Morillo looks so good at World Summit. Handles ball very well for 6-7, seems to have the "it" factor that does well in crowded arenas.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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To whom much is given…much is expected.
I think Pope has gotten weirder - if that's even possible
Wait a minute, we’re using height and ability to jump as transitive properties to compare Ty and anybody else to All-Pro players and the best rebounder in the history of the NBA?
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
As much as I hate Mizzou, I also want them to be good for that reason. But not so good that they can beat us. #1 vs #9 when we play them would be great
CrazedUIFan
UI Fan in QC Land
am I the only one excited to see how the retention will be announced tomorrow?
Illini vs SC Derby and quick stop at Mirk’s house for burek
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
Nonsense. KJ Lewis is an excellent defensive player.
I thought he was genuinely a great person - not that you necessaarily can't be both- he takes responsibility, cares about the community, etc,
No, but our coaches are. I'll see myself out. The door is over to the left correct?
Actually.. thst is not possoble. For Ty to come in someone has to go tp the bench thats ahead of him to get in the tTop 9 guys in the rotation. I dont see Ty in that group. To do so somwone out of T, Z, Mirk, Andre, Vaaks, Blackwell or another, Jake, Coleman, or Morillo has to come out of the group! BU wont have 10 guys in the group playing 10 plus minutes. Talk is cheap, someone will need to sit for Ty to play. The onltvway 10 play is if we add another big man and even thats not likely. It seems we may be in bettee shape with 1 less wing and 1 more versitile true post guy . Ty is buried on this group for next season.
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Which was only the first half of the season ... Shot 28 percent from 3.
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
Everything you said is correct, aside from still holding out hope he can shoot. Love Ty, but it will never be part of his game. We need to stop holding out hope for that.
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This roster isnt built for booty ball. It is built on spacing the floor with pick n pop from 3 and gettimg driving lay ups for Andre. For that reason its highly unlikely we see non shooters play whenevee Andre is on the floor because it kills floor spacing. People may not want to admit that the only time Ty plays is likely when Andre sits and even then he likely wont be in because thats not how this roster is designed anymore. The guys coming in can all shoot for a reason.
TheDukeUIUC
- Twin Cities, MN
You're right, its impossible to improve shooting percentages through practice. he just shouldn't even try to work on that part of his game and be a more complete player. /s
Owen Freeman has entered the transfer portal. Seems like a viable option to back up Mirk. May be pricey though since he’s been a starter at Iowa and Creighton.
www.espn.com
Owen Freeman - Creighton Bluejays Forward - ESPN
View the profile of Creighton Bluejays Forward Owen Freeman on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Well, if there is one thing we can say with certainty - his coaches and teammates have seen him play... everyday. If they didn't think he could help the team next year he would already be in the transfer portal. I can't speak to his shooting improvement or if his injury hurts his ability to get the rim, his defense or his rebounding.
However, if physically he is up to it and his skills are only slightly better than what they were 2 years ago, the 3 biggest beneficiaries of Ty being on the floor at the same time are (1) Andrej, (2) Mirk, (3) Jake.
Keep in mind Ty moved from wing in 2023 to PG in 2024 and Illinois went to the elite 8. He is very effective at the rim and we all know what he can do on the glass and defensively.
However I will add one other piece. In 60 years of watching Illinois basketball (46 years on cable and satellite) Ty Rodgers is in the top 3 Illinois basketball players I have seen in terms of Intelligence. Up there Bruce Douglas, Derek Harper and obviously Kendall Gill, Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Roger Powell. Specifically Ty's movement off the ball. He clearly comes into games very prepared because both offensively and defensively he knows where the ball is going.
"Eager Illinois donors were willing to go overboard for Wagler, but concerns of a debilitating injury required huge guarantees beyond a single season." https://www.news-gazette.com/sports...cle_1cb5f0ce-98a5-4a41-9dab-589d137f4cfb.html
Mirks a banger and will play 30+ minutes a game and if both Z and Tomi return you have the option of playing twin 7 footers that even if they aren't overly physical they can defend the rim against physical 4s.
I'd argue Ty gives you more value because you get a more mobile 4 that can switch 1-4 and and chase shooters around screens which is just a different type of player to Mirk. Whereas your more old school 4 would have a more redundant skillset to Mirk.
I don't think you're going to get a super talented forward to want to come here knowing they will see limited minutes behind Mirk.
I think all your points have some merit but point 2 really stands out.
Ty's injury was reported as a partial tear so I don't know if thats a major difference(maybe there is a doctor here that can explain) but patellar tendon injuries are often times career enders or at least guys never really return to form.
Oladipo just had his career basically ended by one. Antonio Mcdyess was never the same player after his though he still had a solid career. Jeremy Lin only managed to play another season or two after his. Caron Butler managed to hand around for a few years but he's one of the few.
Now he will have had basically 18 months to recover by the start of the season and Illinois obviously has a better idea of the injury and his recovery but there is a chance he's just not the same run/jump athlete that we saw his first two years.
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