Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Does this not feel like the deflating years after 2005 for Bruce though? We realized he wasn't adapting, at the time I was a long term hold on Bruce, maybe too long. Now I see programs like Louisville move quickly and improve quickly. With the resources available to us, and in Josh I trust. We should be able to have more program stability.
Agree
. Will add coaches and fans that rely massively on analytics stats are Morons. Skillful coaching, discipline, drive, a plan, common sense, and instinct is a forgotten plus. Those who do rely on analytics and screaming. I've been taught, do this to make up for their Lack of coaching abilities.Ill use Kelvin Sampson, Painter, Bellien to name a few. Their offensive sets and defense is masterful.
our offense was only possible because our rebounding was dominant. Our best rebounder was Morez Johnson. KJ was a great rebounding guard, and Tre White was our #4 rebounder.
So we better shoot a whole hell of a lot better than 31% from 3 if we aren't going to be #2 in the nation in rebounding.
sacraig
- The desert
Not sure I fully agree with you. Making one mistake (assuming you consider it a mistake) is not worth a lengthy benching. Everyone screws up.
I don't think Brad is the main problem. There is quite a bit of proof from past players that Brad is a great coach. I think the issue is more related to the current group of assistant coaches and the amount of money being tossed around in the portal.
I'll keep saying it until I'm blue in the face- we aren't some bum small time school that just can't afford to keep guys around.
MSU & Purdue retained almost all of their key pieces from last years team- and MSU is now in the elite 8.
Players don't appear to want to stay and play for Underwood, the question is why?
It's not a money issue, or a facilities issue, or a program respect issue, or a conference issue.. so what is it?
I go back to Underwood making Riley crying after the Kentucky loss about him. Riley crying had nothing to do with Underwood- yet Underwood tried to turn it into some "heartwarming" story about how it's bigger than basketball and his players can call him in 25 years, blah blah blah. Mass exodus is the theme, but why?
Luke Altmyer could've transferred and made more money. Gabe Jacas could've transferred and made more money. Xavier Scott could've transferred and made more money. Yet, Jacas said something along the lines of, I would've never left this program.
MSU & Purdue retained almost all of their key pieces from last years team- and MSU is now in the elite 8.
Players don't appear to want to stay and play for Underwood, the question is why?
It's not a money issue, or a facilities issue, or a program respect issue, or a conference issue.. so what is it?
I go back to Underwood making Riley crying after the Kentucky loss about him. Riley crying had nothing to do with Underwood- yet Underwood tried to turn it into some "heartwarming" story about how it's bigger than basketball and his players can call him in 25 years, blah blah blah. Mass exodus is the theme, but why?
Luke Altmyer could've transferred and made more money. Gabe Jacas could've transferred and made more money. Xavier Scott could've transferred and made more money. Yet, Jacas said something along the lines of, I would've never left this program.
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The offense was only good this year because they dominated offensive rebounding which leads to a ton of high percentage second chance looks. The team's scheme actually kind of sucked. They basically just missed a lot of threes and as we saw in the RO32, turned it over a lot. I'm not giving the Assistant Coach credit for a lot of offensive rebounds. That's a personnel thing more than any X and O.
sacraig
- The desert
This just isn't fun. I realize the era is an era of transfers, but it's painful to watch us have turnover above and beyond the league average, and generally not in a way that improves the team.Expecting multiple portal entries today …
Jakstys about to be like …
Does U of Illinois-Springfield need a dynamic dual to run their system?
What is Alexander and Ortigua doing? Would think they would be more qualified for these roles.
I'm going to make this comment, then I'm going to keep it at basketball.
Anyone getting upset with BU or these players are short-sighted, lack the ability to put themselves in someone other's shoes, have no financial skills management and put their own need to be entertained up against life's reality.
There are VERY few of these guys that will play in the NBA and make millions. When you take ALL of the transfers into consideration, we're talking about less than 1%.
