very exciting.

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#147      
Anyone else think White might be the steal of the portal season? Seems like a kid that will really benefit from our system and culture. Assuming he buys in, I think we’re all in for a treat.
I watched a few Louisville games because of my proclivity to seeing what Skyy would do. Came to the conclusion that only one dude would ball out 100% of the time on a poorly coached team….Tre White.
 
#148      
I do have concerns about the current/rumored transfer class, but it's more because of what they have/haven't proven rather than their rankings.

There's a long way between high correlation and no correlation between transfer rankings and future team results. I'd say it's low enough not to be concerned about it. Last year, 247 had the following team transfer rankings. Alabama did well (their transfers had proven results, I might add), and Kansas might have done well without injuries, but the others weren't very exciting.

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If you sort that by average ranking score it tells a different story. West Virginia had 9 kids in the transfer portal but they were pretty lowly ranked kids so they didnt move the needle last year.

I'm not saying it's the end all be all but I'm saying that there is a strong correlation while you feel the correlation is rather weak.

Let's just agree to disagree how meaningful rankings are.
 
#149      
I hated the way last year's team was constructed and still on some level do in a vacuum. We just got a 99.999th percentile outcome.
Illini were #80 on KenPom defense after most expected at least top-30 based on height, athleticism, experience and coaching (Illini had a top-30 defense the previous 3 years). This #80 defense doesn't seem like a 99th percentile positive outcome to me -- coaches found the right guys and culture to put it all together at the end. And I expect them to do it again.
 
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