Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[RockfordIllini]

I’m actually fine with rolling what we have. There is a lot of inefficiency we will cut out of Vaak’s game and I’m confident he will be borderline all BIG with the open shots he’s going to get and the mismatches we will have him hunting. Plus I think we can give Coleman a simplified role of spot up shooting and back cutting. And Morillo I think will be a Ty junk yard dog type but with more offensive skill. Think we’ve got a great 8 without Blackwell.

Just a couple of questions on the Blackwell front, which are mostly rhetorical: why would usage/role be a sticking point? Counting stats don’t matter much to the nba, particularly for a role a player like Blackwell is likely to fill in the league. Did his people not just watch Yaxel greatly improve his draft stock (at like 24 which never happens!) on a championship team, winning BIG POY? And what were his counting stats like? And it sounds like we have plenty of money to pay him.

If he wants to chase a slightly bigger bag more power to him, but the reasons given for backing of Illinois just don’t make a lot of sense to me. His people must not be paying attention to what the NBA is looking for. Averaging 20+ a game isn’t going to elevate his draft stock. But like I said, I think we are natty good without him, so good luck.

 

[OB positive]

wagler 2.0. confirmed.

We are going to be dealing with the Keaton effect for some time. Anytime we sign a new recruit with a similar skill set to him we are going we are going to want to believe we have another one. There might be some that do very well for us but most likely they will need development to get on the floor regularly. Keaton was a needle in a haystack.

 

[blackdog]

Id much rather add a true back up power 4. I know people are saying Morrilo can back up the 4 some but i dont see a 6'7" at best 180lb frame doing that well in the B10. Im not drinking that Kool Aid.
I would love someone besides just Z to back up Tomi and Mirk effectively. He is really the only experienced other big we have. It us especailly concerning iven both Ivisic's leg, ankle and other health issues. For me thats a larger concern than guard play. We have some guys that can fill in to help handle the ball after Vaaks. True size down low its more limited. Only Z has much experience backing up the 4/5. Ben filled that role and now we could use someone beside Jakstys with a frame 6'9" or taller and 250 lbs.

What about 6'7 215 because thats what Morillo actually measured

 

[pcvIllini]

Blackwell should talk to Aday Mara about his experience at UCLA before he makes his decision. Losing the joy of basketball doesn’t sound great. Side note, not sure I would want the bulls to draft Mara, especially at 9. Can Mara play 30 mins effectively in the NBA over an 80 game season?

 

[NarrowJ]

My take was a little different. What I saw was a kid who was aggressive in calling for the ball as he crossed into the lane and got to the right places on the court offensively and defensively. Seemed very confident in his game.

I thought Mirk played great in the Summit given limited minutes. I was stoked at how well he defended and rebounded vs Boozer in the post really better than anyone in that game. Given how much we have struggled in post D vs big powerful players i specifucally remember being happy with how well Mirk did that and could fill that role for us. He did that and much more.

Right, I think I agree with you guys. Basically saying same thing I did: lot of positives taken from the one game (and all star type games are even less structured than, say, AAU) but wasn’t a star or standout necessarily. Didn’t score 20, but showed some things.

This staff also has a really good track record of getting significant contributions from promising freshmen.

 

[PapaKvells]

Whether Vaaks/Coleman are better than Boz/Wagler isn’t the deciding factor in this team being as good or even better.

I think with this roster there is opportunity for even more balance than last years team, which makes you harder to defend. Keaton was unbelievable this year, no doubt he is a legend. Late in the year, I felt the ball got stuck in his hands at times and everyone else would just stand around.

The balance UCONN had in the Final 4 game and their ability to make their 3s is what beat us. Vaaks and Coleman have the ability to shoot the 3 at a higher clip than Wagler and Boswell. Boswell was not great offensively after the injury.

Just relax and enjoy the fact that you have an awesome team coming back and it’s April 18th. You can’t make a guy come if he doesn’t want to.

Yes AND…

Everyone keeps comparing next year’s guards to this year’s and marginalizing it because Wagler was so good. That’s valid, but we’re seeing how great players are leaving a legacy starting with Ayo with impacts that outlive their time in Champaign. We started attracting talents like TSJ, Riley, KJ, Wagler and now Coleman, Vaaks and ZZ. The staff is also getting better and better at utilizing them and developing them which will attract more.

