I won’t even wait for Friday.
Ty Rodgers is a combination of Frank and Deron out there! Put him in the league now!
Pregame: Illinois vs Ottawa (Exhibition), Friday, October 20th, 8:00pm CT, B1G+
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Ty Rodgers is a combination of Frank and Deron out there! Put him in the league now!
What about if he has an average game?!
Jordan didn’t put up 650 every game, I’m a reasonable man I don’t expect the same from Rodgers.
I think that would be better than what we got from a couple guards I could name the later part of last season
Wikipedia has enrollment at 4,671. Small, but not that small.
With the difficulty of our schedule and the new parts, I don't think this is a given and I don't believe that if we didn't make the tourney it should necessarily result in a pink slip. It would mean that the next offseason and recruiting cycle though would likely be considered make or break. While I certainly hope for a nice seed and some great play this year, I foresee some struggles and I think it's probably more likely we'll be an 8/9 or bubble team than a 5 seed or better at this point. Hoping you're right though.
Unless we drop some bad ones our noncon schedule really can't hurt us. If you assume we lose all the toss-ups (Marquette, FAU, Tenn, Miz) and win everything else that's still a 7-4 record. Now obviously if you go 10-10 in B10 play thats a 17-14 record and you likely miss the tourney. I'd assume if this roster goes 10-10 in the conference this year that Brad's seat would be extremely hot.
If you assume we instead take one of the toss-ups and go 13-7 in conference that's a 21-10 record ( I think? ) and would be a top-6 seed.
if we aren’t playing in the second weekend Brad is likely gone. There’s 2 scenarios and it’s we end up a top 6 seed & exit the tournament early or we have a bad seed and exit early. Both are bad for Brad. It’s sweet 16 or bust with the amount of depth, experience on this roster. Sorry if that’s harsh.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
If we make the tourney, I doubt Brad gets fired, regardless of result.
But next year would likely be a S16 or bust year.
Given the depth & experience we have on the roster.. and the way the off season went… don’t think Brad gets off the hook this time…
Not harsh, but I think it may be asking a lot with this team. I think much will depend on how quickly we can get our defense up to an elite level and if we can limit the turnovers. I believe movement off the ball, turnovers and shooting are still question marks that I need to see answered before I can say this is a 2nd weekend team. A very strong defense can take us far, as can offensive rebounding, but I think turnovers, stagnant offense, and shooting might be a sticking point for this group.
While this could certainly develop into a Sweet 16 team, I think this team still has significant gaps from last season that are going to take some time to work out. Optimistically this happens quickly, but I can understand if it's a longer process. So I'm not quite onboard with the Sweet 16 or bust group yet, but I would be absolutely thrilled if I start getting that feeling in the coming weeks
I understand your point. A new roster takes time to build chemistry and figure eachother out… I get it. There’s a reason teams that stick together win, look no further than MSU & Purdue. Lots of vets with time played together…Not harsh, but I think it may be asking a lot with this team. I think much will depend on how quickly we can get our defense up to an elite level and if we can limit the turnovers. I believe movement off the ball, turnovers and shooting are still question marks that I need to see answered before I can say this is a 2nd weekend team. A very strong defense can take us far, as can offensive rebounding, but I think turnovers, stagnant offense, and shooting might be a sticking point for this group.
While this could certainly develop into a Sweet 16 team, I think this team still has significant gaps from last season that are going to take some time to work out. Optimistically this happens quickly, but I can understand if it's a longer process. So I'm not quite onboard with the Sweet 16 or bust group yet, but I would be absolutely thrilled if I start getting that feeling in the coming weeks
However; “asking a lot for this team” shouldn’t be used for anything this season. Last year Brad went young and it bit him. We lost our 2 4-star guards and failed to replace the gaping hole at the 1 spot. Last year happened and Josh hasn’t forgotten.
Brads rolling the dice on Ty at the 1 when we had multiple other kids that could’ve filled that spot via portal that we lost, or were stubborn to close on. That’s on Brad.
The thing I credit Brad with BIG time, was the way he maneuvered the portal to fill out the departures with experience. I don’t think it can be emphasized enough how big of adds Domask, Guerrier & Harmon were. That’s 3 guys that we don’t have to worry about “developing” or “taking a jump” etc. those are proven division 1 guys who can really play. Frankly; the only guys who we want to develop are our freshman. That’s a rarity. Last year we needed a “jump” from RJ. We needed a “jump” with Luke. We needed 2 freshmen guards to hold everything together. We needed a big man who has played.. checks notes.. 0 games at the power 5 level to be good (and he was GREAT, love ya Dain). This year, there’s really 1 player on the entire roster that we are all nervous about performing and that’s Ty Rodgers. An improvement, though, just happens to be at the most important spot on the floor.
Looking around college basketball teams like Kentucky, need freshmen to be great. Michigan has a bunch of new faces and needs young guys to “make a jump” to be competitive. St John’s has a brand new team. List goes on. Almost every team in every tier needs guys to leap or develop to be good.
We have an All-Big Ten player, an All-ACC player, an All-MVC player. We return tons of minutes & scoring 2-5. We know we have proven talent and hundreds of minutes played on our roster. So, nothing is “asking a lot from this team”. This roster make up screams “win now”. It’ll be years until we are possibly this old again.
Brad constructed a team to make a splash right now, with veterans, with talent, depth, size, experience and not on freshmen or sophomore jumps….
Sweet 16 or that seat is scorching.
It's not harsh, it's crazy.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
So you’re saying that Brad Underwood, who is the most winningest coach in the B1G over the past 4 seasons, will be fired this year, even if he makes the tournament, for underperforming in said tournament?
