Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#2,202      
AttentionDeficit
Oranges said:
Take responsibility for what exactly?
Click to expand...
For roster turnover, most recently Morez leaving.

It doesn't matter if he had some already signed deal. It doesn't matter what his dad said yesterday, or this morning, or just a second ago. It doesn't matter how much you were offering.

Post 1542 Lville says "He had all that he needed here." No! No he did not because he is leaving! Our coaching staff needs to figure out why people are leaving when they seem to think they have everything they need. The delta between the staff opinion and the player opinion is klaxon level concerning. Understanding this gap is absolutely critical to maintaining the roster, and we suck at it. If we both suck and are content that we did all we could, we will never stop sucking.

Edited to add: If you are letting someone go on a value call a la Coleman last year (if that was the case), figure out a better way to say that. If they wanted to jack 3's and couldn't make 'em, that still isn't them having everything they need.
 
Last edited:
#2,203      
PepeSilvia
IlliniJeevs said:
According to Morez himself, he is leaving because he is “more than a rim runner and rebounder and wants to get more than just that” he also said he didn’t want to end up like Kofi. Essentially sounds like he think of himself much higher than anyone else does
Click to expand...
Honestly kind of disrespectful to Kofi who was a two time all American and probably should have stayed two more years at Illinois.

Kofi was never going to be a face up big and I like Morez but he would be lucky to have that good of a career. Also Kofi is doing pretty well for himself getting paid overseas.
 
#2,206      
OrangeKrush1981
Man, would that be something to see. He can score, he is fluid, and he is skinnier than a wisp of a spider's web. If he can defend (and fluid, quick, slender athletes can do so for sure), ok. I am wary of our shoot-first, defend later staff might make a mistake on this call.
 
Last edited:
#2,210      
1970 John
Oracle21 said:
I don’t think ending up with at least 1.8 million next year is taking bad advice. Sounds to me he’s maximizing his worth. And is going scorched earth on the staff. Ugly situation for Illinois basketball.
Click to expand...
If getting $1 million isn’t enough so he’s going to transfer for $1.8 million, he’s not going to say it because he knows the optics aren’t good. He knows it looks like ingratitude for what he’s been given so far. So he won’t say it.

Instead he’ll deflect that energy at Brad and staff, not realizing that it really doesn’t look any better to be dumping on coaches who took you in and have helped you develop.

So yeah, go on your way and no, you won’t be like Kofi. You’re just a guy who left.
 
#2,211      
Butters
NoRival said:
There is NO ONE on Purdues roster that I want on our roster.
Click to expand...
Aaron Paul What GIF by Breaking Bad
 
#2,212      
DICKnaggie
I've gone through all the stages in a quick fashion. Good bye Rez. Let's get another 6-8 player who is close to the rebounder Rez was and the shooter that Rez thinks he is and is demanding money for. That person is out there. He is right on that playing the 5 doesn't help him, but like Ty, he just doesn't have the skill set to get him to the next level. The development problem didn't happen here but was in HS and AAU.
 
#2,215      
csd
DB11Headband said:
This is what happens when you play Ben Humrichous over a talent that is going to be All-Conference Floor/All-American ceiling good by the time his college career is over.

This is avoided if he plays as much as he deserved from Day 1, not halfway thru the year.

In this day and age, it's all about managing the egos of players, and FAR more importantly, their respective inner circles.

Hate to be blunt, but this was 100% avoidable. And our staff continues to fumble these situations. Mind-boggling and beyond frustrating.
Click to expand...
My memory is poor but I seem to recall he couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. To be expected of freshman bigs. As far as the staff fumbling certain situations I am sure they have. Bear in mind that the process has changed everything. Big learning curve with many new skill sets required. Some areas he has excelled in, others need work. I think progress is being made and not even close to quitting on the staff. Remind me again how many ncaa tournaments we have been to last 7 years compared to the previous 7 years?
 
