RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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I’m sure there’s been others it’s just now with the internet and forums like this we can see what others think. Before, people had to just curse at their TV and no one else knew about it. We bitched about players to ourselves
Based on what evidence? The kid averaged about 12 PPG at an NAIA school for 3 years. NAIA.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
I can’t help but feel like Ben didn’t make an official “I’m back” post because of the hate that he received and that makes me sad.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Oh for the love of christ...this overcooked "hate" for Ben idea is just so dumb. He sucked, and didn't deserve the playing time he was getting. Fans are going to comment on it, and maybe...maybe...some of it was overblown...but that was purely out of frustration.
Nobody "hated" the kid and none of it was personal. He didn't belong in the lineup for 30 minutes per game.
Period. End of this dumb "so much hate for Ben" bs. I too hope he has a great year in a limited role.
If he's playing more than 10-12 mpg........we have bigger problems. Again.
Nobody "hated" the kid and none of it was personal. He didn't belong in the lineup for 30 minutes per game.
Period. End of this dumb "so much hate for Ben" bs. I too hope he has a great year in a limited role.
If he's playing more than 10-12 mpg........we have bigger problems. Again.
Is anyone else glad that we're back to under 15 pages of daily posts? This is sooo much easier to catch up on...
Edit: To @skyIdub post above, 100%
Edit: To @skyIdub post above, 100%
Dog Ben all you want for not being suited for the role expected of him, but I really think he was the goat cast into the wilderness in place of that team's sins in an underwhelming season.
Brad missed the eval and continued to overuse him. It's not like Ben was a bad teammate or causing trouble, but it's quite the contrary. I hope he has some redemption this year.
I call BS here. I literally witnessed his parents being mocked in Milwaukee after the Kentucky loss. The blasts on his social media and the threats were personal.
Did he perform below expectations in a handful of games? Absolutely. Was he deserving of that many minutes? No, but we had no depth.
The way he was treated was BS. Don't downplay that.
Did he perform below expectations in a handful of games? Absolutely. Was he deserving of that many minutes? No, but we had no depth.
The way he was treated was BS. Don't downplay that.
he'll make more money than 99% of the world to console him from all those mean strangers on a message board. That should help.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
I agree that he didn't receive anything overboard from this board....... However, outside of here I'm sure he got some outrageous and over the top $#@!.
I would not be surprised if there are certain games next season when Ben will be a big contributor as he was against Arkansas (3-4 from 3), Oregon (4-7) and Penn State (21 and 9). And games where the matchups don’t favor him. I expect the leash will be shorter in those games than last year simply because the team will be much deeper in the frontcourt.
He would not be back unless Brad wanted him back and thought there was a role for him.
He would not be back unless Brad wanted him back and thought there was a role for him.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
You do strike me as someone who thinks that frustration is a good reason for overreacting…
Dude is an Illini and I think it’s way dumber to call yourself a fan and treat Ben the way many fans did. I agree that he sucked and I don’t have a problem with people saying that but your reaction totally misses the point of what I was saying
Both points are valid, so I'll like them both. Obviously better to not make an I'M BACK announcement when quite possibly almost every comment, reaction, or response could be about how your riddance was so advocated and wished for. Was some of the "hate" personal? Depends on how you view the term; a lot of the stuff from the fans was very over the top. And let's be honest.... this season's disappointments, they weren't 100% on one player. Just not how it works. But he did have some very underwhelming outings, and played way more than he should have in quite a few losses (while playing very bad). And at the end of the day, what you put out on the court as a product of yourself is by consent and accord subjected to judgement, especially on a stage like college basketball.
Certainly after all he is one of our own, and everyone should hope for his best with another year of familiarity, knowing the system.
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Take any issues with Ben’s play last season out on the coaches. They are responsible for his playing time and outcome of the games. They are paid handsomely to take it too.
Ben played well enough in situations, adding to the fact that coaching could have adapted to that.
Hopefully he grows or coaching adapts next season
Ben played well enough in situations, adding to the fact that coaching could have adapted to that.
Hopefully he grows or coaching adapts next season
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Oh no stop “hating” me.
No it doesn’t. You and others keep using the word hate where it doesn’t belong, and I’m referring mostly to the fans on this board.