Now, let's just be honest. Our players didn't come here for an engineering or finance degree. Players aren't going to Michigan for a law degree. The value of the scholarship being the driver of a great education and job placement for life after basketball is really more of a focal at the mid major level and obviously some at the high major level, who don't play. Those guys aren't getting a bunch of money thrown at them and they are fully aware that the value of the degree matters.
A LOT of these guys have a four year earning period, which sets them up and gets them off to a good life start. There is not ONE parent here that if school X offered $750,000, but school Y offered $2,000,000 wouldn't be sending their kid to school Y. Not one, so quit the hypocritical BS. If Morez can put $6,000,000 in the bank over the next three years versus $2,250,000.....he would be an idiot not to do it.
People want to bury Brad, bury the player's loyalty and come up with the offensive game plan being THE driving force. Is it a consideration because they feel that a different offense enhances their chances at getting to the NBA? Absolutely, but that's all things(money) being equal.
How many people actually believe that guys like KJ, TI, Riley, etc. had dreams of leaving beautiful areas of the world to live in central Illinois for 2 years? That's ridiculous and obviously not the case. It's money and it's the promise to be the focus to get to the NBA in one year. You don't think our offense, which gave everyone the green light to shoot the ball(NBA offense), was a huge recruiting tool? Of course it was.
Does anyone really believe that Sarr wouldn't want to come here to enjoy the scent of the south farms? No, he'd come here for a major payday and a green light to launch.
Morez, is making a ton of money and will be given the chance to square up and let it fly. That's his one and only shot to ever be sniffed by a pro team. That said, does everything remember how we had no depth on the paint? We had Ben as a big coming off the bench. That wasn't good for anybody. Knowing that and getting information that our only physical big wants to play outside of the paint.....nobody sees that as a problem? Morez's biggest value to our roster was staying in the lane, getting offensive rebounds, keeping plays alive and finishing with putbacks. He doesn't want to do that anymore. Well, that does us NO good and weakens what we had. At that point, why not just bring Ty back at half the price?
Some(not close to all) of the people here need to grow up and think things through before saying ridiculous things. The portal rules and NIL is what it is. It's driven by money and guys who have a four year window to max out on profits.....unless they have some family wealth, they'd be absolutely stupid to not start a bidding war. These coaches know this and have to cover their butts.
Brad is going to put a good team together by ripping off another team's players, that fix gaps and are comfortable in roles. That's why bringing Ben back makes sense. If he's cool being 3rd off the bench, that's a perfect fit. If we're at a point where he's starting, it's a failure.
It's easy to be fans and play with someone else's money and their dreams. It's also easy to sit back and criticize the coach for not agreeing to everything every player wants.
Step off the ledge, take the fan hat off and quit acting like ANYONE here can put themselves in the players and coaches positions. It's easy to sit in the cheap seats and criticize when the millions aren't underneath your noses.
Anyone getting upset with BU or these players are short-sighted, lack the ability to put themselves in someone other's shoes, have no financial skills management and put their own need to be entertained up against life's reality.
There are VERY few of these guys that will play in the NBA and make millions. When you take ALL of the transfers into consideration, we're talking about less than 1%.
Now, let's just be honest. Our players didn't come here for an engineering or finance degree. Players aren't going to Michigan for a law degree. The value of the scholarship being the driver of a great education and job placement for life after basketball is really more of a focal at the mid major level and obviously some at the high major level, who don't play. Those guys aren't getting a bunch of money thrown at them and they are fully aware that the value of the degree matters.
A LOT of these guys have a four year earning period, which sets them up and gets them off to a good life start. There is not ONE parent here that if school X offered $750,000, but school Y offered $2,000,000 wouldn't be sending their kid to school Y. Not one, so quit the hypocritical BS. If Morez can put $6,000,000 in the bank over the next three years versus $2,250,000.....he would be an idiot not to do it.
People want to bury Brad, bury the player's loyalty and come up with the offensive game plan being THE driving force. Is it a consideration because they feel that a different offense enhances their chances at getting to the NBA? Absolutely, but that's all things(money) being equal.
