Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#951      
This is a good question. Illinois has already spent around 15 million this offseason, which is easily top 10 in the country. If you saw what type of numbers teams were willing to pay Mirkovic, Tomi, and Drej, you would be floored. Illinois can afford Blackwell, but they are also confident in the incoming freshman/Vaaks (they spent a ton of Vaaks, Coleman, and Morillo) to fit in really well with your three to five. There's also very high optimism that Ethan Brown will make a impact right away.

Certain people in Blackwells camp did not want him to take the risk of going to Illinois, when Vaaks/Coleman/Drej are all potential breakout pieces and he would have been a secondary option (if those guys breakout).
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#953      
Sounds like the young man needs to maybe make a decision if his agent is actually interested in what’s best for him or is capable of representing him properly. Kids from a basketball family, let them take the reins and not be dictated to by a suit

His agent went to UCLA …

Just something to note …
 
#954      
Once again….money and PT not the issue with Blackwell. His agent is in his ear about usage here. @LvilleILL1 god bless you lol
His agent has every right to question that. I would. He's got one year left to impress the NBA scouts and there are already a lot of guys on this roster who are trying to do the same. There's only one ball.

Also, I'm guessing Drej's agent was having very similar concerns.
 
#956      
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
Great clarity. It's unfortunate, and actually I'm encouraged to know it wasn't about money. Shows the donor support is big time.

At the end of the day, can only control the controllables.
 
#957      
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
this, unfortunately, sounds like a red flag being raise. maybe half staff
 
#958      
If we are a team.that wants a title, I'm not sure how you go from wanting a 20ppg guy to being okay without. And to the point where you won't bring in an equivalent. I trust this staff as they've earned it, this just seems odd.
Wouldn't be near a 20ppg guy with this lineup. Probably a contributing factor to why he may sign elsewhere. Not everyone's a Yaxel who is willing to sacrifice his personal statistics to play for a chance to win a natty.
 
#959      
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
Then it really was never about being part of winning a championship.
 
#960      
Would you rather be a preseason bubble team?
Of course not. But I don’t think that’s what I’m suggesting we try to be. All I’m saying is if two recent examples are Purdue last year and UNC a couple years ago who crumbled under the weight of being preseason no.1, I’d rather rise to the rank than having nowhere to go but down. Other examples also tend to fizzle out. Heavy is the head that wears that early crown, and typically none can hold the weight. Our athletic department has had a tendency to struggle with exceptionally high expectations.
 
#962      
These are the same players that needed Keaton on the court for 40 minutes a game for things to run well. I’m not saying the new players can’t fill that role I’m just saying it’s a giant unknown.
Our greatest advantage all season was our rebounding. That’s not changing. Our offense will create good shots. We did what we did with Keaton because we had Keaton, but our staff has consistently been able to figure out ways to get guys in space, regardless of personnel. We have plenty of offensive talent. I don’t see lack of scoring as a potential issue.
If you want to worry about defense, perhaps you might have a case, but Keaton’s defense can certainly be replaced. That’s not why he’s getting drafted.
 
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#963      
Then it really was never about being part of winning a championship.

And that for me and our staff this afternoon … 🚩

Excited Lets Go GIF
 
#965      
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
Where is he thinking of going? The other schools he seems to be looking at have very good players and many mouths to feed.
Look at the retention. Stojakovic is a scorers. Who else would he be afraid he is going to lose shots too. Davis, Big Z, Tomi? Come on. The freshman? I think Blackwell has a better opinion of himself than that.

Good coaches, and I believe we have them, when someone tells a recruit he would have a smaller role at a certain school, the certain school should stroke his ego. "I guess we just know you are a better player than they think you are. You are going to be the man here."

If Blackwell came here I would lay good money he would lead this team in scoring. And it would be on a top national title contender.
 
#966      
Blackwell does not make or break us. Hes a pure score but we have so many weapons on this team as far as scoring. Pivot and move on. I am sure we are going to add another very good player.
I agree Blackwell isn’t make or break. I think maybe the issue people are having is it sounds like we’re wrapping up additions and not picking up a replacement piece for the blackwell interest. If we knowingly were pivoting, maybe the loss wouldn’t hurt as much?
 
#967      
His agent went to UCLA …

Just something to note …
If I’m Blackwell I’d be pissed being advised to go to a team that’ll finish 7th (if they are lucky) just to average 2 points more a game. Could go to a team with damn near national title or bust expectations, an elite roster, and an alpha role. I can’t fathom him seeing mick “little man syndrome” Cronin as the way to go. Im going to be sick.
 
#968      
Putting this as nicely as possible …

Blackwell has some certain people in his ear telling him how the role for him isn’t what he needs here … Too many mouths to feed … He wouldn’t be successful …

It has nothing to do with us “whiffing” or not having the money … He’d start … He’d get 30+ minutes a night and he’d get an absolute BAG …

But some people who in my opinion don’t know ball think somehow he wouldn’t have the role he needs … Just what it is …

Vaaks will be the primary handler … Morillo and Coleman are going to play big roles …
Yeah, I'm not upset with anyone about losing out on Blackwell, especially if that's the reason (not the right fit anyway). But if we thought we wanted/needed him, I'm surprised there isn't/won't be someone else who could make us better- even a defensive piece or extra insurance in case of injury/underperformance.

Yes, we have a stacked roster and #TheRetention is something to celebrate. I don't care about pre-season media rankings, though pre-season odds are interesting and they have us around #3-7 and a definite step down from UM and Duke. Those are of course wild predictions, but it isn't crazy to wonder if a little extra could end up being the difference that gets us a natty.
 
#970      
Then it really was never about being part of winning a championship.
It's part of him wanting to be a featured, ball dominant, guard. To me, stay at Wisconsin and it's guaranteed.

If it was about winning with him, he would have signed the second Drej did.

Can't hate on the kid for wanting to be "the man", put up huge numbers and show out for scouts, but don't give the BS cover that winning is what means most.

The first part is totally understandable. Neither UCLA nor Louisville will be a threat for anything, with or without Blackwell. He would be able to get plenty of shots off however.
 
#973      
Remember this afternoon, when we were the pre-season number one? The prohibitive favorite to win a national championship? Those were fun times weren’t they! 🤣
 
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#975      
I agree Blackwell isn’t make or break. I think maybe the issue people are having is it sounds like we’re wrapping up additions and not picking up a replacement piece for the blackwell interest. If we knowingly were pivoting, maybe the loss wouldn’t hurt as much?
I still think there is something up our sleeves. I wouldn't bet that we are done yet. Even if we are, it's one hell of a class coming in.
 
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