Doesn’t that just mean we don’t know if Illinois will be a super team too by that logic? Bringing back a final 4 team that (as great as Wagler is) lost much less than floridas championship team the year prior. People are basically mad we don’t have the indisputable, undeniable best team in the country before the season starts
Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Agreed, which I'm comfortable with if not thrilled by. Sacrificing ballhandling and facilitation in exchange for enhancing strengths elsewhere is a totally sensible decision.
It's probably Coleman (both Andrej and Mirk are pretty shaky ballhandlers, you wouldn't want to be depending on those guys to bring it up against pressure), which again is okay, but you're going to be in a lot of situations where you don't have both of them on the floor.
If, *IF* 14 Feet of Ivisic lineups become playable for longer stretches, then the minutes needed from a fourth big go down. I hope that happens, I thought 14FOI lineups hung in there okay last year and I want more Z minutes wherever I can get them.
And between the chances Morillo can chip in some non-catastrophic spot minutes and hopefully having a healthy Jakstys to break glass in case of emergency against a rare opponent with quality depth of size that Morillo can't handle, I am less worried about the fourth big situation.
But we're a guard short now that Lee left, which I wish he hadn't.
It's not as if anything is being hidden in the tea leaves here. Bringing our guys back demanded their pre-eminence in terms of roles and money. We could only get them back if they're the centerpiece. Making sure they felt that and believed that to guarantee their return at the expense of preferred portal options was the RIGHT decision, 100%. #TheRetention was priority 1, and we achieved that.
Then once the portal closes everybody is locked in, and so the staff can go pursue that finishing touch without having to worry about someone making a silly decision because they're cranky about their minutes being challenged.
With just a slight note of worry about Vaaks' defense (though it's not as if Blackwell is any standout on that end either) I concur with this.
How many of these reactions can a grand total of zero (0) actual posts of anyone being remotely upset generate?
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Would this be a Toni Billic type addition or someone who could compete for the 8th/9th man?
You mean the backup to the backup guard role....
Duke is always in there as well. They gain more top talent every year than we've had at our program over its entirety.
UConn will likely be there no matter who's on their team.
One random team will be there as well.
I dont think our more glass is half empty fans are worried much about being out of the top ten nor this being a good team. It's a higher floor team. They are worried we haven't been able to do enough to leap forward and more or less are taking the same team back. That worry was amplified by the coaches and insiders here when talking about how much we needed another top tier guy and how much we were willing to pay a guy who would have been our best player. The name on that jersey wasn't as important as the actions the coaches were taking.
Now whatever the reasons are it didn't work out; Blackwell wanted an NBA tryout this year, Coleman and or Vaaks were going to walk, etc......it doesn't change the initial calculus that the coaches believed we were missing something. It was less about depth and more about that 1 more top piece.
Pointing out the same thing the coaches were pointing out doesn't make you a doomer. We are taking a lot of talent into next year, especially by recent decade Illinois team standards. So there is a reason to be happy. However we aren't playing those Illini teams for a championship. We are playing other teams that appear to have more talent. Its not a doomer stance in a season where we retained everyone we wanted to ask if we did enough to advance further than last year and be better than the other teams this year.
The April 26 Champions were created in April 25. Will we be able to say the Illini 27 champs were created over the last week in 26.
I'm guessing it's whatever hole we need filled...
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Is 65% annual inflation sustainable? Let's ask this Argentine economist!
Anticipating a big added (maybe late?) once the "market" levels out. Probably someone off the radar (from asia/europe?). Pretty freaking big holes in the frontcourt after next year.
Perfect for our backup guard role, imo:
I hope Blackwell commits to Dyke or Loserville!!! Get him as far from BIG as possible... ILL. Wish he could've come home... It is what it is
Yeah but if Coleman provides .75 of what Wagler provided it will be more than enough. Maybe even a lower percentage.
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skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
this got a nice laugh out of me.
he's actually humrichous 's backup plan but actually as guard... just like Jake Davis at night (he's a forward during the day kinda like a werewolf.... hence the hair)
All of these things can be true at the same time.
1. We are adding guys with a lot of potential, particularly with Coleman & Vaaks. A lot to be excited about there.
2. We are returning a strong core that went to the Final Four. They know the system, are a connected group, and have tasted success.
3. This team should be Top 10 at the worst, probably ranked 5-7ish to start the year, which is phenomenal.
4. Our offensive and defensive coaching has improved significantly. A lot of reasons to think our coaches will figure it out.
5. We missed out on a guy in Blackwell who has proven production at the B1G-level and would have made us this year's super team and the likely favorite to win it all. That's disappointing.
6. We're losing a once-in-a-generation freshman who was the engine that made our offense go last year. Seems reasonable to be concerned about what losing this kind of talent will mean.
7. What will the returnees be like without Wagler? Certainly will need a couple to show pretty significant improvement in some areas.