It's not that it's harsh, it's just that there is no way that's a possibility
I'm pretty unconvinced on underwood but I'd never fire him if makes the tourney. I highly doubt Whitman does as well.
Personally I'm more concerned about rankings. Keep stacking up top 25s and you eventually break through.
Personally I'm more concerned about rankings. Keep stacking up top 25s and you eventually break through.
Ottawa's free throw defense is always strong so I wouldn't put much stock in a bad percentage.
.I'm sorry but there's a lot of variables that could keep the Illini from reaching the 2nd weekend of the tourney....we could get a terrible match up if the seeding doesn't play out in our favor....injuries or illness....could lose a key player or two during conf. tourney and enter the nc2a short handed.....I get where you're coming from....we should be a sweet 16 team come tourney time and I will be disappointed if we're not...but I think JW and others would take into consideration if certain variables that are out of the coaching staffs control before saying we didn't reach the 2nd weekend of the tourney....pack your bags your gone. just saying that's a possibility
Just don’t see this. Gone from last year are Mayer, Epps, and Melendez. Added experience are Q, Justin, Marcus, and Luke. A year of experience for Ty, Sincere, and Dain. New faces in Dra, Nic, and Amani. No way this isn’t a better roster than last year. Also no way PG position isn’t stronger. Justin would be better than anyone playing PG last year and he will probably have at least two guys ahead of him. Chemistry will determine the ceiling but the roster is stronger.Not harsh, but I think it may be asking a lot with this team. I think much will depend on how quickly we can get our defense up to an elite level and if we can limit the turnovers. I believe movement off the ball, turnovers and shooting are still question marks that I need to see answered before I can say this is a 2nd weekend team. A very strong defense can take us far, as can offensive rebounding, but I think turnovers, stagnant offense, and shooting might be a sticking point for this group.
While this could certainly develop into a Sweet 16 team, I think this team still has significant gaps from last season that are going to take some time to work out. Optimistically this happens quickly, but I can understand if it's a longer process. So I'm not quite onboard with the Sweet 16 or bust group yet, but I would be absolutely thrilled if I start getting that feeling in the coming weeks
Well if we have injuries, sure, he is safe for sure.. I don’t retract my stance, however. To each their own… this year is really important for Brad, and this team is good enough to be a top 10-15 team with expectations to make a run imo. If this year goes anything like last year and our problems are still locker room related, or we have a bunch of roster shake up during the year that’s not injury related… I think Brad needs to go.
If we show a lot of fight and grit and end up a 7 seed that battled all season, maybe like have a last seasons Penn State type year? Yeah, Brad probably stays.
Stumbling into the tournament with chemistry issues or with the same energy as last years team… that’s a pattern I don’t want to go in.
Lastly, yes, Brad has had badddd luck with draws, injuries etc. during tournament play… but at what point are we confident as a 4 or 5 seed to make a sweet 16? At some point it doesn’t matter what the draw is.
Don’t want everyone thinking I’m anti-Brad I love Brad as our coach and would be upset to see him go , but I think it’s pretty evident that Josh needs to see a little more for his seat not to get a little hot…
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Pretty much anyone of significance on this team won't be here next year, so it will be Goode, Dain, Ty, a good recruiting class and a whole mess of other guys. I hate the lack of continuity, and I wish Brad had enough warmth left in his seat to have a down year to build a young core.
After the TJ fart sound, Sky leaving mid-season, a bunch of other dudes leaving after the season, missing RayJ, pivoting to an unproven sophomore PF as PG, Brad better make it work this year. It's his team with no excuses. He was given everything he wanted and couldn't get the position we truly needed. If this year doesn't go well, he's gonna be in trouble.
I believe we go top 5 in B1G, 6 seed in tournament.
Apparently you didn't listen to Brad's boss who said NCAA tournament results are not a criteria he uses for success or failure.
Some of this is the Dr. Pepper commercial, 1st play of game "season over" Brad has many line ups to try out to find the best in that given game situation. It's going to be rocky especially with our tough schedule. He may even <gasp> lose a game that we could win trying out said line-ups in a tough game with 4 mins. to go pre-conference just to find out.
Tired of hearing how much BU makes.
BTW Wisconsin went to the NIT last year, Michigan NIT, Oregon NIT {Altman 4.009 m}, Purdue lost as a #1 in NCAA. There are 6 coaches as of last year in the Big 10 of the top 25 highest paid, there is 1 that earns it damn near every year and that's Izzo.
I'm not saying BU shouldn't be expected of bigger and better results but to say there is no circumstance that without a S16 he's fired that is just wrong.
Last rant, if Shannon goes down for the year or even Hawkins but we get beat in the rd of 32 by 5 or less, would anyone call for his job?
Tired of hearing how much BU makes.
BTW Wisconsin went to the NIT last year, Michigan NIT, Oregon NIT {Altman 4.009 m}, Purdue lost as a #1 in NCAA. There are 6 coaches as of last year in the Big 10 of the top 25 highest paid, there is 1 that earns it damn near every year and that's Izzo.
I'm not saying BU shouldn't be expected of bigger and better results but to say there is no circumstance that without a S16 he's fired that is just wrong.
Last rant, if Shannon goes down for the year or even Hawkins but we get beat in the rd of 32 by 5 or less, would anyone call for his job?
I'm unsure about this part, as there has been plenty of "we couldn't afford this/that player" going around about various transfers/players in general. The low-major PG who went to Florida was one that apparently nobody would pony up the NIL for. It's made me wonder ever since, how does this all work? Someone said "I'll give X amount for this player, but only Y amount for this player"?
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