Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#705      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
wc_illini said:
To be #1, I think we'll need to be better than #20 on defense (we were #20 last year at KenPom and Torvik). We especially need to play better defense against good teams than we did last year.
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We’ll likely be a 1 seed if we’re the #1 offense and #17 defense. (this past season we weren’t a top 20 defense heading into the tourney; also had some bad luck in close games/officiating)

Obviously there will be one or two super teams emerge (like Michigan).
 
#708      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Grandpa said:
Maybe Illinois! It's our turn!
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#1 offense and #17 defense won’t make you a super team. Need top 5 in each.

But this is kind of the point. The expectation shouldn’t be “super team” because that’s not what our team is. It’s fantasy hopes like these that make the season miserable for so many folks (and spark the Fire Brad comments).

The expectation should be a bona fide F4 contender — with a very good offense (potentially #1) and a very serviceable and good enough defense (potentially top 20).

It should NOT be what Michigan was this year. Or what UConn was. Or what Duke was with Cooper Flagg (I understand they lost; still a phenomenal team).

The roster parallels just aren’t there in terms of athleticism on the defensive end.

I just think it’s sad that if we have a top 5 season, as potentially the favorite for another F4 (I understand it still has to happen in the tournament) - it still won’t be looked at as an A++ year because, well, we weren’t #1 on Kenpom or whatever. No team deserves to have that bar put on their head.
 
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