I still like Coward as our SG, does everything.
I feel as if we should get some kind of finders fee...I won't believe those guys or even UConn had him on their radar until we pursued him.
Not sure that people are catching up, I think we are evolving.I don't know if it's bamboozled, but it definitely feels like where we were ahead of the curve on transfers and the portal for a couple years, other teams caught up.
Getting out bid by BYU is something though. Tough pill to swallow.
I agree. If the last two seasons have taught us anything, it's that we cannot really evaluate a transfer class and roster until after the season is over. Splashy transfers on paper don't necessarily translate to greater success. And sometimes the whole really does end up being (substantially) better than the sum of its parts.Not sure that people are catching up, I think we are evolving.
Last year we had our "worst" transfer class since the whole NIL/transfer portal became a thing based on rankings. It also was the most success we have had in the BU era. The staff isn't hyper focused on putting together a team with the most talent they can (i.e. Indiana, last year's Michigan, etc.) They are looking for pieces that fit what they want. In sports, its not the team that spends the most or has the most talent that wins. They need to be able to play together.
Is there going to be ANYONE out there who is a legitimate all conference caliber player from the get go and not a guy that we're hoping we can develop?Sharavjamts would be an end-of-the-bench guy.
I can see them taking him IF they also land a combine participant who can play on or off the ball.
TSJ was a splashy add who was a top 15 transfer. Statistically he had one of the best individual seasons in Illinois history.I agree. If the last two seasons have taught us anything, it's that we cannot really evaluate a transfer class and roster until after the season is over. Splashy transfers on paper don't necessarily translate to greater success. And sometimes the whole really does end up being (substantially) better than the sum of its parts.
So...
We had an All American coming back(TJ) and an All Conference caliber big coming back(Hawkins). We also had guys that were here for some time(Dain, Goode, Ty, etc). That's one heck of a starting point. We didn't have to worry if they could play together. They had and were a tournament team. We supplemented those guys with the players from the portal and it worked.Not sure that people are catching up, I think we are evolving.
Last year we had our "worst" transfer class since the whole NIL/transfer portal became a thing based on rankings. It also was the most success we have had in the BU era. The staff isn't hyper focused on putting together a team with the most talent they can (i.e. Indiana, last year's Michigan, etc.) They are looking for pieces that fit what they want. In sports, its not the team that spends the most or has the most talent that wins. They need to be able to play together.
Who fell into our lap because of Michigan.TSJ was a splashy add who was a top 15 transfer. Statistically he had one of the best individual seasons in Illinois history.
In hindsight, we only needed one "very good" transfer last year, and that ended up being Domask. After him, TSJ, and Hawkins, we didn't need much from everyone else to be top 10. Yes, Domask wasn't ranked highly by the media (which I ignore anyway), but he had very good metrics. The only question was how it would translate to tougher opponents, and he held up very well.Not sure that people are catching up, I think we are evolving.
Last year we had our "worst" transfer class since the whole NIL/transfer portal became a thing based on rankings. It also was the most success we have had in the BU era. The staff isn't hyper focused on putting together a team with the most talent they can (i.e. Indiana, last year's Michigan, etc.) They are looking for pieces that fit what they want. In sports, its not the team that spends the most or has the most talent that wins. They need to be able to play together.
My point exactly. They went looking for what fit our situation. We could have thrown a a ton of money some highly rates transfers. We didn't, we went after undervalued, older players that had played a ton of high level basketball and complimented TSJ and Coleman.We had an All American coming back(TJ) and an All Conference caliber big coming back(Hawkins). We also had guys that were here for some time(Dain, Goode, Ty, etc). That's one heck of a starting point. We didn't have to worry if they could play together. They had and were a tournament team. We supplemented those guys with the players from the portal and it worked.
We lost pretty much 95% of all major statistical categories, we have no continuity and we're rolling with guys who were highly thought of in HS, but still pretty green in college with Boswell being the exception.
We're at two TOTALLY different starting points.
Demin was exciting because he's a huge talent and it would have been such a unique coup from a recruiting perspective and suggest lots of future opportunities in Europe, it was a really cool guy to be connected with and definitely one with a high ceiling even as a freshman, but the higher expected value for 2024-25 is Jamir Watkins for sure.Sorry no, outcome wouldn't be the same,, not unless Illinois was allowed to play with 6 on the floor versus opponents only with 5. Demin is different caliber of player. If Illini can't afford Demin or even a NBA withdraw, they may have to settle for two just good rather than elite players. Like Monsanto & Sharavjamts . .
Along these lines, question for the insiders. With Demin, were we the first to make contact and create a path to moving to the NCAA, then once others found out it was an option, they decided to throw crazy numbers his way? Or was this always an open recruitment?I feel as if we should get some kind of finders fee...I won't believe those guys or even UConn had him on their radar until we pursued him.
Massive failure? Yeah I don’t think so.Understand people want to be positive but anyone thinking this offseason was anything but a massive failure is delusional. This is a bubble team
in year two. He was decent in the first year, but our staff and his hard work turned him into a monster.TSJ was a splashy add who was a top 15 transfer. Statistically he had one of the best individual seasons in Illinois history.
I would only push back on the zero continuity statement. We have a smidgen of it in Ty and even less in DGL…but we do have some.We had an All American coming back(TJ) and an All Conference caliber big coming back(Hawkins). We also had guys that were here for some time(Dain, Goode, Ty, etc). That's one heck of a starting point. We didn't have to worry if they could play together. They had and were a tournament team. We supplemented those guys with the players from the portal and it worked.
We lost pretty much 95% of all major statistical categories, we have no continuity and we're rolling with guys who were highly thought of in HS, but still pretty green in college with Boswell being the exception.
We're at two TOTALLY different starting points.
It was posted that Demin had a visit to CU coming up. It that still on, or has it been cancelled?Along these lines, question for the insiders. With Demin, were we the first to make contact and create a path to moving to the NCAA, then once others found out it was an option, they decided to throw crazy numbers his way? Or was this always an open recruitment?