Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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2005 Illinois is essentially 2025 MSU and we saw the trouble that could pose to IL. Remember Dee was 2nd team AA, Augie 1st team B10, Randle all B10 D, Smith all B10 freshman and Frazier went on to 3 all B10 D teams (and was already a dog).
Talent:
Vaaks vs Dee - Dee
Mirk vs Augie - Mirk but it's close
Andrej vs McBride - Andrej
Tomi vs Pruitt - Tomi
Davis vs Randle - Tie
Bench- Z, Coleman & Morillo vs Smith, Carter & Frazier - 2026 but given that Coleman/Morillo have not suited up it's hard to say this is a significant advantage.
Coach
Brad>Bruce
Who wins?
I think 26 Illinois would beat 05 IL by 5 to 10
I agree. Think we are good at the guard spot. Wagler/Bos/Lee/Petro are replaced with Vaaks/Coleman/Morillo/Brown. Might want to find a decent 4 to replace Ben's minutes or Jake and Z just get a lot more minutes.
Just saying. You used it as an argument for why we should be concerned about this team, but if Jake started over Andrej next year that would mean 3 starters from the final four instead of 2 - and we both know (rightfully so) that wouldn’t make you feel any better, because it’s the same depth regardless - which seems like your main (and very fair) point.
Also, I’m not entirely convinced Jake isn’t starting some games yet next year anyway.
CrazedUIFan
UI Fan in QC Land
I have doubts this is true.
What you’re doing is willfully ignoring returning production
What he’s doing is including it, because well… it should be included/considered
Again, Coleman didn't sign util yesterday. The freshmen had "committed" but that's pretty meaningless, until July.
A couple months ago Coleman was "Committed" to Wake Forest...
I don't know if he stays here if Blackwell enters the picture. I don't know if we could afford a 5-star guard if we paid Blackwell 5 million.
What I do know is that Blackwell backed off, and THEN Coleman signed his LOI.
Do you think that was coincidence? I don't.
Unlike TS%, eFG% ignores free throws, and Blackwell's free throw rate was quite a bit higher than Andrej's.
It's pretty easy to make a case for Blackwell based on offensive stats. The staff clearly made a push for him, so they thought he was a good fit, too. Rumors are that he lost interest due to role rather than $, so we were also evidently willing to pay a good amount. Maybe you disagree with the staff that he'd be a good fit (I did with Storr back in the day, so I can't fault you for that)
Also, we can clearly see that Andrej returning and backing off of John Blackhole happened simultaneously as well
Who's the 3rd option? Morillo?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Davisic, Mirk and Tomi, no?
And if we're stopping here in terms of additions, why would Brandon Lee leave?
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He’s not counting Davis - the argument is the final four starters were Keaton, Davis, Bowell, Mirk and Tomi. And since Andrej will probably start over Jake this year, it doesn’t count
5 of our top 8 players are back from a final four team, we added the second highest ranked recruit in Illinois 247 era history, the 12th highest, and a top tier guard transfer that has an incredibly high ceiling.
Murillo doesn’t but Morillo does
17 million percent I’m far more concerned with replacing Ben’s rotation minutes than being caught up in ballhandler depth.
Recruiting definitely Brad. X and O coaching I’ll take Weber
LouHenson
- Naples Florida
I think it is pretty simple Dje stays no Blackwell. I am fine with that since we have Coleman. See my issue with adding this “serviceable” tough small guard for defense is that whenever this player is on the floor our 5 shooters and positionless basketball sort of does not work. I think the role to fill is BH role. Did anyone ever think he would be so good at the role he had? He is going to prove to be a very difficult player to replace. Ty with just a little bit of a shot is tempting, but again those would probably be mid range at best? Look at our shot charts you need to take Dunks/Layups or threes in this offense. I have always been a little skeptical of BU, and I am at the point now of saying he knows a $h@t more about the game than me? I don’t mind waiting for a euro player, I just hope it is guy that can be our new BH? Will Riley was a very late signee and somehow BU seems to find good players from many places.
Thank God for the typo police, I'd never of known who One Man Fast Break was referencing without your astute correction
Probably didn't want to be the 10th guy in an 8 player rotation (sounds like staff is very high on Ethan Brown)
What he's doing is this --
4 guys on our final 4 team will back: Mirk, Tomi, Andrej, Jake (Z as well, yes)
Mirk and Tomi will be the only ones starting on next year's team who also started the final 4.
Jake won't be starting. And Andrej didn't start the final 4.
It's just a loop whole ... and a pretty ignorant one.
Does anyone have a tool they use for the ncaa where they track lineup combinations?
I’d be curious how many minutes Jake and Andrej played together last year and it’s “effectiveness”. Also think for Brad’s positionless style, it would be an interesting tool to play around with
I’d be curious how many minutes Jake and Andrej played together last year and it’s “effectiveness”. Also think for Brad’s positionless style, it would be an interesting tool to play around with
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Well and like you'd have been laughed off this board 365 days ago for suggesting Stojakovic would sit behind Jake.
Who says Jake won't start next year? That guy has played more and better than expectations in all three of his college seasons thus far.
I mean those are a collection of words that can be stuffed into the narrative hole in question, but they don't really add up to a plausible argument.
A path to playing time opened up for Lee, and he left the same day.
Occam's razor here is we're going to get one more.
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