Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#876      
Fly Illini Fly!
So, here’s my take if this is our final roster:

Do I think this team is BETTER than last year? Just guy for guy, which team is better… no. I think it’s a slightly less talented team (but not by that much) with what you’re losing in the backcourt.

HOWEVER, and this is a very big however:

Other top teams will be losing their best players. We were a final 4 team last season, and finished 5th in the AP… and returning all of our “returnable” core.

I’ve seen the argument that we’re going “lateral” so how are we better, higher ranked, and have a better season? The answer is exactly that. We’re going lateral with a F4 team while other teams are DOWNGRADING. So, if we’re ranked top 5 preseason or whatever it ends up being… it will be completely justified.

Whether you replicate — or even top your success from a year ago — has no bearing on last year… but where you are THIS year. Bringing back a core that finished as a top 5 team — while other teams lose talent — is an awfully good formula.
 
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#877      
HailtotheChief
I might be the only one that thinks we are fine without Blackwell. Team Coleman and Morillo.
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I dont think someone walks in and plays like Blackwell but it could happen again.
 
#879      
BuckDitkis
Don't expect Blackwell at this point.

This is a top five team already.

I still think at some point they are going to add one more, either a guard or four.
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Is it coming down to money or is he just taking too long for the staff’s liking?
 
#880      
That's Just Groce
With no Blackwell, still hoping for another veteran guard, like a Justin Harmon type to bring some experience. Our backcourt will be really inexperienced without.
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Agreed- but those guys are so hard to find at this point. He was a good ball player that was happy to take a roll. Those guys are getting too much money now
 
#881      
Cook
We'll be better than fine, but what happened to not pivoting? Price too high or did something else sour?
 
#882      
wncillini
LvilleILL1 said:
Don't expect Blackwell at this point.

This is a top five team already.

I still think at some point they are going to add one more, either a guard or four.
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Well that would stink. There was a sizeable step down from Michigan, Arizona, and Duke to the next tier this year. At present we are worse off than last year. Maybe we get a jump in play from all major contributors but that is asking a lot. You would also need Coleman to basically be a top 3 pick instead of Waglers 3 to 7 to improve.

Maybe we will get lucky and the top 3 teams just won't be as good this year. Maybe we will get another very favorable path to the final four. Maybe everyone will be healthy and play better together down the stretch.

Thats a whole lot of maybes. As constructed last year's team would beat this year's team right now.

Ill still enjoy the season like always, but it had a chance to be a special one. Feels like we are tackling the last season before a rebuild 1 stud short.
 
#885      
BBlock24
wncillini said:
Well that would stink. There was a sizeable step down from Michigan, Arizona, and Duke to the next tier this year. At present we are worse off than last year. Maybe we get a jump in play from all major contributors but that is asking a lot. You would also need Coleman to basically be a top 3 pick instead of Waglers 3 to 7 to improve.

Maybe we will get lucky and the top 3 teams just won't be as good this year. Maybe we will get another very favorable path to the final four. Maybe everyone will be healthy and play better together down the stretch.

Thats a whole lot of maybes. As constructed last year's team would beat this year's team right now.

Ill still enjoy the season like always, but it had a chance to be a special one. Feels like we are tackling the last season before a rebuild 1 stud short.
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debbie downer GIF
 
#886      
Illinicpa14
Fly Illini Fly! said:
So, here’s my take if this is our final roster:

Do I think this team is BETTER than last year? Just play a game, who would win… no. I think it’s a slightly less talented team (but not by that much) with what you’re losing in the backcourt.

HOWEVER, and this is a very big however:

Other top teams will be losing their best players. We were a final 4 team last season, and finished 5th in the AP… and returning all of our “returnable” core.

I’ve seen the argument that we’re going “lateral” so how are we better, higher ranked, and have a better season? The answer is exactly that. We’re going lateral with a F4 team while other teams are DOWNGRADING. So, if we’re ranked top 5 preseason or whatever it ends up being… it will be completely justified.

