If that’s the case, we really need to decide if we want those types of guys. Understand he’s an NBA talent but not a first year college game changer. I’d rather fill out scholarships with guys who want to be an Illini and are willing to be with us for 3-4 years. Get the core guys contracted for multiple years and then fill in around them with portal additions.
Wisconsin 95, Illinois 74 Postgame
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Zorak
- Naperville
To play devil's advocate: would you rather have two first-round exits and an Elite Eight or three second-round losses?
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Right now, NIL and the portal are the Wild, Wild West. The problem is there is no sheriff to rein in the excesses. The NCAA has certainly been exposed as toothless and irrelevant.
Koby Brea is not on Will’s level, respectfully
I understand you’re saying that for the sake of argument…But I’d like to think there other paths we can go down besides just those two extremes.
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And that is why Will will be in the draft. Not because of Klutch.
A team full of Jake Davises, Justin Harmons and Coleman Hawkinses is going to be on par with the Groce years. Ask KSU fans how having Coleman as your main guy has worked out. And in the last two seasons we’ve had two fan favorites not be happy with their roles and red shirt (with at least one of them leaving). These are guys who our fans have been quick to label Every Day Guys, but in the end they both wanted bigger roles than BU envisioned for them. And rather than fight for bigger roles, they packed it in.
It’s easy to look at the team when things are going poorly and say we would have been better if some of the guys didn’t transfer. But I don’t think any one of those guys makes a huge difference by himself, and all of them back isn’t likely a core that goes far. TSJ and Marcus covered up a lot of deficiencies. No guarantee at all that you find two guys like that.
In the end you want talent with some continuity. But making that work isn’t always easy to do — from a personnel side or from a scheme aspect. Does this team have talent? I think it certainly does. Did it have the continuity? No. If that continuity isn’t there, it is up to the staff to recruit new guys who will be open to the culture you’re creating — and to actually instill it in them. You also need guys on staff who can make scheme adjustments when plan A isn’t working. That to me has been the biggest failing by staff.
This really illustrates how bad our offense is. Let's stand our 2 big guys right next to each other. Let's put two 23% 3pt shooters in the corners and just have KJ try to drive and make something happen.
If you have Tre cut to the hoop, where he is a much better player, now the defense can't just sit and double KJ. If they do, he can just drop it off to Tre.
Other plays we basically have a 2 man game, and once there's tape out on that, KJ isn't strong enough to pull that off every play. We just don't put guys in a good position. Now when were out moving in transition, we can be good. But force us into a half court set, it's not a work of art.
BU going to say that they are not coached that way.....but they must be because this has been par for the course for the year. They have a bunch of coaches, seems like their two most experienced coaches are recruiters. The rest are very green. We lost a lot with Frazier and TA leaving IMHO. Frazier seemed to teach defensive technique and TA offensive skills. Something is off that we are losing the tactical and strategic part of the game.
When is the last time you've seen a lottery pick that is playing, literally, terrible. Let's not sugar coat it. He's bordering unplayable, but he's on a team with guards who are just as bad. I can give you 50 second round picks that would fit KJ's profile right now.
He was being projected to be TOP 5. Of course projection is part of the equation, but projection is also a byproduct of current performance.
He's 6'6", he's got a decent skill set, BUT.....he's not athletic by NBA standards, his shooting is average to below average, his decision making can't be considered anything but awful, he doesn't protect the ball and he gets his shot blocked in the paint.
TO BE CLEAR....I love the kid. He's one of us and will always be. That said, if he goes to the NBA now..... he'll be in the G League for a long, long while and potentially back in Europe. See TJ and he's a freak athletically, he has an NBA ready body, he's an elite finisher.....he's a guy that you look at and say.....wow.
All bias aside, what are you seeing that REMOTELY puts him as a lottery pick. He wouldn't have started on last year's team.....of course IMO.
He was being projected to be TOP 5. Of course projection is part of the equation, but projection is also a byproduct of current performance.
He's 6'6", he's got a decent skill set, BUT.....he's not athletic by NBA standards, his shooting is average to below average, his decision making can't be considered anything but awful, he doesn't protect the ball and he gets his shot blocked in the paint.
TO BE CLEAR....I love the kid. He's one of us and will always be. That said, if he goes to the NBA now..... he'll be in the G League for a long, long while and potentially back in Europe. See TJ and he's a freak athletically, he has an NBA ready body, he's an elite finisher.....he's a guy that you look at and say.....wow.
All bias aside, what are you seeing that REMOTELY puts him as a lottery pick. He wouldn't have started on last year's team.....of course IMO.
Germanboxers
- Fort Wayne, IN
This is makes me sad. Culture and values are the foundation from which enduring success is built. There has been quite a bit of frustration over the last several years with how our teams played, lack of adjustments, a perplexing lack of offensive schema, inbounds plays etc, but my belief in the power of culture and in the importance Brad seemingly placed on it, gave me hope that next week, next month or next year would be better. I don’t believe that anymore…and this makes me sad.
