Which I think will turn out to be a great decision
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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sacraig
- The desert
Seems like we were arguably the most talented last year, too. The big question will be how well all these pieces come together and function as a team. Last year was really streaky. Hopefully this year brings consistency along with our increase in age.
theNewGuy
- Dallas, TX
Do we still have some money aside for a Will Riley return?
And can that money be directed elsewhere if say Watkins or Fland can be got?
I think there are a number of factors that could lead us to being better then last year.
- Health...from all accounts we were pretty ravaged at times, from KJ's arm to Tomi's mono to nearly the whole team being sick on and off...if we just get a regularly healthy and together team, that will be a huge help.
- Tomi's 2nd year along with Z. Tomi was damn good last year for his first year, and he could be one of the best centers in the league next year while playing with his brother along side him. I'm expecting big things from Tomi.
- The difference in KJ and Will to Petro and Andrej. I look at it like this...talent wise, I think KJ and Will are better then Petro and Andrej...BUT...I think we are going to be more comfortable with the ball in Petro's hands...I do not expect him to commit 5 turnovers a game and I think he'll be less of a risk taker, which should help in the long run. I don't think Will is coming back...but there is an interesting conversation as to who would be better, a 2nd year Will or a 3rd year Andrej...for the record, I think it's Will...but Andrej could be really good this year.
- Age and experience. We will be older and more seasoned. Obviously the guys from overseas will have a transition process...but these dudes have been playing high level ball for years.
I still think we might be...rough...on defense...but I expect this team to be really good and more consistent then last year.
- Health...from all accounts we were pretty ravaged at times, from KJ's arm to Tomi's mono to nearly the whole team being sick on and off...if we just get a regularly healthy and together team, that will be a huge help.
- Tomi's 2nd year along with Z. Tomi was damn good last year for his first year, and he could be one of the best centers in the league next year while playing with his brother along side him. I'm expecting big things from Tomi.
- The difference in KJ and Will to Petro and Andrej. I look at it like this...talent wise, I think KJ and Will are better then Petro and Andrej...BUT...I think we are going to be more comfortable with the ball in Petro's hands...I do not expect him to commit 5 turnovers a game and I think he'll be less of a risk taker, which should help in the long run. I don't think Will is coming back...but there is an interesting conversation as to who would be better, a 2nd year Will or a 3rd year Andrej...for the record, I think it's Will...but Andrej could be really good this year.
- Age and experience. We will be older and more seasoned. Obviously the guys from overseas will have a transition process...but these dudes have been playing high level ball for years.
I still think we might be...rough...on defense...but I expect this team to be really good and more consistent then last year.
swa_ticket
Hoops for life
- Metro East IL
Just sat next to Dusty May on the rental car shuttle. He was traveling solo in LA at LAX airport. Maybe for the Nxtpro HS event???
I miss the Juwan Howard days
I miss the Juwan Howard days
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
Please tell me you hit him with an I-L-L……
Please tell me you kicked him where it counts for taking Rez!!!
RichardKeenesCousin
Richard Keene's Cousin
Definitive 10 Worst Cheeses
10. Queijo Mestico de Tolosa
9. Piacentinu Ennese
8. Bleu du Vercors-Sassena
7. Travia da Beira Baixa
6. Provel
5. Hessischer Handkase
4. Casu Marzu
3. Cup Cheese
2. Cheez Whiz
1. Gamalost
We lost some extremely talented guys, Will and KJ in particular. Morez was very good at what he is good at and will also get better. Despite the talent, they all had/have a lot of developing to do to maximize it.
We have added some very talented guys who are much farther along in their development. They may not eclipse the talent of the guys we lost, but I expect them to play at a higher level this year than the guys we had last year did in Orange and Blue.
Obviously, I expect our returnees to be better as well.
Whether we are as talented can be debated, but I think it is clear this team should be better equipped to win.
We have added some very talented guys who are much farther along in their development. They may not eclipse the talent of the guys we lost, but I expect them to play at a higher level this year than the guys we had last year did in Orange and Blue.
Obviously, I expect our returnees to be better as well.
Whether we are as talented can be debated, but I think it is clear this team should be better equipped to win.
The HUGE increase in experience throughout the roster is a big, big deal. We were just too young last year.
We’ll be in every game this year. Count on it.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I agree with the last point, especially. Although I have seen surprising rumors of programs like Kentucky having worse NIL than you would expect, I had to assume that was just a "late to the game" problem as far as being organized and eventually they would be near the top. My total guess is it breaks down something like this:On the other hand, when Norlander reported on teams spending a couple weeks ago, there were 10 teams on the $10 million list, and 14 teams on the $8 million list. We were on neither.
The $10 million club: College basketball's portal recruiting hits unthinkable levels of financial chaos
The price of talent is spiking to record amounts -- again -- now with hundreds of millions at stake in college hoops' unregulated economywww.cbssports.com
I know Stojakovic has since then added a bunch to our spending and I think it's very possible we passed every team on the $8 million list, and some on the $10 million list, and are now top-10. It's also possible a bunch of those teams pass us before it's all said and done. And then it's possible we pass them right back if we add another piece (although it appears we are tapped out).
