Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
SOMEONE is going to be that 4th big, even if they aren't big.
And chances are for some period they will have to be the 3rd big.
Humrichous and Boswell did a ton of flexible, adaptable dirty work for us last year, they allowed us to just keep playing TylerBall no matter what the opponent threw at us, we never had to be the one to change.
blackdog
- Champaign
He's made up a scenario to be afraid of and is running with it. Just let it happen.
Agree. The '05 team had more grit and toughness through the season compared to this years but it increased as tourney time came for this team. feal really good about next year.
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Any insight on what position they’re looking for?
I guess it depends on how you define X and O. Weber gets a wild amount of credit for his Xs & Os while only focusing on man to man D and running the same motion offense with no real willingness to change. I don't think being 4th/5th in D efficiency and 104th/116th in O is showing good Xs & Os.
Brad has had top offenses in 3 distinct styles and has had multiple Ds as good as Weber's; he gets a bad rap because his first 2 teams were awful defensively and 2023 was bad. Removing their 2 worst overall teams, BU's teams have average 26th in defensive efficiency, Weber averaged 23rd.
Bonus point: Even if ranked 80th in D, it's not hard to argue 2023 in particular was a masterclass in pivoting styles while facing adversity (this is an X&O skill IMO).
Seth Trimble 
If Brad saw someone like that sub in vs us how long do think he puts in Mirk or Z to abuse them? Likely before he reaches the scorers table tp check in! Lol. If Tomi and or Mirk get in foul trouble themln i guess a healthy Jason will be in. I wish we would add a true 4 man to try and fill Bens role.
Based on specific word over usage, Lou hammered home “tremendous” AND “super” at a far greater rate than Brad’s “elite” usage. Advantage, Lou.
You don't think Andrej didn't get promised a starting role in the post season negotiations? If he didn't, he probably wouldn't have stayed. He could have also got more money by leaving.
There is no rush right now, but agreed with above.
Yeah, I didn't take your post as a direct insult so much as an unfair exaggeration.
I suppose it cuts both ways. Some will always defend the roster even when Brad wants more. Some will always criticize the roster even when Brad says it's good enough. When there's a flip-flop, it's mayhem on this board. Ok, it's always mayhem on this board.
But seriously, unless we're the clear preseason favorite (odds, not media), there's room for improvement. Whether anything can be done about it is another story.
I would still need neck length measurements before I'm satisfied with that.
No one is saying he's a 30 Min/game PF. But he can give you "spot" minutes there as well as 1-3. If we need someone behind T, Z, and Mirk, he's it (as of now).
And not every opponent has a beastlie 6'9 PF to defend. Not even close.
He wasn't brought here "to back up Mirk." Next season, his likely role is to help out at spots 1-4 as needed. Likely as our 8th guy in the rotation if everyone ahead of him is healthy.
Any guess at what our pace will be next year?
Possessions per 40 by year:
2026 — 65.7 (somewhere between 306-312 nationally)
2025 — 72.4 (somewhere between 12-15 nationally)
2024 — 70.3 (75 or 76 nationally)
2023 — 69.6 (somewhere between 93-97)
2022 — 67.6 (somewhere between 199-207)
2021 — 71.0 (somewhere between 94-97)
Possessions per 40 by year:
2026 — 65.7 (somewhere between 306-312 nationally)
2025 — 72.4 (somewhere between 12-15 nationally)
2024 — 70.3 (75 or 76 nationally)
2023 — 69.6 (somewhere between 93-97)
2022 — 67.6 (somewhere between 199-207)
2021 — 71.0 (somewhere between 94-97)
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
It's pretty fair to say this roster, as constructed, is an easy Top 10 team (prob Top 5). That in and of itself makes it a contender for the national title. The variables you're banking on for this to be a National Title Favorite:
Vaaks makes the jump to an elite conference without issue
Returning players improve
QC plays like you hope a Top 30 recruit plays
Another freshman surprises and gives good minutes(doesn't matter who)
How many of those you would classify as likely vs how many as hopeful is how you view the team for 26/27.
I think 2 of those are likely (1st 2) and 2 are hopeful (re: freshmen), but I also think as long as you hit on 2 of those you are a Top 5 team and a contender. You hit on all 4 and you're a title favorite. I'd have loved to have Blackwell (or similar) because that gives you more room for a miss on one of the other variables. I think it's more likely you only it on one of those 4 than it is you hit on all 4.
Vaaks makes the jump to an elite conference without issue
Returning players improve
QC plays like you hope a Top 30 recruit plays
Another freshman surprises and gives good minutes(doesn't matter who)
How many of those you would classify as likely vs how many as hopeful is how you view the team for 26/27.
I think 2 of those are likely (1st 2) and 2 are hopeful (re: freshmen), but I also think as long as you hit on 2 of those you are a Top 5 team and a contender. You hit on all 4 and you're a title favorite. I'd have loved to have Blackwell (or similar) because that gives you more room for a miss on one of the other variables. I think it's more likely you only it on one of those 4 than it is you hit on all 4.
This board needs it lol.
Xrays with measurable growth plates as well please and thank you
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The idea that every aspect of college basketball coaching can be neatly separated into two distinct buckets, "Recruiting" and "X's and O's" was an oversimplification in 2006 and is basically just plain wrong today.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Genuinely, no doubt the staff will go out and get what they want. They've proven they know what they're doing.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I suspect Ty will command more on the open market, where some team will over pay for him based on his play before redshirting and the injury, than he would receive to come off the bench at Illinois. He’s a beloved figure here, but he has a finite time to maximize his NIL earnings so he’d be wise to do that elsewhere.
The Davis vs Andrej thing is pretty simple. Yes, Davis started at the end of last year. No, Davis probably won't be starting next year. Andrej and Boswell couldn't really play at the same time at the end of last year. Boswell started, Andrej didn't.
Coleman is a true shooting guard (Boswell isn't). Coleman and Andrej should fit better together than end of year Andrej and Boswell.
Coleman is a true shooting guard (Boswell isn't). Coleman and Andrej should fit better together than end of year Andrej and Boswell.
We have only 1 experienced big man in Big Z to back up 2 positions. What if there foul trouble or god forbid an injury. Thats not the same thing as having 2 bodies. Big Z backing up the 5 and someone like Ben backing up the 4 and Z to help as needed. I just hope Tomi, Z or Mirk dont go down or miss nig games. If so then what? Thats a big part of roster construction that seems risky. I hope we add a big guy.
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