Realistic shot at keeping all current commits (possible exception of Frazier), plus bringing in Mark Smith, Ayo Dosunmu, Tim Finke, EJ Liddell, Francis Okoro, Marquise Walker, and Adam Miller over the next few years. Also possible (though I wouldn't consider it necessarily likely) that Charlie Moore transfers here. Apart from the local kids, Cuonzo and his staff have shown an ability to recruit nationally - I'm betting we'd snag some unexpected top-100 kids from the SE and West Coast. Hard not to win with anything approaching that level of talent.
The Illinois Coaching Search
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Realistic shot at keeping all current commits (possible exception of Frazier), plus bringing in Mark Smith, Ayo Dosunmu, Tim Finke, EJ Liddell, Francis Okoro, Marquise Walker, and Adam Miller over the next few years. Also possible (though I wouldn't consider it necessarily likely) that Charlie Moore transfers here. Apart from the local kids, Cuonzo and his staff have shown an ability to recruit nationally - I'm betting we'd snag some unexpected top-100 kids from the SE and West Coast. Hard not to win with anything approaching that level of talent.
Well, "kill it" is relative. I think he'd do well. But I would bet my beach house that he never pulls down two top 10 kids in one class like he did at Cal. Those things just don't happen, it was a fluke.
And he took that fluke and turned it into one total NCAA game played, an upset loss.
He doesn't need that to very successful in recruiting.
Foggy Notion
- San Francisco
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I think we'd have in-state success at a level not seen since the 1980s. Agree/disagree?
He is certainly the type of recruiter/coach who can work/embrace the powerful HS and AAU programs.
I guess disagree.
I don't think we win the Jabari's and Okafor's of the world with Cuonzo, or with anybody.
My biggest excitement with Cuonzo recruiting-wise would hopefully be an ability to win bigger recruitments outside the state.
I think he'd be able to close on the Jawun Evans' of the world. But would it matter?
GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
I think this is pretty spot on. As for the last question, I don't know how much it would matter if we wanted to rise above the middle of the pack. I don't know for sure, who does? But it has all the earmarks of "good enough."
I think that is going to be the case no matter who we hire. Getting the Parkers and Okafors is going to require that the coach be here for 5+ years and consistently put us in the hunt for BIG titles and Final 4s. At that point, the top notch guys will really start looking at the state school. But honestly, we don't have to have those guys to be where we want to be - Jalen Brunson is the perfect example of a guy Illinois should be getting to put us in the hunt for titles
I am 1000% confident that a proven difference-maker of a coach would take the talent resources that will always be available at Illinois and turn them into teams that are competitive at the top of the Big Ten.
And, conversely, I think "closing the state borders" is an effort doomed to failure.
Cuonzo Martin, for me, is sacrificing the former in service of the latter. I think we can put a good faith effort toward doing what we can about the latter while still committing to the former, and that's what I would be focused on.
I wouldn't take some yahoo instead of Cuonzo, but on any list of guys that have really shown the coaching chops for this level, Cuonzo's going to be at the back of that list, for me.
The Parker's and Okafors have come here before and will again with right person. Don't know in Cuonzo is that guy, but it is beneficial that he has other areas (St Louis, Tennessee, Indiana) that make Chicago not a complete necessity.
And yet, I believe he would be even better recruiting Illinois/Chicago than those other places, especially as the coach for the Illini.
Oh I definitely agree. Jimmy Collins who I love mind you was kind of a one trick pony in Chicago/ Illinois recruiting only. Now that trick was a fantastic one , but Cuonzo & crew are probably a bit more flexible than that
Future Walk-On
- Peoria, IL
too many schools willing to put up just as much $$$ as us or even more, so we would have to stand out to him, and I don't think we do.
I'd say yes, it would matter. Put Jawun Evans on the current team and I think we beat Winthrop and win 2-3 more games in the B1G. Then we're 10-8 or 11-7 going into the BTT, probably a higher seed, good chance of winning the opening game. A final record of 22-11 (11-2, 10-8; 1-1 BTT) has us in the tourney as an 8-seed or so. That's what I think closing on Evans (or Brunson, or Snider) does.
college is a guards game. He played without his lead guard (and highest scorer) and best shooter in Jabari Byrd. Also those two freshmen were front-court players and still freshmen at that.
I think the thing that's intriguing about Martin is he's almost guaranteed to lock up the St Louis area and win his fair share of battles in Chicago. We can't speak with as much certainty about any other candidate including Marshall, Miller, or Keatts. Out of that group, Miller might perform the best with respect to recruiting, based upon previous Chicago area players but it is public knowledge that Martin has in-roads in the two most important areas. with that being said I'm willing to pass the hat for Monty's $5.5 million.
I tend to agree with you.
Put Jawun Evans with this roster and develop them under a great coach and we win the Big Ten.
That's the difference.
Future Walk-On
- Peoria, IL
Does anyone know the contributions Shahid Kahn makes to the basketball program?
I agree, Evans is extremely talented. Talent cures/masks a lot of deficiencies, and lack of quality B1G PG was the most glaring one in the entire Groce tenure.
This is essentially what I'm saying. Another player or two and we're a top 25 team and Groce keeps his job. Who is to say that Marshall or Keatt's mid-major coaching strategies will work in the B1G. That's just as speculative as Martin's Xs and Os.
Definitely. Put Jawun Evans on this team and I think we are looking at a record and seeding (both B1G and NCAA tournament) closer to Minnesota.
Not to mention who may have signed with us also if Jawun had -__-
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I must admit. When I first heard of Keatts I wasn't too thrilled. But then I looked at his resume and what he turned around, it was very impressive. Plus Rick Petino was very high on him. I don't think Archie or Marshall are that realistic IMO, so let's take a shot at Keatts. Is it risky? Sure. But comes great risk comes great reward, and I think he's legit. I'm new here btw. Love the discussion!
I'm right there with you. I would start with Bennett and make him say no to us. I'd then move onto Miller and then Keatts. Keatts was the top assistant at Louisville, identified multiple NBA players, and has won anywhere he's been.
I want to put Marshall in this, but there is something about him that I can't put my finger on. He got guys like Baker and VanFleet in the league, but I don't know if he can get high level recruits. Additionally, his temper and gestures are quite the turnoff even though he wins a good amount of games.
Thunder Dan
My dark horse candidate
http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-...le-could-be-among-candidates-for-illinois-job
My dark horse candidate
http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-...le-could-be-among-candidates-for-illinois-job
Martin is the guy that will have a recruiting class between 1-3 in the big ten every year. Likely top 10 or 15 in the country every single year. I don't really think he is the terrible coach others do that that level of talent will translate to 8-10 in the conference. I think he would routinely be in the top 4-5 of the conference which is usually a decent seed. That is good enough for the next 5+ years. If you swing for one of these high potential unknowns and get 5 more years of anything close to the last five years you can put those job quality discussions to bed. No one will believe UI is a top 15 job for quite some time at that point. JW cannot get this wrong for the sake of the program. Two 5 yr stretches of well below average performance is a lot, 15 would cost JW his job most likely.
With as much as every possible candidate has been discussed on this board, no one qualifies as a dark horse candidate anymore. Majerle's not a new one.
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