Until it triggers departure or redshirting. This has got to be a gut-wrenching problem for staff.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Soo, I'm not sure if I get the angle here. Are you wanting Josh to step in and make player/roster decisions for Brad?
Or we thinkin we kidnap Humrichous and stash him somewhere for the year to protect Brad from himself?
Ben and Will were pretty similar in terms of defensive contribution. Ben was a better shooter than is often admitted here. Will was an action guy, with far, far, far greater basketball value.
I think the real issue all along was one of patience, but with whom? Ben, or Will. Tough call.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
You mean the way he started Ben over the first round draft pick while the first round draft pick had a 14 game stretch where he shot 29% from the field and 18% from 3 while provided nothing on D?
Here was Riley’s shooting stats (total and 3’s) starting with Arkansas on November 28 and ending with Nebraska on January 30:
2-9 (1-5)
4-12 (0-6)
2-4 (0-2)
1-9 (0-4)
1-8 (1-6)
2-5 (1-3)
1-3 (0-1)
2-11 (1-5)
3-7 (0-3)
2-5 (0-2)
7-17 (2-3)
0-2 (0-1)
2-9 (0-3)
6-16 (4-10)
You feel like he should’ve been playing more minutes during this stretch?
We're just making assumptions here. There may be reasons Brad chose not to start Will over Ben. Whether it was schematics, Will not being ready early on, or Ben being a stronger vocal presence. I don’t recall Will playing particularly well at the start.
People often judge starters purely on talent, but that’s not everything. Indiana supposedly had the most talented starting five and still missed the tournament.
And in the end, does it matter who started? Will was gradually absorbing Ben's minutes anyway
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It was mentioned a long while ago that Sarr isn’t a lock to start. I assume that isn’t the case anymore? Hard to imagine he isn’t starting after all this recruitment and our roster
I agree with this eval. Underwood primarily builds teams based on the offensive impact of players. Rebounding is second. Defense seems to be the third criterion.There’s only been 1 guy who’s been a level 1 lock down defender in the Brad era …
To overcome individual defensive shortcomings, Underwood emphasizes team defense. It's a smart strategy, in my view.
Accomplishments, however, are the final judge. Next year is looming large.
Riley wasn't the only option. Guy named morez could have played more as well
Damonte says heyThere’s only been 1 guy who’s been a level 1 lock down defender in the Brad era …
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
That we can agree on. Would’ve loved to have seen Morez get more minutes. If only he could have stayed out of foul trouble.
Morez who averaged more mins per game than Ben tail end of the season? Morez who would get in foul trouble? Should we have cut 2 of Ben's minutes for Morez? This just feels like wanting to be upset about something
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Yup. Most coaches go about 8 deep during the season and that shrinks to 6-7 in the tournament. Brad definitely is not unique in that aspect.
We can add the length of the rotation to the never ending list of useless things to complain about. Florida just played 8 guys in the most important game of the entire season, and won, defeating the other team who played [checks notes] 8 players in their most important game of the year as well
Did foul trouble actually limit Morez;' playing time? I didn't see that. He got a lot of fouls per minute played, but I did not often (not never) feel like that was why Morez sat as much as he did. Instead, it seemed primarily like the issue was wanting to get a three-point shooter (Ben) on the floor for more minutes.
I like Sarr a lot and I would love him paired with a veteran guy like Coward but if you gave my choice with no money being involved I would have a hard time taking him over Jamir Watkins simply because he's a 24 year old proven college contributor.
Angle is simple…do we, as fans, prefer to have Ben on the team as a supposed bench role if there’s a shot he gets to play over others more deserving?
Not suggesting that we, as fans, have a choice or a solution. It’s merely a hypothetical whether we’d like to take that chance. I personally would not like that to happen.
One other thing I failed to mention is if things shake out the way the insiders are talking we'll also be older, which is almost always an advantage. So we're taller, potentially (how could we not?) shoot better from deep if Miller returns, we should be better defensively adding Big Z for height, Ty back, and Miller (of course Boz is a defensive stud), we have players who have now been in the system but also have played together. And finally, we'll be older. Still want that on court leader though. We get one of those or someone steps up, and look out!