I think it's impossible to know exactly where any given program stands. I think we have very good resources. Probably 2nd tier resources, right behind the programs that are grabbing everyone in sight (like Duke, Louisville, Kentucky). I also think that 2nd tier we are in is very crowded. Probably like 20 teams in that tier. My problem with the "top-10 NIL" has always been (1) this blind acceptance of it as fact despite the very murky world of NIL, and (2) the straight line drawn between that statement and the expectation for "top-10 results." How much of a difference does being top-10 NIL really mean if there are another 15-20 programs within essentially the same bracket?
Tier 1: Only a few truly elite spenders. Basketball-first schools with tons of resources like Duke or schools that simply have more money than they know what to do with like Texas, and they will rarely if ever be outbid IF they're all in on someone.
Tier 2A: A large group of 10+ programs that are just a notch below Tier 1, with examples being Indiana, Arkansas, Illinois, etc. These schools not only have a passion for hoops and ample donor resources, but they also have more consistency year to year (i.e., not as reliant on a relatively random donor stepping up for one player or something. There might be notable differences within the tier (e.g., maybe in a given year Illinois has $10M to spend and Indiana has closer to $15M), but they're more similar to each other than different.
Tier 2B: Another large group of 10+ programs that have objectively good NIL and are only separated from Tier 2A by a pretty immaterial margin due to either (1) being in a conference with a lower payout that will EVENTULLY start to hurt them (e.g., Arizona) or (2) having less of an administrative focus toward hoops as far as their resources go (e.g., Ohio State). They can VERY easily slide into Tier 2A in a given year, just as a Tier 2A program can easily slide down to Tier B. In other words, as you said, Tier 2 is large.
Tier 3: Average NIL. Often outbid by the "big-time programs" but maybe have the potential to fundraise enough cash with the right coach talking to the right donor. Possible examples could include NC State or somewhere similar.
Tier 4: Systemically disadvantaged in some way. Either they have beat down fan enthusiasm so hard over the years (e.g., Iowa), they just have too small and too limited of a donor base (e.g., Wake Forest) or their donors just are not prioritizing this (e.g., Northwestern) ... it's arguably common knowledge they are fighting an uphill battle.
Wherever you would put the cutoffs for these categories, it appears clear we are in Tier 2 ... and that is a great place to be!
I agree that experience should make us better (even if we're not as talented overall). But I'm guessing there will be a couple games where we're not "in the game."
Unless you're a dominant team, bad games happen. And if we're relying on the 3-pt shot the way we did last year, there will be games where we're not hitting and will get blown out.
1a) Beecher's Flagship CheeseIt’s not glamorous or revered like the other cheeses, but I still find great joy in a Kraft single.
1b) Cougar Gold (made on the Washington State campus in Pullman)
Grilled on sourdough from the Sourdough Bread Company in Madison, WI.
I don't know much, but I do know this....best grilled cheese sammy base. You'll thank me later
Indy is there any chance we try to get Luka Bogavac I think he would be the right piece to the puzzle for this team?
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I’m old enough to remember when people were saying we were being outbid for every player because we don’t have the NIL and we’re only ahead of Northwestern and behind Minnesota.
NASchamp
- Atlanta
You forgot the multiple bouts of team-wide Flu we had!
I watched every game last year and it's still crazy to see all those misfortunes typed out in one place
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
This may garner the same reaction as IMO’s pizza did yesterday, but I make my grilled cheese sandwiches with Velveeta. Not technically a cheese, but it’s how Mom made them.1a) Beecher's Flagship Cheese
1b) Cougar Gold (made on the Washington State campus in Pullman)
Grilled on sourdough from the Sourdough Bread Company in Madison, WI.
I don't know much, but I do know this....best grilled cheese sammy base. You'll thank me later
I’m old enough to remember when people were saying we were being outbid for every player because we don’t have the NIL and we’re only ahead of Northwestern and behind Minnesota.
Yeah I remember too lol, Brad had zero booster support and thus very little NIL as the donors move to force him out of the job and Whitman gonna make him fire his son
Week later we are elite NIL spenders and Brad has full reign to fill out his staff as he pleases
This stuff used to drive me insane but I'm coming around to the fact that its actually oddly entertaining
I remember when Purdue was an easy out in the tourney when Painter first started. It pains me to say this but Purdue is by far the favorite in my opinion. They have the best point guard in the league and Painter is pretty much the best coach at this time. The guys they added are very good. Unlike Indiana of yester year, they actually fit together. They also have a cream da cream schedule this year. How will that translate in the tourney? Painter is starting to hit his stride.
I don't think, if we add a player, it'll be until late May. Went over it the other day, but feel this team is older and deeper. Think Andrej and Tomi could be All B10 first team guys.
This made me laugh.
That's impossible regarding Kylan. We've been reliably told it's always about the money.
It's a steal.
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