I raise this because this every new season you bring in outsiders is a mystery and it is normal to expect regression or a worst case scenario. But the way the program is attracting talent and developing it, the floor is much higher than it would have otherwise been. Even with a regression in the backcourt, I expect the backcourt to be pretty good. But with the synergy and continuity in the front court, I expect them to improve and more than offset any regression in the backcourt because I think the falloff in the backcourt won’t be so stark.

 

[RAM 77]

After watching the worst all-star game in history, you draw that conclusion. This was more And1 than an actual basketball game. They had a 5-foot fat guy in an toon squad uniform announcing on the floor. No conclusions can be drawn from this game whatsoever.

Exactly! Both Quentin and Jason played in the Highland Optimist Shootout this past January. Quentin was much better looking team player as well as attitude. Jason's team got down and he pouted and just went through the motions. Bad look for a guy ranked that high!

 

[PapaKvells]

Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State shot close to 50% from the three. He is the best shooter in the portal and is a 6’8”.

His name ends with “lovic”. I’ve seen enough. Sign him.

 

[CleverHandle1]

Assuming the Blackwell situation ain't happening, are the Illini done with the transfer portal now? Are they interested in anyone else for whatever?

Insiders? Any potential info on this?

 

[Boskydell]

Tyreek Coleman to Iowa.

 

[dank1982]

I love Illinois and their fans but I feel like some of you are always so negative. I feel like if it was raining money outside you guys would complain about what it is doing to the environment.

 

[Pekinfan]

Coleman comes off the bench. He’s already signed. We don’t need internal recruitspeak. He will have a role but he’s not a superstar.

Coleman has not signed

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

We have nobody that can stop dribble penetration playing this lineup.

Vaaks
Stojakovic
Davis
Mirk
Tomi

So what’s the plan on defense? Is Vaaks gonna be the KJ of this group?

our defensive scheme (assuming we keep it) is multilayered

1. General system- pack line. Play in gaps and use length to build a wall against drivers. Make people score over you.

2. Close out under control because you are probably a larger human than the person you’re guarding, make him shoot a contested shot over you.

3. Personnel twist: if your guy can’t shoot help more. If your can shoot, help less. Other guys don’t over rotate to the bad shooter. (The dude from Houston wasn’t a horrible shooter but he got this treatment because every shot he took was a shot sharpe and flemmings didn’t take).

4. Big/little Pick and roll base is drop and go over (make the handler shoot a pull up/floater over the big—sense a theme?), but we definitely worked in more blitzes and hedges this year than recent years.

 

[Lysol623]

I'm mostly a lurker on here, but I've gotta say some of you try awfully hard to find the negative in most any situation. Why not sit back and imagine the great possibilities of this roster?

I disagree with your take. No one is saying this team isn't great, or won't have a chance to make a deep run. The question is can this team win the National Championship next season. That is now a question because this program has made it clear that this is the goal.

There is a big difference between making it to the second weekend and winning a title. For instance, we made the Final Four last year, but were a tier below the other three teams there. We brought some great players back and in, other teams have and will continue to do so as well.

Is this team a National Championship team? Personally, I don't think they are at this point. I do think this team can win the BIG and be in the Final Four conversation. But again, that is a different conversation than winning a title, even if you are close. That being said, there is no reason that any Illini fan shouldn't be enjoying the times that we are in, or appreciating how far Brad has brought us. Winning a title is difficult, even for a preseason number one. Not doing so does not mean your season is a failure, or shouldn't be enjoyed. But fans for sure have the right to question if this roster can win a title as constructed, if this is the program's goal for next season.

 

[Grandpa]

Claiming Andrej can’t stop dribble penetration is silly

The problem will be when we play the teams with multiple quick guards like Wisconsin last year

Or when they set a screen to get Andrej behind the quick guy with the ball. So whenever they really want the guy to drive.

 

[From the cheap seats]

Coleman has not signed

Is that going to be an issue?

 

[PapaKvells]

I’m actually fine with rolling what we have. There is a lot of inefficiency we will cut out of Vaak’s game and I’m confident he will be borderline all BIG with the open shots he’s going to get and the mismatches we will have him hunting. Plus I think we can give Coleman a simplified role of spot up shooting and back cutting. And Morillo I think will be a Ty junk yard dog type but with more offensive skill. Think we’ve got a great 8 without Blackwell.

Just a couple of questions on the Blackwell front, which are mostly rhetorical: why would usage/role be a sticking point? Counting stats don’t matter much to the nba, particularly for a role a player like Blackwell is likely to fill in the league. Did his people not just watch Yaxel greatly improve his draft stock (at like 24 which never happens!) on a championship team, winning BIG POY? And what were his counting stats like? And it sounds like we have plenty of money to pay him.

