Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#578      
FI_890526
EmeraldCityIllini said:
Is this mostly due to all the money that will be freed up with departures? Or mostly due to new donations?

Understand the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle, but just wanted to confirm it’s not only because we have so many guys graduating/going pro and the actual overall budget remains the same

(Edit - appreciate all your info btw)
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Both
 
#579      
Brosky
The team has enough high usage players. Whether you like it or not, it was clear Blackwell would be the last of that type of player we’d target (and really we stopped that pursuit entirely by the end).

The problem with our roster construction is on the bench (depth). Not the guys at the top of the roster who will be getting all the shots.
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We can't really say that's a "problem," though. That's speculation. We have 6 (I believe) quality freshman players. Let's find out who might surprise us. Think of Wagler last year.
 
#580      
Brosky
I use the eye test on this. Which I know is lame because the “eye test argument” just means you can avoid stats and hard facts to fit your narrative.

But the last UConn game was certainly progress to me. Much the way the previous time we had played Houston compared to last year. Just looked like a closer and closer on talent level and we missed gimmes - and still were in it.

We talk a lot about brads coaching. But at the end of the day, the biggest steps of growth from this program has been brad increasing the talent level by leaps and bounds.
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As Dennie Bridges liked to say, "Winning comes down to getting off the bus with the best players."
 
#582      
Calvin
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I use the eye test on this. Which I know is lame because the “eye test argument” just means you can avoid stats and hard facts to fit your narrative.

But the last UConn game was certainly progress to me. Much the way the previous time we had played Houston compared to last year. Just looked like a closer and closer on talent level and we missed gimmes - and still were in it.

We talk a lot about brads coaching. But at the end of the day, the biggest steps of growth from this program has been brad increasing the talent level by leaps and bounds.
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Roster construction has been impressive - can't argue with results, and the trend has been good for a long time. Wagler was so important last year and he was a unicorn (Kofi was too), but no question that the staff has had quite a few difference makers. Honestly, one of the things that has impressed me the most is how they've backed off certain players when the money got ridiculous or there were clues about the fit that came out as things progressed.

Expectations may be too high, but they're embracing it, so more power to them. Going into the season, I think most will expect a 1 seed and deep run. A natty will be realistic if guys stay healthy and the staff vision isn't too far off with the new guys. Still a lot of questions to be answered for this team, and it's all relative to the other super-teams this year. We're not the only ones with elite talent. Should be a fun ride --there's every reason to think this group will be able to compete with anyone.
 
#583      
Combo
Calvin said:
Roster construction has been impressive - can't argue with results, and the trend has been good for a long time. Wagler was so important last year and he was a unicorn (Kofi was too), but no question that the staff has had quite a few difference makers. Honestly, one of the things that has impressed me the most is how they've backed off certain players when the money got ridiculous or there were clues about the fit that came out as things progressed.

Expectations may be too high, but they're embracing it, so more power to them. Going into the season, I think most will expect a 1 seed and deep run. A natty will be realistic if guys stay healthy and the staff vision isn't too far off with the new guys. Still a lot of questions to be answered for this team, and it's all relative to the other super-teams this year. We're not the only ones with elite talent. Should be a fun ride --there's every reason to think this group will be able to compete with anyone.
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Of course, but we're among the top 5 or 6, which puts us in that group of teams with a legit chance of going all the way.
 
#584      
Ga65
Interesting to me that we hearing about very few bigs while good chance of losing our whole front court next year. Is it because we have European bigs lined up, we will wait for the transfer portal for upper class bigs, or we just aren’t hearing? Particularly important in that recent champions have all had a significant rim protector.
 
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#590      
InDaAZ
lstewart53x3 said:

Mirk connection
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LvilleILL1 said:
Mirk is dating Sienna.
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Be nice to her, Mirk! 😁
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#592      
Combo
Ga65 said:
Interesting to me that we hearing about very few bigs while good chance of losing our whole front court next year. Is it because we have European bigs lined up, we will wait for the transfer portal for upper class bigs, or we just aren’t hearing? Particularly important in that recent champions have all had a significant rim protector.
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Had you heard of Coleman or Vaaks a year ago?
 
#599      
jamarvelous31
Ga65 said:
Interesting to me that we hearing about very few bigs while good chance of losing our whole front court next year. Is it because we have European bigs lined up, we will wait for the transfer portal for upper class bigs, or we just aren’t hearing? Particularly important in that recent champions have all had a significant rim protector.
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You're not wrong about height. But if anything it's become a bad thing for IL to telegraph their moves too far ahead, others will create a bidding war.

Dylan Betts is 7'4, and otherwise you have to trust the staff. Who did we think was coming this time the past 2 years?
 
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