If you are referring to fans actually being “hateful” elsewhere, then it’s probably smarter to take your “hate” comments to that medium.
Watching some of these Adriatic league games. There's no question Petrovic is going to be a factor on the offensive end.
Illini are going to have to outscore teams. As bad as the Illini have been defensively the past couple years, I think this one has the potential to be the worst if they're dead set on Tomi at 5 and Z/Mirkovic at the 4 on the floor together for significant minutes (JMO Z @ 5 & Mirk/Ben @ 4 is a better combo off bench). I think Ty's going to have to play a bunch at the 4.
I know some may disagree, but I see things:
Tomi (25) / Z (15)
Ty (20) / Mirk (10) / Ben (10)* (Can see Ben being eventually phased out altogether personally. Z/Mirk bring everything he has plus they're better in other facets of the game. Mirk gives the beef Ben doesn't. Z gives the rim protection Ben doesn't)
Andrej (35) / Jake (5)
Bos (25) / Ty (10) / Lee (5)
Petrovic (30) / Bos (10)
Bos: 35 MPG
Andrej: 35 MPG
Ty: 30 MPG
Petrovic: 30 MPG
Tomi: 25 MPG
Z: 15 MPG*
Mirk: 10 MPG*
Ben: 10 MPG*
Jake: 5 MPG
Lee: 5 MPG
Illini are going to have to outscore teams. As bad as the Illini have been defensively the past couple years, I think this one has the potential to be the worst if they're dead set on Tomi at 5 and Z/Mirkovic at the 4 on the floor together for significant minutes (JMO Z @ 5 & Mirk/Ben @ 4 is a better combo off bench). I think Ty's going to have to play a bunch at the 4.
I know some may disagree, but I see things:
Tomi (25) / Z (15)
Ty (20) / Mirk (10) / Ben (10)* (Can see Ben being eventually phased out altogether personally. Z/Mirk bring everything he has plus they're better in other facets of the game. Mirk gives the beef Ben doesn't. Z gives the rim protection Ben doesn't)
Andrej (35) / Jake (5)
Bos (25) / Ty (10) / Lee (5)
Petrovic (30) / Bos (10)
Bos: 35 MPG
Andrej: 35 MPG
Ty: 30 MPG
Petrovic: 30 MPG
Tomi: 25 MPG
Z: 15 MPG*
Mirk: 10 MPG*
Ben: 10 MPG*
Jake: 5 MPG
Lee: 5 MPG
he was a put in a tough spot. he was a mis-evaluation in recruiting, should not have had the expectations put on him and was not what the staff thought he was. and even after it was clear he was not what that dude, he still played major minutes in big games and continued to be overly fed to the fire. another side of this though is that he took up a fair share of $$$ - that also comes with its own weight and adds more to the sear.
I'm back announcements are stupid. It shouldn't be a surprise that you play 2 years at the same school. It is only because of the pathetic state of college basketball that anyone thinks they're necessary.
And speaking of the state of college basketball, these are professional athletes. Professional athletes that are given free college degrees and now often graduate degrees because we need to hold up the illusion that this is somehow amateur athletics. These kids are now making more money than doctors, lawyers, and many CEOs. When you start getting compensated like that to play a game, especially when the fans are now even more directly than the pros paying your salary, you're just going to have to toughen up and get over people being big old meanies.
There are negative things said about everyone in high profile positions. Whether you are an actor, musician, athlete, politician, executive, etc. If you're in a spotlight, you are going to get a heck of a lot of benefits and also some negativity. If you can't handle that, there are tons of other things you can do. You're literally in college, get the degree to do one of those other things.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
Why? I never specified this board as the “hate” I was referring to. I doubt Ben reads this board a whole lot. As if all Illinois fans whose voice could reach Ben exist on loyalty lol. I was referring to fans in general, and literally only speculating why I think he isn’t making a return post.
Your whole gripe is just the word I chose to use and you’re getting pressed for a dumb reason. So yes, you did miss the point and threw an internet fit while doing so.
I’m the blonde one
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Just want to say that I liked both of these posts, lol … all things in moderation!!
(Besides 1LL1NO1S font.)
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