Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#926      
RollChief
Frank said:
I really think people are stressing about a role that is going to provide 5-8 min of backup time to Mirk. I’d be surprised if Mirk averages less than 32 min, unless we happen to bring in somebody that is actually good enough to warrant giving him more extended rest. The issue with failing to add somebody is less about a trusted reserve role, imo, as it is about injury insurance.
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Yeah no kidding, he was close to it this year, and I don't see him regressing in minutes.

Out of all things to contemplate about this roster, the backup 4/Humrichous replacement seems pretty low on the totem pole. Our front court is going to be pretty dang good as it is, if not the best in the country.

If anyone is concerned about not having a backup for Mirk, I would challenge you to find the last Championship team with more than 3 guys over 6'9" in the rotation. Further, it was only 2 short years ago that we went to an Elite 8 with a front court of Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Quincy Guerrier. We got exposed for it against UConn, but I'm pretty sure we've pretty effectively filled that hole.

Seems like there's bigger fish to fry here (figuratively)
 
#927      
Illini4Christ
Indy Illini Fan said:
Think you’re going to see Mirk play A LOT … He won’t be out unless foul trouble …

And Brad plans to have a full summer to work on playing the twins together …
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Sounds Good To Me Love This Song GIF
 
#929      
Curbelo Fanboy
That's crazy, that's such a burned in memory for me too. An Xmas break game if I recall correctly, and I'd driven down from the burbs and was in normal people seats rather than the student section. And yeah, we just were not playing the same sport as those guys, there had been a changing of the guard in the Big Ten.

And the thing about Bruce being suited for a mid-major job (or maybe it would be more accurate to say a scrappy ankle-biter major conference job like a Colorado or a Boston College or something) is that while everybody would say he got way more out of his 08-09 team with Chet and Trent Meacham and Mike Davis than Thad Matta would have, Matta got way more out of Oden and Conley than Bruce would have. He just wasn't able to take that star quality and guide it into big time winners, the only time he ever did that was with guys who someone else had already taught to play and win together.
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Yep - Bruce could coach up the "try hards" but the try hards don't play games after the 2nd/3rd weekend in March. Sweet 16 max kind of teams 9 times out 10.
 
#930      
BretMyBeachHouse
I have to hand it to Louisville. It looks to me like they are going all in, for better or worse, on their coach who so far has underperformed. Given the choices of a) hanging him out to dry, b) jumping on the carousel, or c) funding the he$% out of the program and giving him no excuses, it looks like they're going c.

If they don't make the FF with this load they could be shopping for both a coach and AD.
 
#932      
Mr. Tibbs
I hope we get Blackwell, but these things typically don't end well for us.

Perhaps things have changed; regardless, next year is going to be a fun year.
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yup

we lose the hat dance 7 outta 8 times
 
#933      
zentrails
HailtotheChief said:
Ty Rodgers is not a viable power 4 at 6'6" 210. All this talk about him being something he isnt needs to stop. Maryland and most others with big 4s like Michigan, Purdue, MSU. or Maryland's Pherrell Payne at 6'9" 250 would destroy him. We need a real power 4 or that crap wont stop with Mirk on the bench. If we dont add someone our best option after Mirk or Z isnt Ty.
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OTOH Boz did just fine guarding players that were a LOT taller
 
#934      
PepeSilvia
ChiefGritty said:
It was at least non-catastrophic this year, and without Humrichous we're going to have to be able to get away with a few minutes a game that way next year.

I just want more Z in general, that guy is so unique.
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I think Z will benefit a ton from another off-season with Fletch. He looked significantly bigger this year.

Defensively, you likely have to learn how to play a zone with both or it be a matchup where Z can guard on the perimeter.

Offensively I think it would be interesting to pound it inside with twin seven footers in the paint and see if teams can stop them from hitting floaters and getting offensive rebound. Then you have two good passers if perimeter defenders crash in.
 
#935      
ColSLU69
I still wish we had more than 15 fouls at those 2 spots. Especially if two of the three get 2 or 3 fouls fairly early.
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Agreed on the 15 fouls angle. Then there's the injury angle. No backup to Z or Mirk if, for instance, Tomi is injured.
 
#943      
Fly Illini Fly!
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#944      
RimPressure
Indy Illini Fan said:
And Brad plans to have a full summer to work on playing the twins together …
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I would imagine part of the sell to get Z to come back would have to be that he will get more minutes in general, so yeah that'd mean more minutes with both twins on the floor.

The weird thing with Z on defense is he seems to move very well for his size, and thus is more capable than Tomi at guarding in space, and can make up for getting beat by being super long with good timing and explosion to contest a shot... But he's such a good shot blocker that you'd rather Z be the one protecting the rim instead of Tomi and not be guarding a 4 in space. Kind of a weird dynamic.
 
#946      
RollChief
HailtotheChief said:
I still wish we had more than 15 fouls at those 2 spots. Especially if two of the three get 2 or 3 fouls fairly early.
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Last year we were second in the nation for all D-1 teams in fouls given at 13.4. Foul discipline was a strong point for this year's team, especially in the front court.

Specifically for the front court (T, Z and Mirk), the highest total between those three was 11 fouls against MSU, and there was <6 times that they combined for more than 7 fouls.

I get where you're coming from but it's pretty tough to have a reserve guy as a 4th man in a top-tier front court rotation, who is serviceable enough and who we would want taking up minutes, vs getting one or two more high-caliber 1,2, or 3's.
 
#948      
Hessel Blvd
there is a big-time hole at the 5-spot coming up after next year.... I really expect there to be a big man in the mix this year too. China? Europe?
 
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