Literally, I have watched young Illini hoopsters turn into veteran B1G warriors for 7 decades. It is the year to year improvement and step up in motor and skill...on both ends of the court...which I enjoy most about being an Illini fan, as avid and looney in my support as anyone. There is no way, based on this experience, that I do not expect all returning players to make a step up next season due to the fact that it has literally happened to various degrees to every player every year. However, there has been no player make more improvement during a season, from EIU to Kentucky games, than Will Riley. He had little to offer in the way of defense, rebounding, or what to do on offense to help his team other than shoot it into the net from everywhere...which he did not do much until the last couple of months.
But he was a pleasure to watch every night as he seemed to not make the same mistakes over and over, and in spite of being 6'8" tall, was often able to get beat by quick guards and then block their shot at the rim. He will likely earn a long NBA career simply due to that aspect of his mentality...if I can't do it now, I will learn to do it soon. To me, he has a higher ceiling than KJ, but who knows? He is a young kid and over the next couple of years will put on muscle weight along with mental weight as his skills grow. Thanks Will Riley and good luck.
But he was a pleasure to watch every night as he seemed to not make the same mistakes over and over, and in spite of being 6'8" tall, was often able to get beat by quick guards and then block their shot at the rim. He will likely earn a long NBA career simply due to that aspect of his mentality...if I can't do it now, I will learn to do it soon. To me, he has a higher ceiling than KJ, but who knows? He is a young kid and over the next couple of years will put on muscle weight along with mental weight as his skills grow. Thanks Will Riley and good luck.
Yea - you're probably right. It was the first thing I thought of (foul trouble) for debate sake, but that was likely it more than anything.
And none of the 8 was ranked top 100 out of H.S. Just an amazing stat.
Of course the year before UConn played a very tight rotation - during the tournament, their rotation was basically five guys.
Depth is nice as insurance for injuries or foul trouble, but most coaches prefer a tight rotation - they want their best players on the court as much as possible and they want those guys to get used to play together.
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Ben gets minutes on next year's team based upon what he does in practice. If his level of defense, rebounding and shot-making improve, he gets the chance to prove it on game day. I don't think anyone can disagree that he had a much higher motor and interest in both rebounding and defense in 2025. Having a 6'9" B1G warrior who can do those things at a needed level is desired by any team. Having one that is 24 years old and determined is a gift than cannot be cast aside. Giving him a chance to be that guy is warranted, but he has to be that guy and not the BH we saw last season. Not a difficult decision IMHO.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Insurance Premiums, that’s what they are
Last year, three of the four most valuable players added to the roster arrived later in the recruiting season than today. That said, I think it is reasonable to wonder what the plan for this coming year's roster is.
Right now, we are looking at a team that will, with the addition of a young scorer (Saar) and with normal luck (no mono!), wind up a bit better than last year's team: say third in the B1G, participation in the league tournament semi-final or championship game (but likely not win), and get into the Sweet 16. An excellent year.
But to achieve the goals that Underwood himself repeatedly describes, several changes remain to be made I think. Addition of another major talent, in addition to Saar. Also, a backup point guard (with all that that entails, including an ability to score). And unfortunately, an accompanying departure or two from the current roster. (Which is very risky -- returner minutes are very, very valuable.)
Not too different from last year at this point, in other words.
Right now, we are looking at a team that will, with the addition of a young scorer (Saar) and with normal luck (no mono!), wind up a bit better than last year's team: say third in the B1G, participation in the league tournament semi-final or championship game (but likely not win), and get into the Sweet 16. An excellent year.
But to achieve the goals that Underwood himself repeatedly describes, several changes remain to be made I think. Addition of another major talent, in addition to Saar. Also, a backup point guard (with all that that entails, including an ability to score). And unfortunately, an accompanying departure or two from the current roster. (Which is very risky -- returner minutes are very, very valuable.)
Not too different from last year at this point, in other words.
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