Hoping TSJ type second year jump.
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
And I thought the staff was going to make a full court press with Blackwell visiting Champaign...I guess that visit is a no-go and so is Blackwell...We still have a final 4 team without him..
Who said we didnt prioritize blackwell?
My guess is a combo of $ and him thinking he won't get the ball in his hands as much as he wants with us returning as much firepower as we are.
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.
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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lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Money probably plays a role. But fit/touches likely does too. And it’s not just Blackwell that would have had to agree to less usage.
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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.
I agree. I see it in the release point of his shot, when Laettner was with the Atlanta Hawks. Great observation.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
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
Steiner math?
Team will be good but definitely not final four good with out Blackwell
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 5️ Peyton Watson … and they finished 2nd in the PAC 12 and got bounced out of the Dance in the Sweet Sixteen.
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.
Was not impressed with his rebounding.
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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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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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.
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.
Because young players get better.
And teams that play together longer typically perform better.
Abraham Lincoln once said 90% of what you read on Facebook isn't true.
This assumes we get literally no improvement from our returning players and that our two freshman guards do not meaningfully contribute.
This team should be better. Mirk year 2 should be better than Mirk year 1. Andrej year 2 in our system and with full summer of Fletch should be better than last year. Tomi had a rough year this year so in theory he should be better. Z should also be better. Jake will be Jake. A sophomore Vaaks should be better than a Freshman Vaaks on a crap team. Will Vaaks be able to produce the same numbers as Keaton? Gonna have to wait and see on that one, but probably a small step down is likely. If we go with the freshman to replace Kylan, I think we improve greatly on offense, but lose a bit on defense. Overall this team should be better than last year's team and at the very least, equal to it. That puts this team at top 5 for sure and looking at everyone else right now, we are probably are anywhere from preseason #1 to #3.