Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#851      
BIG_G2332
Please go look at other rosters. We have eight guys that are really good. A couple more that can be serviceable behind them. What do you expect? You aren't going to have 12 guys that are all top level in this day and age.
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I’m not trying to be a hater but this is such a lame thought process. I just watched what happens when you have the clear cut deepest and most talented team. You win a national championship. Michigan had more talent and more mouths to feed than our current roster. I’m sure their staff isn’t sitting there thinking man we added one too many guys with talent.
 
#852      
joeybcrazy13
HereSoIDontGetFined said:
Sounds like another trip to The Balkans is in order...
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Jon Hamm Private Plane GIF
 
#854      
fuggles
PepeSilvia said:
UConn has legitimate starting 5 that is arguably every bit as talented as ours.

Solomon Ball will be back. (2x All Big East)
Silas Demary - All Big East(regular and defensive), was injured in March.
Braylon Mullins - likely would have been a late first round pick, I thought he got better as the season progressed
Nik Khamenia - will play the Karaban role, 5-star that played 20 minutes per game for Duke.
Najai Hines - physical force, will dunk, defend, and rebound at a high level.

Then they will bring back Jayden Ross(6'7 wing that played basically 20 minutes a game off the bench) and add Colben Landrew(22nd ranked recruit) and Junior County(36th).

They probably need an backup center but that roster is very talented and they probably have the best coach in college basketball in Hurley though hopefully losing Murray will hurt their offense.
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We are going to find out in Chicago.
 
#856      
wncillini
We aren't in on him. (just posted since it's a notable development -- we play @TTU next year)
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Maybe I'm iffy here on the rules, but technically schools were allowed to contact him for the first time ever like 3 seconds ago...technically.

I mean why does the ncaa even have rules
 
#857      
March2TheArch
My2Cents said:
I understand in the past it was often said guards win NCAA championships. I also think each team can be looked at differently according to the style of the team offense. You could watch film and see Tomi up at the top of the circle/wing position probably more than you would see him down in the box. Would that be where some people call the guard position? Is the guard label based solely on ball handling skills? If it's based on ball handling skills I think a lot of people would be surprised how many players labeled as "guards" are not what most would consider great ball handlers. To me, it really comes down to the type of offense you run. Look at Michigan last year, I would consider Yaxel a guard more than I would a small forward. Just as I also wouldn't call Burnett a guard he is more of a small forward to me. Is the guard label based on height? The way the game is changing, more and more offenses play most players all over the court. Do I look at our lineup and want to face a full court press every game..nope. Am I smart enough to realize most teams don't press as much these days, because the offense is a lot more motion by all 5 players, leaving the teams unable to spend that much energy on both ends, Yep. Again I understand, I just don't agree, because every teams offense is different.
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I like this nuanced take.

I would LOVE for Coleman, Morillo, and Brown to make the conference season rotation with double digit minutes per game.
 
#860      
IlliDan
rtbritt said:
You can argue all you want about needing a true "guard" behind Vaaks and Coleman, and a true 4 behind Mirk, but its hard to find someone talented enough to warrant playing over the other dudes in our rotation. In the same way that Lee wasn't able to take minutes away from the guard rotation behind Bam and Wagler.

When you have Tomi, Mirk, and Z, it's hard to find minutes at the 4/5 spot. When you have Jake, Andrej, Q, Vaaks...then you can throw Morillo and maybe Brown in there, its hard to find minutes or a role for a player likely to be 10th/11th/12th in the pecking order, regardless of position.

With Mirk able to relieve some of the ball handling pressures, it also alleviates some of that need for backup guard minutes.

Someone earlier questioned if Ty has any chance to come back, and I agree, if he would come back, his versatility to play guard and forward and defend would help a ton too, albeit in a minor role most likely.
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Which is the reason Ty entered the transfer portal in the first place,relax people we be good regardless.
 
#861      
My2Cents
March2TheArch said:
I like this nuanced take.

I would LOVE for Coleman, Morillo, and Brown to make the conference season rotation with double digit minutes per game.
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Me too and the encouraging hope is that combined they can give us 10-15 points. I don't think it would be a stretch to figure our other four starters along with Davis can give us 60 to 70 a game With our pace of play, if it stays close to the same, averaging 70 -85 points a game will win us a lot games again.
 
#865      
March2TheArch
Rebounding Dog said:
He has good handles. 3 point sniper! Google him and watch!
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I mean I see the flashes of potential. However, imagine a Morez Johnson or a Michigan State paint defender waiting for him at the cup.

I scrubbed the opening part of the video. Handle/possession of the ball was shaky. Athleticism was below average to average for high major standards. We have a spot up shooter in Jake. We need guys who can get paint touches and kick. We had Keaton, Mirk, and Boz last year. Dre struggled. And Ben/Jake rarely dribbled.

Some muted optimism would serve for this team.

I hope Vaaks and Coleman can stay healthy. Our backcourt players who can dribble, pass, penetrate at a B1G level for what we know today are mainly our projected starters and Morillo. But Morillo will also be needed for depth at 3/4.

Vaaks / Coleman / Mirk will handle most of the initiation of offense and general ball handling. Have to hope Morillo can back those guys up whatever position he’s subbed in for 1-4.

