Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#227      
I don't agree at all. That is narrow. Basketball is much, much more than shooting (I have to say that, since I couldn't hit a shot until I was at least 19).

Here's the truth: if your game is making shots and nothing else, ya gotta make shots at a high rate. If you are, instead, a guy that collects rebounds like a vampire collects souls (not Ben), you're gonna play.

If you're a guy who draws attention in a way that gets teammates good shots (kinda, maybe, a little Ben) -- because you are a killer with a jumper or you drive to the hole like an avalanche with intent to kill -- then you're a contributor. And you're gonna play.

If you shut guys down on the defensive end (not Ben), send the other team's coach into orbit with frustration over that, and make your team mates' souls burn red hot and then white hot in pursuit of victory? Then you're a contributor. And you're gonna play.

If you show up every day, fight your heart out, do everything you can to set that screen, defend but not send the guy to the foul line, get that loose ball? You're the kind of warrior a team needs. And you're gonna play. That's not Ben either.

I like Ben. I see a lot of me there.

But if you're a highly-paid (and there's the rub) sharpshooter: just do it! Otherwise, you get a spot on the bench.

Hail to the Chief.
With all due respect, our game plan is to clearly shoot the three. That's what we do. Over 50% of our shots come from three. This was Brad's plan. He wanted 30-40 threes to go up in a game. Quite honestly, if that's going to continue to be the offensive game plan.....Ben is absolutely indispensable.

The second player off the bench yesterday (Ben), gave us 14 points (5 of 11 from the field) and 5 rebounds. I'll take that all day, every day.
 
#229      
I'm not sure this true. He seems not to have learned much from 2023. And at this age he needs to be in the execution stage of his career, not the learning from mistakes stage. When he does "learn" it sure seems to take a long time. See BH for example.

Your comment is a common point that is made around here. I think it's pretty trite.
 
#235      
Having a team that can't shoot and saying scheme isn't the issue they just cant hit the shots is a take, respectfully.

College stats aren't nba stats where you have hundreds and hundreds of games of data that show you it will turn around, this team can't shoot. Its February its over thinkink this team will just start splashing threes. Therefore, it is a scheme issue.
The scheme is fine, the staff missed on a couple of evals it seems. I do agree with them needing to stop chucking so many threes, they need to recruit better shooters in the offseason if they want to do that next year
 
#236      
The scheme is fine, the staff missed on a couple of evals it seems. I do agree with them needing to stop chucking so many threes, they need to recruit better shooters in the offseason if they want to do that next year
its a player development issue. Boswell and jake davis were 40% from 3 last year, humrichous was analytically in the 90th % tiles in shooting. they need better development. Yes id argue jump in competition but lets be honest, a lot of shots they miss are point blank wide open in rhythm
 
#237      
depending on how this season goes, Underwood hasn't won big without at least 1 All American. I just don't think he runs a synergistic offense. He runs an offense that requires star power. When KJ was playing like an AA, we were winning.

So can we land an AA every year? Is that what it's going to take?
 
#238      
The scheme is fine, the staff missed on a couple of evals it seems. I do agree with them needing to stop chucking so many threes, they need to recruit better shooters in the offseason if they want to do that next year

I guess Im just not following the logic. The scheme works because the shots are open thats great but they cant hit them so for this team the scheme doesnt work right?

Golden State won't be running the same stuff they did with Klay now that its Jimmy is in that spot and I'd say that scheme was pretty successful but coaching is making what you have work the best it can. This team getting open threes means nothing because they cant hit them and we have months of evidence of that.
 
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#240      
It hasn’t worked out for both sides this year … Ben is not very happy that he’s been coming off the bench …

He wants more shots as well … 10+ shots a game every game and he’s not been getting that here consistently …
Well maybe if he was a go to shooter he would be getting them, instead of laying so many bricks!
 
#241      
The scheme is fine, the staff missed on a couple of evals it seems. I do agree with them needing to stop chucking so many threes, they need to recruit better shooters in the offseason if they want to do that next year
I agree, Ben and Booth are both massive misses. Booth was expected to be a solid backup at both the 4 & 5 position. And Ben at best should be the 8th player coming off the bench the way he's playing.
 
#242      
depending on how this season goes, Underwood hasn't won big without at least 1 All American. I just don't think he runs a synergistic offense. He runs an offense that requires star power. When KJ was playing like an AA, we were winning.

So can we land an AA every year? Is that what it's going to take?

That's typically what it takes, yeah. Look at all of the top teams each year and they usually have a guy, sometimes two, on those top 2 or 3 AA teams.

Duke? Flagg
Auburn? Broome
Tennessee? Lanier, Zeigler
Florida? Clayton
Alabama? Sears
Purdue? Smith
Iowa St? Gilbert, C.Jones
Marquette? K.Jones

Then remember back to the last time prior to Kofi/Ayo/TSJ that we were really, really good? We had THREE.
 
