Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#551      
Take White and Ben and Booth out of our rotation. Add Ty and Hansberry. We'd be so much tougher and more successful.
Disagree, Trey is better than either of them. Ty played in practice and realized that fairly quickly. Healthy Trey has not been the issue. He at least attacks, cuts, gets to the FT and does those things way better than Ty or Hansberry. Teams didn't even guard Ty putting Eddy and others on him.
 
#552      
Do we want Kylan back though? I'm kind of back and forth on this. Part of it depends on Ty Rodgers because to me you'd never be able to have both players on the floor, that'd put way too much scoring pressure on the other three guys.
Kylan is the least of our issues. He is good and much better on both ends of the court than DGL. Also, Ty wasn't being guarded last year. UConn, Purdue and others didn't even guard him. Ty was in practice and saw first hand Trey was taking his minutes because he is better. Trey was fine until he got sick. Yesterday, Trey was not the problem, 6-9, 5 boards, 1 of 2 from 3 in 25 minutes. Trey is better than Ty for several reasons. Hopefully Ty is improving thus off season no matter what he decides for next season.

What frustrates me is our roster construction. Other than Rez we have 0 guys that prefer to play inside. We need at least one guy with that tough im gonna post you up inside mindset. We really have no one that does that.
 
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#553      
With NIL now I have to wonder how much less it matters to have "smooth car salesman recruiters" on staff... the NBA doesn't seem to require them
 
#554      
I think the biggest change this offseason will be getting some big time competitors (along with the other stuff I have mentioned). They will specifically look for toughness and defense from a couple of guys. Morez, Tomi, and DGL are our three best at this right now. It's not being said at press conferences, but Brad wants some dogs in terms of attitude
Sadly the biggest dawg (your avatar) saw the writing on the wall and took a seat. Really liked Ty's fight Brad went and screwed that up.
 
#555      
Disagree, Trey is better than either of them. Ty played in practice and realized that fairly quickly. Healthy Trey has not been the issue. He at least attacks, cuts, gets to the FT and does those things way better than Ty or Hansberry. Teams didn't even guard Ty putting Eddy and others on him.
I agree that “Good Tre” is easily better than both…especially offensively . But to be fair, teams aren’t generally guarding Tre either…because he’s often being used as a corner spacer.
 
#556      
I agree that “Good Tre” is easily better than both…especially offensively . But to be fair, teams aren’t generally guarding Tre either…because he’s often being used as a corner spacer.
I see Trey as at least a concern outside but certainly driving and from the mid range. Ty doesn't even attempt to do those things. That's likely why Ty redshirted. Plus, Trey drives, cuts hard, and gets to the line.
Seeing how Dain is playing today and others he exactly what we don't have inside. Avg 12, 6 and 2 shooting 59%. Dain has 20 today with 15 minutes left. Not sure what they paid Ben or Booth but I would love to have Tomi, Rez and him here. I dont know if we are recruiting another big that is effective with his back to the basket and maybe shoot but with Dain leaving and where we are now I hope we find someone like that next year to address that weakness. I don't know who that may be? Any ideas if they are looking for an inside/out prescence?
 
#557      
I agree that “Good Tre” is easily better than both…especially offensively . But to be fair, teams aren’t generally guarding Tre either…because he’s often being used as a corner spacer.
Ehhh I’d be careful saying Tre is better… offensively sure, but team wise and overall I’d take Ty still. We had Boswell on freaking Cooper Flag last night because 6’8 Tre White had no chance on him.
 
#558      
Ehhh I’d be careful saying Tre is better… offensively sure, but team wise and overall I’d take Ty still. We had Boswell on freaking Cooper Flag last night because 6’8 Tre White had no chance on him.
I think that started with Trey on the bench later in the game. Flagg only had 6 at half. I think Boz took over after Trey went out and cane back with #3. I like Ty and hope he improves. I do hope Trey comes back and we add 4/5 that enjoys playinv with his back to the basket and maybe shoot a lil from outside. I don't know if we are looking at a guy like that.
 