Z backs up Tomi.

Jake backs up Dre.

I see us with an 8-man rotation.

- - -

I would love one more reliable ball handler OR a poor poor man’s Morez for squad depth.

It is way too difficult project Brown, Jakstys, Davis, or Zens being meaningful contributors based on publicly available info.

Sadly true contenders have to be playing for the 1 seed from day 1. This means staying ranked in the AP Top 6 pretty much all year.

We have some tough non-conference games with UConn (neutral), @ Texas Tech, Missouri (neutral). Maybe one more tourney level team the way Brad likes to schedule.

We can’t really afford to lose more than 1 non-con knowing how brutal the B1G is every year.

- - -

Carpe Diem. You need 1 more IMPACT guard or forward to cement preseason #1.

The TIME is now.

We lose the twins and Dre. Vaaks and Coleman (ala KJ and Will) could go to the NBA in a weaker draft. Think Mirk will be our Karaban. But 2027-28 could be more of a rebuild than reload unlike this year.
 
#866      
Second place is 1st loser
skyIdub said:
Oh good some of the takes are getting dumber.
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Reality and how this system works isn't being accepted by those who refuse common sense. You have to treat a 5 star guard like a transfer. I'm guessing he wasn't cheap and I'm also sure there were assurances, which is why he waited so long the sign. If we would have taken on a huge name, Coleman bails. I'll take my chances on the kid recruited that had the second highest rating for us EVER, right behind Will Riley. I'd rather go this route with a kid we can develop (and return in 2027) vs a portal senior that we have absolutely no clue will be a fit.... especially if they want to dominate the ball.

A backup PG, in some capacity, would be a nice add, but would be almost be impossible the get in the portal. Who's going to transfer to be the 9th man?
 
#867      
fatboyslim
Yup

And until we beat them its us who have something to prove not them.
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LOL at Yup. That's all you got. Ok?

Nope. Two their starters have no starting experience. So those two automatically elevate them even though they don't have the experience of being starters. That makes no sense. I need to see it from those two and right now I have nothing to go by. I love how some of you make leaps and bounds for other teams but have problems doing that for your own team. Hmmm interesting. There starting 5 isn't better than ours.

And just because we haven't beat them means nothing. Every thing starts over next season.
 
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#870      
Second place is 1st loser
rtbritt said:
You can argue all you want about needing a true "guard" behind Vaaks and Coleman, and a true 4 behind Mirk, but its hard to find someone talented enough to warrant playing over the other dudes in our rotation. In the same way that Lee wasn't able to take minutes away from the guard rotation behind Bam and Wagler.

When you have Tomi, Mirk, and Z, it's hard to find minutes at the 4/5 spot. When you have Jake, Andrej, Q, Vaaks...then you can throw Morillo and maybe Brown in there, its hard to find minutes or a role for a player likely to be 10th/11th/12th in the pecking order, regardless of position.

With Mirk able to relieve some of the ball handling pressures, it also alleviates some of that need for backup guard minutes.

Someone earlier questioned if Ty has any chance to come back, and I agree, if he would come back, his versatility to play guard and forward and defend would help a ton too, albeit in a minor role most likely.
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Pin this. People are upset that we don't have a plug n play backup. Where would you EVER find a kid that is 100% ready to roll and is willing to be buried on the back end of the rotation. If Morillo and Coleman pans out how the staff believes they will....now you e transferred into a situation with not one guaranteed minute. You're Lee or Petrovic. The rise of Wagler was the end of both of those guys on our roster. Minutes were zero and they got recruited over again. It's the way the recruiting game is now played.
 
#873      
Fly Illini Fly!
March2TheArch said:
I would LOVE for Coleman, Morillo, and Brown to make the conference season rotation with double digit minutes per game.
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My2Cents said:
Me too and the encouraging hope is that combined they can give us 10-15 points. I don't think it would be a stretch to figure our other four starters along with Davis can give us 60 to 70 a game With our pace of play, if it stays close to the same, averaging 70 -85 points a game will win us a lot games again.
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Points per possession is what ultimately matters.

This past year, we scored 1.249 points per possession (1st in the country) ... on 65.7 possessions per 40 minutes.

1.249 x 65.7 = 82.1 points per 40 minutes.

Now... 65.7 poss per 40 is very slow (ranked in the 300s nationally). The more we up our pace, the more points we'll need to score to maintain our efficiency from last season.
 
#874      
My2Cents
I don't eat cottage cheese but because it's a long time till next season starts I will ask. After seeing so many people mention tomatoes and pepper or what not, has anyone tried it on pizza ? If so was it thin crust or thick crust? I feel if we can combine our usual pizza debate, with the cottage cheese debate we could easily get through the rest of April :)
 
#875      
Keisersose
Three things

1. Vaaks was such an amazing get, especially so early in the process.

2. A little Russian dressing on cottage cheese, BUT then use it as a dip for unseasoned PORK RINDS. Good high protein midday snack with a crunch!

3. Yesterday I played an online ranked game of MLB the show. My opponent was named the “Fighting Mirkovic’s”. I mercy ruled him in the 4th inning.
 
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