#243      
its a player development issue. Boswell and jake davis were 40% from 3 last year, humrichous was analytically in the 90th % tiles in shooting. they need better development. Yes id argue jump in competition but lets be honest, a lot of shots they miss are point blank wide open in rhythm
I would argue it's more of a shot selection and scheme issue than development.

As you said those guys shot well last year so they already developed a capable jumpshot.

Now why would a jump shooter get worse? There is naturally going to be some variance year to year. Guys making a jump up from the mid major to big 10 level are going to have to adjust to opposing teams being bigger, faster, and better defensively which means more contested shots. Finally worse shot selection(Kylan Boswell especially guilty), the Illini are shooting a ton of off the dribble and step back 3s.

Last years team shot a lot of 3s too but it was inside-out. Domask and Shannon would get to the basket draw defenders and kick. Both Guerrier and Coleman would spot up but could also attack off the dribble if teams closed out too hard.

This years team is going more side to side than inside and they are failing to draw extra defenders and then kick to a shooter. Additionally, guys like Davis, Humrichous, and Ivisic aren't capable of attacking someone that closes out too hard off the dribble while guys like Boswell, White, and DGL are choosing to settle for 3s instead of attacking closeouts(attacking a closeout can create an even better 3pt look too).

Then you have Kasparis, Riley, and Boswell who have both fallen in love with low percentage contested step back 3's. Ivisic is also a good shooter but often shoots from too deep(Coleman was guilty of this as a junior), he's a much better shooter when he toes the line.

I think there are a lot of guys on this team that can shoot but the scheme and style of basketball they are playing is simply not conducive to knocking down a high percentage of 3's.
 
#244      
That's typically what it takes, yeah. Look at all of the top teams each year and they usually have a guy, sometimes two, on those top 2 or 3 AA teams.

Duke? Flagg
Auburn? Broome
Tennessee? Lanier, Zeigler
Florida? Clayton
Alabama? Sears
Purdue? Smith
Iowa St? Gilbert, C.Jones
Marquette? K.Jones

Then remember back to the last time prior to Kofi/Ayo/TSJ that we were really, really good? We had THREE.
You have a very low bar for all American if you are considering Ziegler and the two Iowa State guys all Americans.

They are good players but they are a far cry from Shannon or Ayo.
 
#245      
You have a very low bar for all American if you are considering Ziegler and the two Iowa State guys all Americans.

They are good players but they are a far cry from Shannon or Ayo.

They're on the midseason list, so... 🤷‍♂️

Our problem isn't talent, we have plenty of that.
 
#246      
I suspect the guys can't miss the 3's in practice, but then get the yips come game time.
Ted Lasso solved this problem with a team shrink - wonder if that could help our guys?
Jason Sudeikis Good Luck GIF by Apple TV+
 
#247      
Your dream sounds more like a nightmare. You could never have Ty and Morez on the floor together. That's two guys who can only score within 3 feet of the hoop and can't make free throws. Makes it easy to guard the other three.
Agreed, Tomi at 5, Ty/Morez at 4.
 
#248      
depending on how this season goes, Underwood hasn't won big without at least 1 All American. I just don't think he runs a synergistic offense. He runs an offense that requires star power. When KJ was playing like an AA, we were winning.

So can we land an AA every year? Is that what it's going to take?
No credit to developing All Americans or have they just shown up like that?
 
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#249      
Too bad he's unhappy, but that's where he belongs based on his play. Big step up this season from Missouri Valley and NAIA before that. Didn't make the transition well to the faster, more physical game in the Big 10.
If he had played better, grabbed an occasional rebound and shot threes as if he were actually an, in Underwood's words, "elite shooter" he would still be starting. Underwood gave him a very long leash to prove his worth, but at the Big 10 level his lack of athleticism means he's a spot-up outside shooter whose inability to shoot well consistently has consigned him to the bench, several games later than it should have.
Ben has played better and was valuable vs Rutgers. He did more than shoot 3s. He wasnt the reason we lost that game. He did have 5 boards same as Morez vs Rutgers in 29 minutes to Morez's 22. Morez would have played more but cant stay out of foul trouble. With Tomi out with the ankle or sick and Morez continuing to be in foul trouble, we need Ben because we don't have a better option than him to defend the post after Morez and Tomi.
As amazing and awesome as KJ was early in helping us win games, these last few games his play, turnovers, and poor shooting has hurt us more than Bens has. I know Ben's far from perfect but he has become a bit of a scape goat to fans. I feel he should come off the bench if we start Rez and Tomi in favor for Will. But it's because we need someone to back those guys up since Rez or Tomi need to sit or have foul trouble so often.
 
#250      
The scheme is fine, the staff missed on a couple of evals it seems. I do agree with them needing to stop chucking so many threes, they need to recruit better shooters in the offseason if they want to do that next year
Re: scheme...Generally, yes the scheme is fine. Game-to-game...not so much.
 
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