Whether you replicate or even top your success has nothing to do with where you were last year… but where you are THIS year. Bringing back a core that finished as a top 5 team — while other teams lose talent — is an awfully good formula.
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I think you’re underestimating how much better players can jump year to year at this age and also comparing a finished product team in April with defined roles and development to now.

Keaton in October is not the same Keaton in April.

Look at Ben year 2 vs year 1
 
#887      
fatboyslim
So we are going to downgrade at the guard spot and be top 5?! How does that make sense?
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Brace Yourself Here We Go GIF by MOODMAN


The poster literally four posts above yours just explained it. If you don’t understand then that’s your problem.
 
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#888      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
skyIdub said:
Balkan math.
Retention math.
Portal math.
Pizza Hut math.
Elite math.
Super soaker math.
Beet juice math.
Greek math.
Assistant math.
AI math.
Shoe math.
Social media math.
B1G math.
NCAA math.
Banner math.
Ticket math.
Substitution math.
BLOB math.
SLOB math.



Still working on:
Time out math.
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Steiner math?
 
#891      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
WeWillWhen said:
UCLA 21-22: all rotation players returned from the prior year’s Final Four team, including Jaquez, Juzang, Tyger Campbell, Jules Bernard, Jaylen Clark … they added 5⭐️ Peyton Watson … and they finished 2nd in the PAC 12 and got bounced out of the Dance in the Sweet Sixteen. 🤔
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True though they lost to a UNC team that as an 8 seed got one of the softer bracket runs to a national title game runner-up run.
 
#892      
wncillini
Who said we didnt prioritize blackwell?
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If its true and with the rumors coming out today, it would appear the reason was dre. We prioritized dre( and we should have). If that loses us Blackwell then it is, what it is.
 
#893      
Ga65
millineum said:
I watched the all star game and he impressed me with his defense size and hit a few threes. I think this year he will be similar to Ben little worse at shooting. Which is awesome
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Was not impressed with his rebounding.
 
#894      
fatboyslim
wncillini said:
Well that would stink. There was a sizeable step down from Michigan, Arizona, and Duke to the next tier this year. At present we are worse off than last year. Maybe we get a jump in play from all major contributors but that is asking a lot. You would also need Coleman to basically be a top 3 pick instead of Waglers 3 to 7 to improve.

Maybe we will get lucky and the top 3 teams just won't be as good this year. Maybe we will get another very favorable path to the final four. Maybe everyone will be healthy and play better together down the stretch.

Thats a whole lot of maybes. As constructed last year's team would beat this year's team right now.

Ill still enjoy the season like always, but it had a chance to be a special one. Feels like we are tackling the last season before a rebuild 1 stud short.
Click to expand...
Arizona and Duke? Those teams lost a lot more than we did. Even Michigan will too. All of them have a lot more question marks right now than us.
 
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#895      
RichardKeene’sHair
SoILLini1 said:
So we are going to downgrade at the guard spot and be top 5?! How does that make sense?
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We are replacing Keaton Wagler with top 30 freshmen and much bigger & stronger all conference 6’7” NBA prospect Stefan Vaaks.

Wagler was great, but not irreplaceable. He is being drafted in the lottery on his upside.

Cooould even argue Sophomore Vaaks > Frosh Wagler in overall productivity. (Wagler will have a much better pro career but just in terms of their college impact for one season)
 
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#896      
mysterio2525
I personally want another proven guard. I think that may be considered overkill but this is the time to strike! one of the biggest mistakes we made after 05 was not being able to push all in. Underwood certainly isn't Webber and has the ability to recruit at the highest level.

if not Blackwell, maybe we get McNeil or Terrance Hill. I trust the staff either way they have proven it but would love to have our stud freshman in the McKenney/cason role off the bench like Michigan did last year.
 
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