If he wants to chase a slightly bigger bag more power to him, but the reasons given for backing of Illinois just don’t make a lot of sense to me. His people must not be paying attention to what the NBA is looking for. Averaging 20+ a game isn’t going to elevate his draft stock. But like I said, I think we are natty good without him, so good luck.

We really don’t know what his priorities are. Winning a title matters most to us as fans. But if he dreams of the NBA, he may be excited about Ayo, TSJ, KJ, Riley and Wagler, but still want to get to know other staffs and make sure he’s taking a deep inventory of who he would best click with and who has the best individual plan for him. He may also be looking for a different off court environment and support system. There may be another campus that he just loves and wants to wake up every morning in whether it is Champaign or somewhere else. Happiness matters. Regardless, I’d be over the moon if he chooses Illinois, but wouldn’t begrudge him for a different choice. He may have an old best friend playing at ASU or something. Who knows? I’m just glad that we have the deliverables from the past few years where we will always be in the A-list.

 

[iLL 89ers]

As Illinois fan's we all want the possible best team on the court. IMHO there is not a better front court in the nation...period. With the new additions I'm pretty sure they will get things lined out and figured out with what Coach Underwood and staff have in mind. I'm no coach or insider and all this chatter but I truly think the offense will run through Mirk and Dre quite a bit next season. In Brad we trust, but a finale four team that is returning Mirk, the Towering Twins and Dre with Davis....no team in the country has a better front court....so that IMO will just make the new guard rotation game come easier with that talent not relying on them to instigate offense (Mirk and Dre) will help here no doubt. Great players elevate other players and make the game less simpler and easier...Let's see what Vaaks, Morillo and Coleman can do...with the NBA future jacked front court roster Illinois will 'sport" next season...Mirk will get POY consideration...Dre improves his shot some he is NBA bound and Ivisic very quite possible. What is there not to love here and cherish!!!

 

[Illini1977]

Is this team a National Championship team? Personally, I don't think they are at this point. I do think this team can win the BIG and be in the Final Four conversation. But again, that is a different conversation than winning a title, even if you are close.

Couldn’t agree less. Any team that wins the BIG regular season and/or makes the final 4 is absolutely good enough to win it all

 

[ugottabjoshinme]

Is that going to be an issue?

We hope not lol

 

[RockfordIllini]

I disagree with your take. No one is saying this team isn't great, or won't have a chance to make a deep run. The question is can this team win the National Championship next season. That is now a question because this program has made it clear that this is the goal.

There is a big difference between making it to the second weekend and winning a title. For instance, we made the Final Four last year, but were a tier below the other three teams there. We brought some great players back and in, other teams have and will continue to do so as well.

Is this team a National Championship team? Personally, I don't think they are at this point. I do think this team can win the BIG and be in the Final Four conversation. But again, that is a different conversation than winning a title, even if you are close. That being said, there is no reason that any Illini fan shouldn't be enjoying the times that we are in, or appreciating how far Brad has brought us. Winning a title is difficult, even for a preseason number one. Not doing so does not mean your season is a failure, or shouldn't be enjoyed. But fans for sure have the right to question if this roster can win a title as constructed, if this is the program's goal for next season.

We weren’t a tier below UConn. We just picked a bad day to have a bad day.

 

[ChiefGritty]

we definitely worked in more blitzes and hedges this year than recent years.

Especially as the season went along.

Unpredictability is your friend on defense.

 

[Ogre Battle]

Why are our Illini not talking with Jalen Cox from Colgate as PG? I'd take an experienced PG and a decent backup 4 over any big splash, which the returnees have just provided!

 

[Chillinini]

signing a NIL agreement and a NLI (financial aid) don't go hand in hand. Guess which one is more important to a player and their rep(s)? The other is eventually signed.

 

[illini0440]

our defensive scheme (assuming we keep it) is multilayered

1. General system- pack line. Play in gaps and use length to build a wall against drivers. Make people score over you.

2. Close out under control because you are probably a larger human than the person you’re guarding, make him shoot a contested shot over you.

3. Personnel twist: if your guy can’t shoot help more. If your can shoot, help less. Other guys don’t over rotate to the bad shooter. (The dude from Houston wasn’t a horrible shooter but he got this treatment because every shot he took was a shot sharpe and flemmings didn’t take).

4. Big/little Pick and roll base is drop and go over (make the handler shoot a pull up/floater over the big—sense a theme?), but we definitely worked in more blitzes and hedges this year than recent years.

Thank you