Eric the Red, a prominent poster on Buckyville, gave an enthusiastic review of the Orange Krush’s appearance last night:
Can't have a culture when you are actively recruiting over your current players. But don't worry, there will be a whole bunch of people and insiders telling us that the talent upgrade is all that matters!
Just like Tre White was an upgrade over Ty, and Booth was an upgrade over Hansberry, and so on and so on. Still amazed that anyone is surprised by this season.
Just like Tre White was an upgrade over Ty, and Booth was an upgrade over Hansberry, and so on and so on. Still amazed that anyone is surprised by this season.
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
I'm sorry, but "Grateful Red" has to be the dumbest name for a student section lmao
There are some parallels between KJs lack of development and Andre Curbelo.
KJ is obviously way better and 5” taller, but his bad habits have gotten worse as the season has gone on (careless passes, loose with the dribble, one handed passes), along with the “no offense” offense have contributed to his turnover issues.
It might be an overstatement to draw the comparison, but still. If your offense is street ball, the pg isn’t getting reps learning in a system. I don’t even think it should be a good thing for recruiting to have no structure.
KJ is obviously way better and 5” taller, but his bad habits have gotten worse as the season has gone on (careless passes, loose with the dribble, one handed passes), along with the “no offense” offense have contributed to his turnover issues.
It might be an overstatement to draw the comparison, but still. If your offense is street ball, the pg isn’t getting reps learning in a system. I don’t even think it should be a good thing for recruiting to have no structure.
Do coaches ever call in an outside coaching perspective to help when the players have listened to you all season and defensive or offensive principles are breaking down repeatedly? You would think as a leader of young men in this situation, it would not be uncommon. Maybe hearing it from someone else might help. Like a one day clinic in season. Is that even allowed?
Davis tried to play through it. He did NOT play a minute the 2nd half and was not even on the bench. He was throwing up in the locker room all 2nd half. Fletch drove Tomi up, unable to drive.
You have no business being part of an NBA program as a talent evaluator if you listen to an agent saying those things and base evaluations on an agent. That is what agents do build up their clients, who cares what they say.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
- Miracle Mile
Jay Wright told Brad how to use Domask.
Yeah, I think Ant was Wright. (What a character that guy is.)
Our roster construction and entire scheme were predicated on having shooters…as we know. But this illustrates how the opposition thinks these guys are no threat from 3. Wisky shouldn’t be able to sag and cheat like that. Obviously, the play won’t work if we can’t keep the D honest…
And that’s a problem because the roster is what it is at this point…and far too late for much of an offensive overhaul.
Like Ant said, I think what we’re seeing in the first couple instances is an ATTEMPT at running Spain action and a complimentary play(with one high in the middle)…(notice similar spacing as in this video.) The defense was packed and sagging so the backscreen didn’t occur evidently. Ben simply popped.
Later, on with the miscommunication in the side ball screen with Kaspar, Ben also wanted to pop. I bring it up…because you would think these guys would have a better idea of each others tendencies at this point.
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Yikes the wheels are really falling off
Division I basketball continues to operate like it did in the 1960s. Your thoughts are the ones that many in the corporate world, or for that matter, in the medical school at a university, would have. A program that joins the 21st century, with feedback channels, advisory panels, retreats (this sounds like John Groce stuff now, lol) could vault themselves closer toward the top of the college basketball world. Big egos involved are naturally not in agreement with that.
But I think you're onto something.
But I think you're onto something.
Underwood said last night that he thought Tomi had only participated in one practice over the last month. I think this statement likely has a generous helping of coach-speak to it (i.e., it is a huge exaggeration) but I have wondered all year about how much the team practices organized team offensive actions. Underwood supposedly told (last night's televised game analyst) LaPhonso Ellis before the game that we don't really run an offense .... Again, that is probably a misquote, an misunderstanding, and coach-speak. But ... I am not sure how many reps anyone gets with the Spain action, for example. Or OOBs. Or ... lots of stuff.Yeah, I think Ant was Wright. (What a character that guy is.)
Our roster construction and entire scheme were predicated on having shooters…as we know. But this illustrates how the opposition thinks these guys are no threat from 3. Wisky shouldn’t be able to sag and cheat like that. Obviously, the play won’t work if we can’t keep the D honest…
And that’s a problem because the roster is what it is at this point…and far too late for much of an offensive overhaul.
Like Ant said, I think what we’re seeing in the first couple instances is an ATTEMPT at running Spain action and a complimentary play(with one high in the middle)…(notice similar spacing as in this video.) The defense was packed and sagging so the backscreen didn’t occur evidently. Ben simply popped.
Later, on with the miscommunication in the side ball screen with Kaspar, Ben also wanted to pop. I bring it up…because you would think these guys would have a better idea of each others tendencies at this point.
When did he sign with Klutch?
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