A tad sarcastic on my part, perhaps. I would love 15 guys that were all American caliber and run 5 on 5 off at all times, full press, grinnell offense with every shot in less than 10 seconds of half court
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
The bottom of the B10 will indeed remain, very bad.
So it’s 100% over for Blackwell? Or should I be making a blood sacrifice to try and change the fates
Dude, always love the knowledge bombs you drop, both offensive and defensive. Wish you'd post more often
UM, Duke, and UConn all played 9 this year. Last year, Florida had a clear top 7 but 3 more with >13% of minutes, while Duke had 10 with over 20%, and Auburn had 8 with >20% but 3 more with 9-13%.
Not saying we're doomed with 8, but I think 9 gives us a better chance (even if just to weather some mid-season injuries or to keep the top 8 fresher without sacrificing our seed). And to end up with 9 we probably have to go into the season thinking we have 10 in case not everything works out the way we hope.
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Can we calculate the correlation here with our current EGS affected posters to those who trashed Mirk’s skills a bit over a year ago?? There were plenty!!
Understandable, but considering everything that went right this week, if disappointed is anyone’s primary emotion, they need to get a grip. (Not directed at you)
Maybe we didn’t hit a grand slam, but we hit a bases clearing double. That’s worth cheering for, IMO.
I fully believe they did everything they could. I also fully believe they think Coleman will be better than anyone else in the portal, and don’t want to risk losing him for a guy who may not be an upgrade…
From a team building perspective, allocating some minutes for these freshmen to fight over in practice is going to make us much better in 2027.
“inner circles” or agents telling a to-be senior whose already put up big stats on heavy usage, that what’s needed for nba scouts is heavy usage again is so uneducated.
There is a 99.98% chance John Blackwell will not be asked for heavy/carry the team usage in the nba, and that’s no slight because that’s reserved for literally the 8-9 best basketball players on the planet.
What would make him more appealing is being an integral and big piece in winning. If it’s true that’s the advice he’s getting, it’s bad advice and someone wildly naive on what front offices look for at that level
There is a 99.98% chance John Blackwell will not be asked for heavy/carry the team usage in the nba, and that’s no slight because that’s reserved for literally the 8-9 best basketball players on the planet.
What would make him more appealing is being an integral and big piece in winning. If it’s true that’s the advice he’s getting, it’s bad advice and someone wildly naive on what front offices look for at that level
I think it’s really important Z takes a step up next year, puts on muscle, gets stronger. Especially at his base. Also he matures and shoots the 3 at a 33% or + clip. Also further developing his post moves as dog gone it he’s 7’ 2” tall. Nobody will block his shot. I’d like to see him score twice as much in the paint and on putbacks than 3’s. Defensively he’ll be fine if indeed he is stronger and puts on some weight. Fletch! Do your magic!
I remembered reading that some or one of the insiders said that the coaching staff do have a backup plan in place if Blackwell doesn't choose Illinois and that that backup plan was in the portal. Is that still the plan or did the plan change and it is now Quentin Coleman that's Kylan's replacement?
Time for my first Kool Aid post. 
Zero reasons to doubt @LvilleILL1, @Indy Illini Fan - their record speaks for itself.
But as an “outsider” for some reason I’m still (foolishly?) holding out hope that we land Blackwell. Things don’t seem to add up. If our read on Blackwell is true (i.e. he wants to win)…..
1. Contention: haven’t heard he’s canceled the IL visit yet. Staff, players, his Dad, the Flyin’ Illini, can push in all remaining chips on this final piece and sell the vision.
2. Usage: Louisville/Duke/etc. aren’t exactly short on talent either — not sure those situations are dramatically cleaner for his camp.
3. Bag: sounds like were competitive. And who knows… a legacy who catapults his Dad’s Alma Mater to a prohibitive preseason favorite? Extra NIL?
4. Winning: of the finalists, Illinois offers Blackwell the most predictable path to a natty
To be clear — the current roster is already
. What a time to be an Illini fan: already set up to be elite and hoping to push into that “inevitable” tier.
It ain’t over till it’s over.
Zero reasons to doubt @LvilleILL1, @Indy Illini Fan - their record speaks for itself. But as an “outsider” for some reason I’m still (foolishly?) holding out hope that we land Blackwell. Things don’t seem to add up. If our read on Blackwell is true (i.e. he wants to win)…..
1. Contention: haven’t heard he’s canceled the IL visit yet. Staff, players, his Dad, the Flyin’ Illini, can push in all remaining chips on this final piece and sell the vision.
2. Usage: Louisville/Duke/etc. aren’t exactly short on talent either — not sure those situations are dramatically cleaner for his camp.
3. Bag: sounds like were competitive. And who knows… a legacy who catapults his Dad’s Alma Mater to a prohibitive preseason favorite? Extra NIL?
4. Winning: of the finalists, Illinois offers Blackwell the most predictable path to a natty
To be clear — the current roster is already
. What a time to be an Illini fan: already set up to be elite and hoping to push into that “inevitable” tier.It ain’t over till it’s over.
I think roster that you see is what we're rolling with short of adding an end of the rotation guy should Lee call it a day. I guess we'll find out in the 20th. Isn't that the last day to hop in the portal?
I hear you- but those top 8 include two freshman we would be banking on starting/ready for significant minutes. The beauty of this year is we weren’t banking on Keaton breaking out or Mirk being a starter.
It would be good to go into next year having an experienced SG (or SF and slide Andrej down to SG) to count on- doesn’t have to be a high usage guy but one that can be a shooting threat and guard on the perimeter
I preferred the first one.
Rumors becoming louder Thomas Haugh is returning.
Florida is the preseason number 1 in my opinion
The possibilities only become great if you add something that we didn’t have last year, such as an athletic quick lead guard, the type of piece we were missing this past year.
This next years team looks very similar to this past year just without a lotto pick and a defender at guard. I also think most of our returners have played so much basketball that I don’t see a lot of future development. They are fully developed players. The Stojakovic taking some senior year leap I don’t see, not for a guy that has played a ton of college basketball. Boswell never made any leaps. They were what they were by the time they are seniors
Since BU isnt opposed to changing year to year, and some of the best big men are gone, wonder if the thought has come up to run the offense through the bigs. We are in a much better position compared to most other teams 3 through 5, relative to 1 and 2. There will be many teams with a better 1 2, few if any 3 through 5.
T- option1a
Mirk-option 1b
Dre- option 1c
Z- option 2
I still think Zs ceiling is much higher than where he is at. Just need to figure out how to channel that energy into production.
Hope we get another piece. IF going through the bigs may need a backup there though.
T- option1a
Mirk-option 1b
Dre- option 1c
Z- option 2
I still think Zs ceiling is much higher than where he is at. Just need to figure out how to channel that energy into production.
Hope we get another piece. IF going through the bigs may need a backup there though.
We had no one playable after 8 last year and it worked out. Has Brad ever played more than 8?
Yup. I was pleasantly surprised watching him in that game. Thought he’d contribute much sooner than later after seeing him there.
He’s a incoming freshman and it’s not inconceivable that he would probably put on 20 or more pounds before the season working out with Fletch.