#560      
That sounds good, but then why isn’t DGL getting more tick now?
DGL is nice and all, but his defense isn’t the best. I like his offense, but if he is on the top of another teams scouting report, he just isn’t that guy to handle it. Great spark plug, but not a guy who should be getting more than 10-15 minutes at this level. I do think he is everything we want lllini bball culture to be about. Would love to have him for 2 more, but he would absolutely eat at a MAC level. Seems like a Murray St type of kid.
 
#561      
I think the biggest change this offseason will be getting some big time competitors (along with the other stuff I have mentioned). They will specifically look for toughness and defense from a couple of guys. Morez, Tomi, and DGL are our three best at this right now. It's not being said at press conferences, but Brad wants some dogs in terms of attitude

what are the odds that both morez and dgl are back
 
#562      
I remember reading an article about how when Tomi and Big Z were playing together on the same team back in Croatia that it was Tomi that started and Z was coming off the bench for Tomi. So if Big Z is willing to be the backup big for Tomi then great. Nevertheless, we got to have Morez back. We need that front court of Morez and Tomi. The 4 spot is Morez and retain him by selling him on the potential that he and Tomi can be one of the best front court in the Big Ten. We seen glimpses of it already this season. A full off season with those two will be huge.
 
#563      
I agree, I do like a lot of our players. We lucked into several of them. Not hyping Groce at all, but does he pull in Brunson, Evans, Jackson or other high level recruits (not doing so doomed him) with our today’ NIL?
Hate to say this but “would he have” doesn’t matter. Groce recruited like crap and we were constant bridesmaids. BU recruits well with consistent results. Whether we all want to believe that is because of the assistants, it doesn’t matter. Leader gets the brunt when bad but they also get the credit when good, that is leading.

This program was in a very low place when he took over. He elevated it to multiple Big 10 championships, consistent tourney and now the first elite eight in almost 20 years. Whether they were with generational talent or not, he acquired that talent so he still gets the credit.

It comes down to if he still has the same passion. If he does, we have a great coach. If he doesn’t, that is different.

This fan base would want to fire John Wooden if he had one bad year. Hate to say it, but the sum of the results since being at Illinois are fantastic. One bad year on a constant upward trajectory does not make a bad coach.

If he still has the passion, would happily want to let the man continue to do his good work.
 
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#565      
Ehhh I’d be careful saying Tre is better… offensively sure, but team wise and overall I’d take Ty still. We had Boswell on freaking Cooper Flag last night because 6’8 Tre White had no chance on him.
I hear ya…but to be fair…I did say “Good Tre” (from a few months ago)
Yeah his defense DEF.stinks sometimes. But so does the offensive of Ty. Overall, I still stand but I what I said. Tre is a better basketball player overall. He has the ability to play better defense than what he often does He’s shown it a little; at times.
 
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#566      
Disagree, Trey is better than either of them. Ty played in practice and realized that fairly quickly. Healthy Trey has not been the issue. He at least attacks, cuts, gets to the FT and does those things way better than Ty or Hansberry. Teams didn't even guard Ty putting Eddy and others on him.
I mean, the discussion was the coaching staff suddenly wanting to go back to having dogs and specifically looking for toughness and defense. Do you know who isn't a dog and brings neither toughness nor defense? Tre. Do know who is and does? Ty. The program was built on the backs of role players like Feliz, Trent, DMW, Hawk, and Ty who will give you everything they got, even if they might be somewhat flawed.

Yes, this team has talent. We have two guys that will likely get drafted this year, but we don't have the role players who actually make a team work. Unfortunately, we're trying to square peg some round-hole guys in Tre and Ben into those roles and they simply aren't built for it. We needed them to be glue guys, who grabbed boards, and played defense, but also, theoretically, were useful offensively. Instead, they don't grab rebounds, they don't defend, and whatever offense they might have possessed before coming here simply isn't translating in the way we need it to right now. And you can blame "illness" all you want, but there is a ton of evidence that Brad was sitting Tre specifically because he couldn't fulfill the role he brought him in here to do.