8. You're never really sure about what you're going to get out of freshmen so that can be a bit of a concern.
1. We are adding guys with a lot of potential, particularly with Coleman & Vaaks. A lot to be excited about there.
2. We are returning a strong core that went to the Final Four. They know the system, are a connected group, and have tasted success.
3. This team should be Top 10 at the worst, probably ranked 5-7ish to start the year, which is phenomenal.
4. Our offensive and defensive coaching has improved significantly. A lot of reasons to think our coaches will figure it out.
5. We missed out on a guy in Blackwell who has proven production at the B1G-level and would have made us this year's super team and the likely favorite to win it all. That's disappointing.
6. We're losing a once-in-a-generation freshman who was the engine that made our offense go last year. Seems reasonable to be concerned about what losing this kind of talent will mean.
7. What will the returnees be like without Wagler? Certainly will need a couple to show pretty significant improvement in some areas.
8. You're never really sure about what you're going to get out of freshmen so that can be a bit of a concern.
PizzaHutParkingLot
- Vodice, Croatia
Anyone want to take a stab at the minute distribution / projected stat lines
I don't think it's the situation that the money is "gone" - there were donors willing to contribute to getting Blackwell, but now that he's not coming, the staff seems content to go with the roster we have now instead of trying to add another starter - what is driving a lot of the confusion I believe is why isn't the staff pivoting to McNeil? He was listed as one of the few players the staff was targeting early by Indy and UK and UNC are involved with him now, but he hasn't committed anywhere. He's a 42% 3pt shooter on over 7 attempts per game, he's an absolute sharpshooter - he shoots 52% on unguarded threes, 38% guarded threes (which is 95 percentile), he took a lot of tough threes last year for NC state, the quality of his shots would be dramatically better in our offense given he would be much more catch and shoot, not having to create his own shot off the dribble, etc. The reason we're not going after him now must be:
1) The staff feels he's not much better than Coleman - McNeil will be a junior and this one would be a little tough to argue given he's a known quantity and he took a big leap from last year to this year so Junior year McNeil could be even better, so it's likely not this one
2) He's not well rounded enough as a player - he does take almost 80% of his shots from three and he's not much of a passer, he's basically going to get his shot up when you pass it to him, similar to Andrej, maybe that doesn't fit into what they are looking for, but when you shoot that well from three, I think you want him shooting it (similar to Andrej from two), he's not a great defender but he does have positional size, so this I can't believe is the issue either
3) His team is demanding a lot in terms of money and usage? Maybe he wants in the $3-4M range and the staff can't get the donors to pony up for someone like McNeil that isn't as well known as Blackwell and/or maybe his team wants some assurances on role - I think he would obviously start on the best offense in the country so I don't see what is not to like there, and he's not the type of player that needs the ball in his hands, he would be a recipient of Vaaks and Mirk passes, I can't believe this is a deal breaker
4) We don't want to upset Coleman and/or Andrej? bringing in another starter would clearly hurt minutes for Coleman and Morillo and potentially take some shots away from Andrej- maybe this is it, but the staff was willing to do this for Blackwell and McNeil will take less usage than Blackwell would have
McNeil would be another weapon with positional size and elite three point shooting - which would seem to be a fit for us, yet we don't seem to be pursuing him. That is what many of us don't understand. After McNeil there are not a lot of options out there that are better than Coleman starting for us, so I get the staff going with what we have, but McNeil seems to be one that would be - which is confusing if the staff was interested in him early on
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
What I am seeing now is the same thing I can remember seeing every year post NCAA tourney with the exception being the Illini leaving a bigger footprint regarding what our future holds for the next Illini season.............the discussion regarding what is needed for us to continue our growth is healthy and warranted in my humble opinion........respectful sharing of opinions should be the floor in these discussions and ideas given should be for the benefit of everyone who posts here as a loyal Illini Nation fanatic..........but , there has been instances of trolling and stirring the pot that are so evident that it can't be debated if it is occurring or not.....this is my humble opinion as to what is opening the door to the silly doom and gloom remarks being posted now......
to have a respected insider reply with an all caps post shows me that some are just trying to promote an adversarial agenda and doing so to provoke discord amongst the Illini ranks.................said insider bleeds O & B and has faithfully provided truthful info that is above reproach............................it's time to realize that the Illini are a force in MBB and will be for as long as BU , staff and players live the EDG culture and represent the University in a mature and respected way..............
we have a happy and quirky team , in a good way , and I believe we are on a path to a return to the FF with a better outcome and finally a Natty for all to celebrate.......................
I'm getting closer to my home................................
to have a respected insider reply with an all caps post shows me that some are just trying to promote an adversarial agenda and doing so to provoke discord amongst the Illini ranks.................said insider bleeds O & B and has faithfully provided truthful info that is above reproach............................it's time to realize that the Illini are a force in MBB and will be for as long as BU , staff and players live the EDG culture and represent the University in a mature and respected way..............
we have a happy and quirky team , in a good way , and I believe we are on a path to a return to the FF with a better outcome and finally a Natty for all to celebrate.......................
I'm getting closer to my home................................
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