Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#401      
PepeSilvia
ChiefGritty said:
Better than Harmon for sure. Similar performance from Harmon in the WAC vs Sellers in the Big XII. But then of course the book on Harmon when he took what insiders told us was a precious and richly resourced spot on what seemed to be a dwindling number of scholarships was that he was happy coming to be a towel waver for his home state school and barely play.


Now THAT comparison I like. Definitely bigger. But.....couldn't we just keep DGL for much less money?
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But Harmon was a great addition though even though he forgot how to play offense in February.

He had a couple big games in January while TJ was suspended, he was always bought in, and he was a tough player.

I don't see any way you could retain DGL, I think that bridge was burnt beyond repair this season. Also, DGL is a very small guard and Boswell exists, Brad clearly doesn't want to play 2 small guards imo. I really like DGL and I think he could be an impact player in the AAC or something but he clearly won't be back.
 
#402      
Bleedorangeandblue44
ChiefGritty said:
Which is exactly what everyone said when our first commit last portal season was the below "we have all the money on earth" expectations Tre White who then started 30+ games this year.

It's really incredible how exactly everything is repeating.



Better than Harmon for sure. Similar performance from Harmon in the WAC vs Sellers in the Big XII. But then of course the book on Harmon when he took what insiders told us was a precious and richly resourced spot on what seemed to be a dwindling number of scholarships was that he was happy coming to be a towel waver for his home state school and barely play.


Now THAT comparison I like. Definitely bigger. But.....couldn't we just keep DGL for much less money?
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Optimism and you just don't go together, do they? (and I say this respectfully as someone who likes your takes)
 
#403      
PepeSilvia
ginabackes00 said:
I think the majority of schools would utilize him as an interior presence, which he will realize once he commits.
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Honestly, his best fit would be Houston imo. He seems like a Sampson big that would be a monster.

But Sampson also wouldn't let him shoot mid range jumpers so who knows.
 
#405      
RabidDawgClassic
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(I know… too soon.) 😎
 
#409      
NJB Illini
If you go back to Sellers junior year, he was putting up major scoring numbers against some of the best teams in the Big 12. Obviously, you hope his health is in a good spot, but there is zero question with him that he can score against high-major talent. Beyond that, his shooting mechanics are great and there was a day he was considered one of the best shooters in the portal when he first transferred from Ball State. He can be a big-time player.
 
#412      
ChiefGritty
Bleedorangeandblue44 said:
Optimism and you just don't go together, do they? (and I say this respectfully as someone who likes your takes)
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I'm very optimistic!

I'm the guy preaching calm every time you guys say the season is over after a loss or want to fire the co-winningest coach in the Big Ten over the last six years!

And, like always, we are going to haul in a ton of talent this offseason (hopefully as much of it from our existing roster as possible, we shall see on that).

"Not enough good players" has been Brad Underwood's problem at Illinois precisely never.

The thing I also must preach calm about though, is when everyone freaks out when we don't get the 5 elite transfers everyone today assumes are ours because message board posters put up favorable gifs about them.

We will not shoot the moon of every guy we want. Neither will any other school. The reason is the same, nobody has enough NIL to win the bidding for their 4th favorite player who is the 1st favorite player of a more medium-sized fish. This is structural and obvious, it's not about who's hot and who's not among coaches and NIL collectives, it's just math.

Illinois Basketball is in good hands. Take a chill pill and trust the process.

(Now if you want me to go full sky is falling nihilist ask me what I think about playing UCLA and Oregon on Peacock with an entirely new roster every year, but that's a different question disconnected from winning and losing)
 
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#414      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Second place is 1st loser said:
Why? You didn't like a guy who was brought in to play the role of being a spot up shooter, but ended up being the backup 5, which he wasn't the least bit prepared to do?

A 34% three point shooter, which is one of the better percentages, on a team that shot the team like trash was one of your big issues?

I don't think that people(don't think that I'm calling just you out), understand what was happening last year. Ben was put in a horrific spot. Some was due to injury and some was due to the roster having absolutely zero depth in the frontcourt.

If Ben came back as the second or third guy off the bench, he'd be phenomenal in that role. Not tooany teams have 6'9" coming off the bench that is a threat from the perimeter and in a pinch, he can old his own and give you some minutes in the paint.

That's a good kid that did everything that he was asked to do and I'm sure he didn't sign up for a lot of it. Not sure why you're feeling the need to stab him in the back?
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Give me Davis over Ben.
 
#415      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
sharpshot16 said:
I'm not in the same circles as Indy - I am more on the donor side. (So I can be more open and blunt)

Side note - 99% of what Indy says is spot on. Dudes plugged in.
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Can only imagine what Indy's notification bell (at the top right) is like with the likes and responses 😂. Or LVille for that matter. And you provide very good info too (y).
 
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#417      
CrazyIlliniLady
I-L-L 1318 said:
Side note: Man I miss Harmon. SO underappreciated.
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He stepped up during TSJ's absense, and rather vocally defended him in a post-fame interview, which was not the norm. I'm guessing the team and coaches weren't supposed to comment, but Justin Harmon spoke out. Never had a bad attitude, even when not playing much, and he was a great free throw shooter.
 
#418      
Mr. Roberts
Battle89 said:
Some good posts today that perfectly encapsulate the generational shift in college basketball.

20 years after playing, Chester still hates IU and would not consider going there to coach. Morez is committed to us for years, plays one season, and looks around for the biggest check.
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This is where college basketball has lost so much. Very few playing for the name on the front anymore. I know, I'm a grumpy old man.
 
#419      
The Galloping Ghost
I want Ty on this team next year. Selfishly, in this age of constant transfers, having a guy we've been following since high school and who started here would be nice. More than that, though, I want his freaking toughness. This past year, we had the stars, but we didn't have the dogs really willing to do the dirty work. I don't want to watch another season where there's a hole in that hardhat, lunch-pail, Monte role. I hope Ty comes back, gives us everything he has, and embodies the folk hero glue guy that helps make college basketball so great. He's perfectly built for it.
 
#421      
LvilleILL1
The Galloping Ghost said:
I want Ty on this team next year. Selfishly, in this age of constant transfers, having a guy we've been following since high school and who started here would be nice. More than that, though, I want his freaking toughness. This past year, we had the stars, but we didn't have the dogs really willing to do the dirty work. I don't want to watch another season where there's a hole in that hardhat, lunch-pail, Monte role. I hope Ty comes back, gives us everything he has, and embodies the folk hero glue guy that helps make college basketball so great. He's perfectly built for it.
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Brad does do, but does Ty want the same thing is the question.
 
#422      
Illini_Rich
I was really hoping Morez would leave the conference but it’s looking like that may not happen. Good for him cashing in on an opportunity and I can’t blame him. But I don’t wish him any more success than any other kid that chose to go elsewhere. I don’t think we will but part of me wants to bring someone in to bust his !!! all game long next year. Will be interesting to see a perimeter oriented Morez next year, yeah sure Dusty. lol
 
#424      
CoalCity
The Galloping Ghost said:
I want Ty on this team next year. Selfishly, in this age of constant transfers, having a guy we've been following since high school and who started here would be nice. More than that, though, I want his freaking toughness. This past year, we had the stars, but we didn't have the dogs really willing to do the dirty work. I don't want to watch another season where there's a hole in that hardhat, lunch-pail, Monte role. I hope Ty comes back, gives us everything he has, and embodies the folk hero glue guy that helps make college basketball so great. He's perfectly built for it.
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Agree. Despite the glaring hole in his game, teams that he plays on win. They just do. His toughness and motor set the tone and the rest of the team has to keep up. He's a floor raiser.
 
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