Brad thought he could take anyone he wanted and make them into an "everyday guy." That's simply not the case.
 
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#568      
Kylan is the least of our issues. He is good and much better on both ends of the court than DGL.
Regardless, the question is once the season is over and guys essentially become free agents, is Kylan a player the team would want to bring back? That's where I'm coming from, looking to next season, because clearly you can't run it back with this roster (with KJ and Riley getting replaced with the two freshmen recruited thus far, of course).
 
#569      
I mean, the discussion was the coaching staff suddenly wanting to go back to having dogs and specifically looking for toughness and defense. Do you know who isn't a dog and brings neither toughness nor defense? Tre. Do know who is and does? Ty. The program was built on the backs of role players like Trent, DMW, Hawk, and Ty who will give you everything they got, even if they might be somewhat flawed.

Yes, this team has talent. We have two guys that will likely get drafted this year, but we don't have the role players who actually make a team work. Unfortunately, we're trying to square peg some round-hole guys in Tre and Ben into those roles and they simply aren't built for it. We needed them to be glue guys, who grabbed boards, and played defense, but also, theoretically, were useful offensively. Instead, they don't grab rebounds, they don't defend, and whatever offense they might have possessed before coming here simply isn't translating in the way we need it to right now. And you can blame "illness" all you want, but there is a ton of evidence that Brad was sitting Tre specifically because he couldn't fulfill the role he brought him in here to do.

Brad thought he could take anyone he wanted and make them into an "everyday guy." That's simply not the case.
You need both. I like Tys attitude and toughness but he us limited and was beginning to be exposed last year. He also was in practice and saw Trey taking his minutes was highly likely doing things Ty needs to work on. Trey was about the only guy that played ok last night. His effort and stat like was not the issue. We missed his cutting, driving and aggressiveness. He has been ill. I think your under valuing what Trey has done when healthy this season. He did what was expected in his role yesterday. 5 of 7 from 2, 1 of 2 from 3 with production on the glass in 25 minutes. Others did not. With Rez out we need Trey to play well driving and inside
 
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#570      
Well, when you use the word "better" it tells me you have a view on roster construction that is much different than mine. It's the problem that has gotten us to this point.
 
#571      
Yeah, Podz sucked too.

I'm not saying they are the same player, but this is team building. Not everyone is going to be a perfect fit on both ends. Literally every player on our team right now has serious weaknesses. And they are being exploited.
 
#572      
Regardless, the question is once the season is over and guys essentially become free agents, is Kylan a player the team would want to bring back? That's where I'm coming from, looking to next season, because clearly you can't run it back with this roster (with KJ and Riley getting replaced with the two freshmen recruited thus far, of course).
Absolutely I want Kylan back. He is 3 year experienced player and our best defender. He has struggled from. 3 but historically he has shown better at Zona. Other than shooting from 3 which he has shown he can play and play well. Our D would be even worse without him! I am thankful we have Kylan now and pray he stays! We need him.next season and this one too. Is he perfect? No but the young man is only still 19 but experienced and is capable of being All B10 next year.
 
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#574      
Regardless, the question is once the season is over and guys essentially become free agents, is Kylan a player the team would want to bring back? That's where I'm coming from, looking to next season, because clearly you can't run it back with this roster (with KJ and Riley getting replaced with the two freshmen recruited thus far, of course).
We have got to bring back Kylan, Tomi, and Morez. That is your core for next year.

When people keep talking about whether Underwood should stay or go, I look at the fact that 2 of the last 3 seasons that saw major roster turnover were disappointments. If we have major roster overhaul again next season, why should I think next year will not also be a disappointment? The good season in between saw Shannon return and step into a different stratosphere.

I don't think any of Boswell, Ivisic, or Morez will step up to the AA level, but we can't just bring in a whole new roster and expect to perform. Maybe if we had a major upgrade in the coaching staff we'll perform better, but if we bring back this same staff and expect history is not going to repeat itself, well, I have concerns with that.
 
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