Ideally, absolutely. Staff may be moseying along towards that view, at last.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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Illini Portal Season
I have the same guess as you do. A few more weeks until we have a little bit -- and only a little bit -- clearer sense of next year's roster. Lots of work to do for our staff in the weeks to come (endpoint in late May - mid-June).
Book it! I do trust Brad sees Ben in practice and he out played others. It did not translate to games on a consistent basis. Brad still thinks he can shoot n I think he can too. Off the damn bench. But those that think BU doesn't base his choices off what he sees first hand that very few do actually see, I think your wrong. I feel Ben is getting a major pay cut if not then buh bye. However. He didn't allow Ty or Rez to shoot from distance because they didn't show it. They can't hit FTs and yet people think k otherwise. DGL was 25% from.3 and some wanted him.in. So many attack Ben. I get it at 2025s price. But he is better than Jake imo on D vs big guys and boards. I saw jake try and guard Maryland for a minute. Jakes a 3 not a 4. I believe Ben is better than Jake for the roster atat the right price is a "moneyball"type situational pieve.
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Random thoughts…
1. JW will find the money to bring in top tier assistant coaches. Brad needs to eliminate the coaching nepotism, crap defensive schemes, and horrible in game decisions. Bring in a couple proven, highly skilled coaches to help with player development, strategy, schemes, and in game decisions. Brad needs to focus on self awareness and realize that if coaches don’t want to be here then he is likely part of, or most of, that problem.
2. We need to have a better culture…..whatever that looks like. Young players need to want to be here long term. Look at our roster. We don’t have anyone other than TR that we initially recruited, developed, and retained. Young players need to feel valued and be motivated while developing as players. They will have a higher likelihood to stay and be more affordable than targeting NIL free agents. Had BU handled Rez differently throughout the course of the season, we would all be stoked seeing what he will do next year for the beloved. I think Brad is responsible for this loss, both with losing TA and not playing Rez when he clearly earned more playing time than he received.
3. This mantra of UI or BU developing KJ, WR, and others, and putting them in the league is ridiculous. KJ was, from the onset, talked about as a one and done. He had so much talent when he got here that we were unable to screw it up for him. Yes, WR got better, but it took 2/3 of a season before BU let him actually shine. We were led to believe when he got here that he was possibly a one and done and we hoped for a second year. We simply do not have a reputation for getting guys to the league like many posters talk about. Other schools have that “sell” far more so than we do.
4. I agree with get old and stay old. Reloading the roster with guys for their final year of eligibility may result in getting old, but that’s way more costly than we are able to pay. Adding that there is always the risk of limited continuity amongst teammates, missing on the right or wrong guys, while paying top dollar for that player. (Where we currently sit) If we want to complain about players and agents shopping for the best NIL deal, quit playing that game. Retain, develop and add in a limited way through the portal. We churn our roster year after year and rely on transfers to create a roster. We somehow think we should be to be the desired landing spot for everyone. Reality check…we aren’t the ultimate destination for MOST players, even though we “think” we should be the ultimate destination. Time to wake up to reality….so many schools have a much better sell than we do.
It all falls on Brad to build the culture so players want to stay, having coaches that are excellent tacticians and strategists, and having a solid core to add to it every year in the portal.
1. JW will find the money to bring in top tier assistant coaches. Brad needs to eliminate the coaching nepotism, crap defensive schemes, and horrible in game decisions. Bring in a couple proven, highly skilled coaches to help with player development, strategy, schemes, and in game decisions. Brad needs to focus on self awareness and realize that if coaches don’t want to be here then he is likely part of, or most of, that problem.
2. We need to have a better culture…..whatever that looks like. Young players need to want to be here long term. Look at our roster. We don’t have anyone other than TR that we initially recruited, developed, and retained. Young players need to feel valued and be motivated while developing as players. They will have a higher likelihood to stay and be more affordable than targeting NIL free agents. Had BU handled Rez differently throughout the course of the season, we would all be stoked seeing what he will do next year for the beloved. I think Brad is responsible for this loss, both with losing TA and not playing Rez when he clearly earned more playing time than he received.
3. This mantra of UI or BU developing KJ, WR, and others, and putting them in the league is ridiculous. KJ was, from the onset, talked about as a one and done. He had so much talent when he got here that we were unable to screw it up for him. Yes, WR got better, but it took 2/3 of a season before BU let him actually shine. We were led to believe when he got here that he was possibly a one and done and we hoped for a second year. We simply do not have a reputation for getting guys to the league like many posters talk about. Other schools have that “sell” far more so than we do.
4. I agree with get old and stay old. Reloading the roster with guys for their final year of eligibility may result in getting old, but that’s way more costly than we are able to pay. Adding that there is always the risk of limited continuity amongst teammates, missing on the right or wrong guys, while paying top dollar for that player. (Where we currently sit) If we want to complain about players and agents shopping for the best NIL deal, quit playing that game. Retain, develop and add in a limited way through the portal. We churn our roster year after year and rely on transfers to create a roster. We somehow think we should be to be the desired landing spot for everyone. Reality check…we aren’t the ultimate destination for MOST players, even though we “think” we should be the ultimate destination. Time to wake up to reality….so many schools have a much better sell than we do.
