Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#151      
Kilgore Trout
I didn’t pretend to know anything beyond what I learn watching. If your team had 9-10 excellent players could you go with an “everbody is a starterl” philosophy? That whichever 5 players practices the best, or meets some sets of goals/priorities preceding the game are that game’s starters? Maybe that’s just impossible given realities, just something I wonder about when we could potentially have so much depth.
 
#152      
marvin1991
I am just going to add that when you go to a final four it makes things so much easier.

Nicolas Cage Wink GIF
 
#160      
STLflyinIllini
Fly Illini Fly! said:
One thing that should be noted is Blackwell played with Nick Boyd (and succeeded wonderfully). He was not the alpha on that team, Boyd was.

So, I'd imagine he's capable of co-existing with other good players.
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there is a difference between sharing 50% of a teams shots with 1 other player, and having a lineup where 4/5 guys need a ton of shots. Would be interesting to see.
 
#161      
the juiceman cometh
ChiefGritty said:
This is very true and distinguishes Blackwell among other scorer-type portal options, among them AJ Storr.

But it's also another way of saying that he's an off-ball player and not an offense initiator.

Vaaks helps there to a degree. But I think people are underestimating how different an offense that replaces Wagler and Boswell with Vaaks/Coleman/Blackwell would be. We're going to have to play faster, ball movement in the half court just isn't going to be the same.
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I disagree. Yes Vaaks and Blackwell played in faster pace offenses this past season. But Blackwell also shot 46% from 3 as a freshman in a Wisconsin team that was #304 in tempo. I could see his efficiency improve in a slower paced offense.

Vaaks as a player is known to be a very good pick and roll operator. This was the scouting report on him before he even came to the US. In addition, our bigs are all good passers in the half court, Blackwell is a good passer and is also good at getting open off a screen for catch and shoot or driving opportunities, and Stoj is good at finding lanes to drive in the half court offense. I just don't see why our half court offense would be so different as to undergo such a dramatic change. Yes, Vaaks is not going to be getting to the rim with Keaton's efficiency. I don't think there's a single PG in the portal we could grab that would be. Which is why Blackwell is a good fit, as someone who can utilize the open lanes that develop due to our 5-out offense.

I do think these moves could open up the potential to play faster, and capitalize on transition points more effectively, but I don't think we'd abandon the deliberate half-court offensive style that served us well this season, and I see no reason these additions would force us to.
 
#165      
Oldskoolkoach
They’re only interested in the right piece at the right price to backup Mirk and potentially play some 5 … Spot minutes …

Misko said he might have a guy … Now that guy is in the portal …
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So our relationship with Misko is good!
 
#166      
NarrowJ
jamarvelous31 said:
There's a mile of difference between being the 9th guy on what this IL roster is shaping up to be and most other teams.

Jake was a starter the end of the year and averaged 19 mpg on a final 4 team. He would easily start on a lower half of the B10 team. Morillo would be a top contributor if not starter as well.
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Have our intentions to sign Blackwell (or another quality guard) not been made known to the players? I mean it’s basically public info that we are going to do that.

Edit: Regardless of 9th man at Illinois vs 9th man at Kennesaw State, I would still refuse to believe some our players thought we’d not fill out the roster
 
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#167      
Iroquois County Illini
I honestly don’t see the need for another transfer addition after Blackwell/guard spot is filled. So long as Ty’s knee is good to go, I fully expect him to be involved in the rotation. He’s our best rebounder, besides mirk, on the roster, he can handle the rock, and can guard guards, wings, and small ball bigs. Have a hard time seeing Brad not turn to him in tight games for a variety of situations. 5 years in one program is huge from a leadership standpoint too, a true coach on the floor type. Also, and most important, he’s one of my favorite players/characters of the underwood era, and I’m biased haha
 
#169      
ras0710
Long time lurker, but first time poster. Curious- shouldn't Tyler be in line for a big raise? He reminds me of Gentry and having him as the OC is huge for attracting player and still competing at a high level. Also, Brad went with 8 this year, maybe go up to 9, but other than money and the chance for a NC or FF run again, don't you think that it will be a tall order to get guys to come or stay with potentially reduced minutes (if he goes with 9). I understand it all works out and playing time is earned, but I thought the chemistry was pretty good this year which was part of the reasons for success, and I wonder if too many studs would lead to a Mayer-Clark year.
 
#173      
AirTran
Have our intentions to sign Blackwell (or another quality guard) not been made known to the players? I mean it’s basically public info that we are going to do that.
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Great question and none of us could possible know the answer. But if the goal was retention of the rest of the roster, I would think based on past off - seasons several of the players had input into plans A, B & C.
 
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