How many people actually believe that guys like KJ, TI, Riley, etc. had dreams of leaving beautiful areas of the world to live in central Illinois for 2 years? That's ridiculous and obviously not the case. It's money and it's the promise to be the focus to get to the NBA in one year. You don't think our offense, which gave everyone the green light to shoot the ball(NBA offense), was a huge recruiting tool? Of course it was.
Does anyone really believe that Sarr wouldn't want to come here to enjoy the scent of the south farms? No, he'd come here for a major payday and a green light to launch.
Morez, is making a ton of money and will be given the chance to square up and let it fly. That's his one and only shot to ever be sniffed by a pro team. That said, does everything remember how we had no depth on the paint? We had Ben as a big coming off the bench. That wasn't good for anybody. Knowing that and getting information that our only physical big wants to play outside of the paint.....nobody sees that as a problem? Morez's biggest value to our roster was staying in the lane, getting offensive rebounds, keeping plays alive and finishing with putbacks. He doesn't want to do that anymore. Well, that does us NO good and weakens what we had. At that point, why not just bring Ty back at half the price?
Some(not close to all) of the people here need to grow up and think things through before saying ridiculous things. The portal rules and NIL is what it is. It's driven by money and guys who have a four year window to max out on profits.....unless they have some family wealth, they'd be absolutely stupid to not start a bidding war. These coaches know this and have to cover their butts.
Brad is going to put a good team together by ripping off another team's players, that fix gaps and are comfortable in roles. That's why bringing Ben back makes sense. If he's cool being 3rd off the bench, that's a perfect fit. If we're at a point where he's starting, it's a failure.
It's easy to be fans and play with someone else's money and their dreams. It's also easy to sit back and criticize the coach for not agreeing to everything every player wants.
Step off the ledge, take the fan hat off and quit acting like ANYONE here can put themselves in the players and coaches positions. It's easy to sit in the cheap seats and criticize when the millions aren't underneath your noses.
Yeah in practice against OUR soft !!! D, just like our opponents did
Not there yet regarding him but certainly with his kid and Hamer
We need to start realizing that all these roster churning are not just NIL based,it’s easy to blame the players for just looking for more money,being to 3 schools in 3 years…retaining players also has to do with relationships.You for the most part going to keep your players the same way you got them based on trust ,respect,money and good relationships.
Why? I personally find college basketball more exciting than ever. Ironically fans are more emotionally invested and involved than ever despite portal. We all get to play pretend GMs now.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I’ll bet you’re just swell at parties.
I'll be blown away if Ben isn't back. Sorry no down vote button on this site.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Wait an hour and there will be another 20
They have Johni Broome which was in the top 3 for player of the year in college basketball... Projected 28-33rd pick
Tahaad Pettiford, considered late first round early 2nd round pick
We have KJ projected as the 5-12th pick and Will projected as the 22-23rd pick.. and Tomi who is project in the 50-55 range pick.
---- WHY ARE WE STRUGGLING AGAIN? --
Compare our roster to Auburns and the obvious reasoning is coaching and development or lack ff for our program... Fletch does great work, but our player development left when TA, Chester and Gentry left here.. replaced with money ball coaches... Hammer and Tyler.. Not sure if Fletch and Orlando are working with individual skills of these players..
sacraig
- The desert
The spreadsheets say what they say. Let Ben shoot.
At this point, I will be taking the "Chinese Farmer" approach:
Good news? Meh.
Bad news? Meh.
If the bad news keeps rolling in, I shall wallow.
We need some good news.
Good news? Meh.
Bad news? Meh.
If the bad news keeps rolling in, I shall wallow.
We need some good news.
Judging by the excessive turnover of both players AND staff it seems like Brad has a real problem developing long term relationships. Might be time for him to take a long look in the mirror and decide if HE is the problem. Other coaches leave for new jobs and their stud players follow them to their new school. Brad can’t even hold on to his players at the same school. People seem to run away from Brad at every possible opportunity.
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