It all falls on Brad to build the culture so players want to stay, having coaches that are excellent tacticians and strategists, and having a solid core to add to it every year in the portal.
You may be right, and placing faith in the NCAA is obviously idiotic. But I think reality will intervene so that within the next 4 years or so a rather different scheme will emerge (contracts, 60-100 team division, and probably more changes). Hopefully sooner for the sake of players, coaches, students and fans.
We have a pretty good idea of what it's going to look like-what we already have plus:
Ben likely back.
Big money wing.
Guard at the 2.
Backup guard at the 1/2.
Illinois needs wings.
Any guesses what the most expensive pieces are?
I don't think Illini will wind up with any of these best available wings
Sell why a wing would choose Illinois over say the national champion Gators who also needs wings while set in the frontcourt?
I think they should pray for a decommit elsewhere that happens based on a previous portal move
Any guesses what the most expensive pieces are?
I don't think Illini will wind up with any of these best available wingsSell why a wing would choose Illinois over say the national champion Gators who also needs wings while set in the frontcourt?
I think they should pray for a decommit elsewhere that happens based on a previous portal move
I have a whisper campaign of my own. 20+ wins the last six seasons. Two BTT championships. Six tourney wins. Soon-to-be three draft picks.
I am fairly certain I know the origin of these whisper campaigns. #sameasiteverwas
Hate? Seems like an over-the-top characterization of criticism and concern.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
So if Riley decides to play another year of college, are we going to lose him to a school like BYU who will pay a huge number because we will be unwilling to budge from what we believe he is worth?
So the wing will be big money. The question is whether he's worth big money or they dumpster dive and pay the remaining scraps big money to avoid ending up with nothing.
old, shooter, combo guard
screams adam miller to me
screams adam miller to me
I think that is coach-speak. What we have is:
Tomi and Z -- outstanding
Kylan -- absolutely excellent
David Mirkovic -- terrific signing
Ty Rogers, Ben Humrichous, Jake Davis, Jason Jakstys, Keaton Wagler and Brandon Lee -- I will be amazed if all of these valued players are on the roster next year.
The rest of the wishlist I reference above is (Big wing, etc) completely unclear to anyone. Including to Underwood. There are weeks of work yet to put in. And then we'll see what we got.
Tomi and Z -- outstanding
Kylan -- absolutely excellent
David Mirkovic -- terrific signing
Ty Rogers, Ben Humrichous, Jake Davis, Jason Jakstys, Keaton Wagler and Brandon Lee -- I will be amazed if all of these valued players are on the roster next year.
The rest of the wishlist I reference above is (Big wing, etc) completely unclear to anyone. Including to Underwood. There are weeks of work yet to put in. And then we'll see what we got.
Can someone please explain how Shauna Green and Illinois Women’s Basketball has 11th ranked recruiting class in the nation and getting 5 stars and McDonalds All Americans . Illinois women’s basketball was dead before Shauna Green . What’s she done in 3 seasons is amazing. Brad Underwood on the other hand is going into his 9th season and the program is going backwards. It’s blatant obvious it has absolutely nothing to do with NIL why players in the portal are not choosing Illinois. The issue is BRAD UNDERWOOD
Vomiting over guys busting thier asses n interpreted lack of talent isnt hate? Lol
I remember when we added Domask and people were like "oh another mid major guy" . Well, I'd take him or Reeves who went to Kentucky or Jordan Clarkson from Tulsa no one wanted..still in the NBA .Few wanted them either. Most here don't have a clue but our staff does. It is hateful to never seem pleased, Ever.
I remember when we added Domask and people were like "oh another mid major guy" . Well, I'd take him or Reeves who went to Kentucky or Jordan Clarkson from Tulsa no one wanted..still in the NBA .Few wanted them either. Most here don't have a clue but our staff does. It is hateful to never seem pleased, Ever.
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Jackson likely headed to St. John’s….Word out there that’s it’s done. 
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+1000%
Ian Jackson is heading to St. John's apparently. Yay.
Whatever dude the 20+ wins six seasons meaningless stat it’s not cutting it. If I was recruit and you told me this like it was a flex or something I would laugh in your face. Three draft picks had nothing to do with Brad Underwood. If KJ , Will Riley and TSJ went to Kentucky, Duke , Florida, Michigan etc they still would be NBA draft picks. 6 tourney wins? Are you kidding me? Brad has only made it the second weekend once in 8 seasons as Illinois coach. What are you even talking about??? Please the delusion from a segment of the Illinois fan base is disturbing
Any update on the guy you said you thought was your top guy potentially entering the portal that we would have a chance at?
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