Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#176      
Tophe
LvilleILL1 said:
There's announcements coming this week. Be patient (if possible).
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i hate waiting.gif
 
#177      
Nuke Dukem
ras0710 said:
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.
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This must be 0440’s new account.
 
#178      
TentakilRex
It would be great if there could be one announcement akin to the 2010 Miami Heat "Big 3" announcement (if possible, don't want to ask for too much here)

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Dirk Nowitzki debunked those clowns aura in 2011.....
 
#182      
lstewart53x3
Iroquois County Illini said:
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
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Assuming Ty returns, I see him as the possible Andrej back up. Just because the staff will likely want to stagger their minutes. Would hurt spacing to have two non-shooters on the floor at the same time.
 
#183      
ChiefGritty
the juiceman cometh said:
I just don't see why our half court offense would be so different as to undergo such a dramatic change.
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We underwent a dramatic change this year from 17th in tempo to 295th.

Vaaks is a guy that can operate as a PnR ballhandler, as presumably can Coleman, but Keaton Wagler they are not.

We went slow this year partially because we were so big and didn't have a full court demon like a TSJ or Ayo, but it was also because Wagler and Boswell could just keep plays humming and defenses stretching for the full 30 seconds without being bogged down.

That wouldn't be the core skillset of what we are now creating. We would probably post up more. Tomi in the post, double, kick out, swing, swing, shoot it. Offensive rebound, repeat.

It will probably look more like 2024 than 2026.
 
#185      
Curbelo Fanboy
ChiefGritty said:
We underwent a dramatic change this year from 17th in tempo to 295th.

Vaaks is a guy that can operate as a PnR ballhandler, as presumably can Coleman, but Keaton Wagler they are not.

We went slow this year partially because we were so big and didn't have a full court demon like a TSJ or Ayo, but it was also because Wagler and Boswell could just keep plays humming and defenses stretching for the full 30 seconds without being bogged down.

That wouldn't be the core skillset of what we are now creating. We would probably post up more. Tomi in the post, double, kick out, swing, swing, shoot it. Offensive rebound, repeat.

It will probably look more like 2024 than 2026.
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TBH I'd like to see us be able to play faster at times. One adjustment Brad made in the elite 8 game at half time was we did play a bit faster in the 2nd half vs the first. Nothing crazy but just a little quicker. I think that helped force our urgency & eventually wore Iowa down.

Nothing crazy & you can't argue with this year's results but being able to go fast/slow as the situation dictates is a nice tactic to use.
 
#187      
AirTran
ChiefGritty said:
We underwent a dramatic change this year from 17th in tempo to 295th.

Vaaks is a guy that can operate as a PnR ballhandler, as presumably can Coleman, but Keaton Wagler they are not.

We went slow this year partially because we were so big and didn't have a full court demon like a TSJ or Ayo, but it was also because Wagler and Boswell could just keep plays humming and defenses stretching for the full 30 seconds without being bogged down.

That wouldn't be the core skillset of what we are now creating. We would probably post up more. Tomi in the post, double, kick out, swing, swing, shoot it. Offensive rebound, repeat.

It will probably look more like 2024 than 2026.
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We had the most efficient offense in the country. We went slow because we were one of the best interior passing and shooting teams Illinois has ever had and we reclaimed 40% of the missed 3pt opportunities. If Tomi, Z, Mirk, Jake, Andre (who will be all by his lonesome on the weakside wing) and Ty all return, I doubt very much there is going to be any difference in pace. The key for us is points per possession at both ends of the floor.
 
#190      
soupy17
ChiefGritty said:
We underwent a dramatic change this year from 17th in tempo to 295th.

Vaaks is a guy that can operate as a PnR ballhandler, as presumably can Coleman, but Keaton Wagler they are not.

We went slow this year partially because we were so big and didn't have a full court demon like a TSJ or Ayo, but it was also because Wagler and Boswell could just keep plays humming and defenses stretching for the full 30 seconds without being bogged down.

That wouldn't be the core skillset of what we are now creating. We would probably post up more. Tomi in the post, double, kick out, swing, swing, shoot it. Offensive rebound, repeat.

It will probably look more like 2024 than 2026.
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KenPom Rates:

2024: ORtg: 125.5 - Rank 3 | AdjT: 69.8 - Rank 66
2025: ORtg: 121.9 - Rank 14 | AdjT: 71.5 - Rank 17
2026: ORtg: 131.1 - Rank 2 | AdjT: 65.4 - Rank 295

I feel like your point about lacking a TSJ or Ayo still stands with this team. The bigs are still the same bigs which will be the focal point of the offense. The skillset of the guards will change, but I agree still that the bigs will be the focal point of the offense.

Maybe we find some quicker outside looks and we aren't quite as slow as this past season, but I still see a very deliberate offense and not one that will typically get out and run. I'd be surprised if our Tempo number is closer to '24 than '26.
 
#194      
ChiefGritty
AirTran said:
We had the most efficient offense in the country. We went slow because we were one of the best interior passing and shooting teams Illinois has ever had and we reclaimed 40% of the missed 3pt opportunities. If Tomi, Z, Mirk, Jake, Andre (who will be all by his lonesome on the weakside wing) and Ty all return, I doubt very much there is going to be any difference in pace. The key for us is points per possession at both ends of the floor.
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We had the 2nd most efficient offense in the country, and in 2024 playing much faster we were 3rd.

The pace does not make the efficiency, the pace highlights the strengths of the players and the strengths of the players makes the efficiency.

More pace is more possessions which means more fouls too, which should help us.

soupy17 said:
The bigs are still the same bigs which will be the focal point of the offense.
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I agree but they mostly weren't last year, it was Keaton's show.

We ran offense through Tomi all the time in '25, but did so rarely last year (got back to it a little out of desperation vs UConn). That's gotta come back, we are going to get to Detroit and put Tomi in the NBA that way. Pulling his defender away from the basket as a high screener to clear Wagler's runway is going to be less important.
 
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#195      
RollChief
NarrowJ said:
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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It seems like Brad and co have put the team in a really good position to make a case that any person on the roster has a fair shake at minutes, and have also made a case that you don't need to be a starter to have a serious impact on the team (see: Andrej Stojakovic coming off the bench and averaging 26 minutes and 14 points in a final four run, Will Riley coming off the bench for most the season and getting drafted in the first round, etc.). "Next Man Up" is a bit of a cliche, but the winning strategy over the last four years hasn't been a secret and has rewarded players who come in, adopt it, and make a consistent impact.

Further, on the point of team cliches, Brad and co seem to have also done a miraculous job comparatively of recruiting guys that are somewhat ego-less, and play for the "name on the front of the jersey", and proven that team success also leads to individual success ("rising tide lifts all boats", another cliche for ya).

I have no idea what is going to happen with Jake Davis this offseason, but you can create some implications/comparisons for him with others over the past few years. IMO, he comps really well with Jacob Grandison and Luke Goode. If I'm Jake Davis, do I want to go try my luck at a different high-caliber team to see if I can crack the rotation (the Grandison track)? Or do I want to go play for a bottom-half B1G or other P5 team that I may have more resonance with, and make more of an impact on, but ultimately will not see a F4 again?

If I'm Jake Davis, and I already have a noted leadership position and have become a stalwart for the culture, and I've started on a F4 roster with said team, it seems like a strong case can be made for coming back and competing for a rotation/role position again, and reap the rewards of a team with already one of the highest ceilings in CBB (assuming he has a good idea of who is staying and going, and the money is equivalent).
 
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