#2,217      
IlliniFan42
If Morez thinks he can shoot, his free throw % doesn't lend confidence. Also take a look at his +/- that last stretch of games. No good.
 
#2,218      
Noblesville Illini
HensonHall71 said:
Hypotheti- TA gets in the parents and players ear that “all they are offering you is a starting role and $1M?” I know a school that can get you double that and remember how they disrespected you but not starting you right away?

Kid enters the portal and goes to a bad big east school, doesn’t really get $2M that was promised, starts for a bad team and becomes irrelevant in college basketball- the money dries up the following year and he doesn’t get offered anything close to that his jr and sr years and isn’t on NBA radars - and career ruined
Click to expand...

that reminds me of deja vu GIF by Patriot Act
 
#2,219      
coachingillini
OrangeKrush1981 said:
One hesitates to ask, but: what kind of nuts? Peanuts, cashews or walnuts?

After that snarky note, how about this: we need to win a lot more games. Underwood is struggling to reach the level he repeatedly says he wants to reach: championships. Freshman, seniors, whatever. Just win. That might take more than a season, I think.
Click to expand...
I don't think Underwood is a good enough coach to win a National Championship. The last non probable Hall of Fame Coach to win a NC was Kevin Ollie with UConn in 2014. He has already maxed out with his current achievements. Which is pretty darn good by the way.
 
#2,221      
DeeIL89
Donors are crazy if they don't want to pony up to keep Tomi. WTF? We got players like Tomi because we brought back Orlando who is an elite recruiter. This program can't start acting cheap now. We need to have Kylan, Tre and Tomi back in order to try to salvage the lost of Morez. This is wild.
 
#2,222      
Old Farm Illini
I miss the days where we could hope to find a diamond in the rough with high school recruiting. Now that’s only seems possible with international guys. I know the game has changed but I’m forever going to be salty when a kid from Illinois pops up with blue blood offers after spending time in a mid major program.
 
#2,223      
NASchamp
Let me get this straight…..

So not only is Hamer still around after two of the worst defensive years in recent memory, but Tyler, still in the role his Dad gave him, and despite having an offensive plan for the year that was very much flawed, is apparently causing problems for players staying?! And Brad is wanting to bring back our most overpaid Portal mistake from this year?

What in the actual F is going on?

We’re losing our best players and keeping our worst coaches. Sounds like Brad has checked out…collecting a paycheck and handing over control of the team to family.
 
#2,224      
csd
Indy Illini Fan said:
More …
Click to expand...
Did I hear that he had signed an agreement previously to play here next year? Did we make promises that were not kept? I have no idea and would like to put this in perspective for myself. He was my favorite player to watch because of his energy and willingness to leave it all out there. I hate to see him go but not willing to place blame with so few facts.
 
#2,225      
Second place is 1st loser
Frank said:
Get real. He's supremely talented. He wants to make it to the NBA. He wants the dream all these kids have been fighting for for years. And the reality is, show it early and you're more likely to get drafted, warts and all. Look at KJ. Look at Riley. Morez may not be there yet but he has the talent and wants to be in a system that trusts him and gives him the freedom to play. I see nothing wrong with that for a player of his caliber.

Kofi had a great career here. He has his jersey in the rafters, was an All-American, and all that. But he had to come watch his jersey be raised via a flight from Japan. Morez wants to play here. Again, nothing wrong with chasing your dreams. All the wrong for this lies in the coaches' laps, and ultimately, Brad's.
Click to expand...
Absolutely not. Everyone should chase their dreams and do whatever is feasible to achieve them. That said, abilities are abilities and it remains to be seen if he can come remotely close to getting his offensive game to a level that extends farther than 5 feet. It's questionable still if he can play without fouling.

If, as reported, a deal was in place that was signed and Morez flaked out for whatever reason.....that's out of Brad's, Josh's or anyone else's control. You hope that you're dealing in good faith, but money is money and when dealing with kids, then parents that obviously see their kids through a different lens...this is what ends up happening.

It won't be the first time mom or dad screwed their kid over with misguided advice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back