Yeh. It's all about clicks. I remember 5 or 6 weeks ago they said that we had done enough and were a tournament team. That's before we got Big T. Seems like they keep changing the narrative. They are drunk on Purdue. We will see about that.
Illini Basketball
We WILL prove them wrong!
Boswell definitely the biggest get and name of the portal. He's probably even being underrated by the fanbase. I would also say that Humrichous is also someone that was pretty sought after and I think most people consider a good player. The other guys are more under "talented projects" label. Though that talent is borderline NBA level for White and Booth.
I did a quick google search & can’t find evidence that there is anything official with Vandy and Sanderson at this point. Saw some twitter smoke. I really don’t know
Bigtex
- DFW
I also think that only having 2 returning players impacts perceptions. A great portal and freshman class still needs the puzzle pieces to fit together
This coming year has with very high probability always been a team-building year. I don't mean just recruiting although that is the single biggest factor. I also most certainly don't mean that the coaching staff will be shooting for good-but-not-great results in the coming season as the price for reaching a much higher level in the following season. All coaches at this level try to win as much as they possibly can every single year: winning culture is founded on that.
My point is that in listening to players at the NBA and collegiate level talk about how long it takes to build a team (Nicola Jokic is compelling in crediting even former team mates, for example) -- which involves adding a guy here, developing a guy there, carving out durable roles that hold up through the wicked onslaught of bad-luck in shooting (each game matters so much at the NCAA level) and matchups and reffing and off-the-courts issues -- is a task that usually take seasons and not merely months.
Guys learning to read each other on the floor, leaders understanding what leading actually involves, guys coming to be proud of the role they have carved out for themselves on the team, coaches developing confidence in their guys which makes players thrive, that all grows from repetition in practice and games and end-of-game situations and in losing situations. Talent and god-given physical gifts are not going to alone overcome the time factor though it can be shortened some for sure.
What's the point I am making? I suspect Coach Underwood will have the goal of winning the B1G championship this year and to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament. I would be stunned if he backed off from that mindset at any point in the coming season short of something like catastrophic injuries. But in the back of his mind, he knows if this current roster -- which needs to be molded into a team by him, his staff and the guys themselves -- tastes success this year and largely stays together, then the following season will be the when the big payoff will arrive.
That's my read.
My point is that in listening to players at the NBA and collegiate level talk about how long it takes to build a team (Nicola Jokic is compelling in crediting even former team mates, for example) -- which involves adding a guy here, developing a guy there, carving out durable roles that hold up through the wicked onslaught of bad-luck in shooting (each game matters so much at the NCAA level) and matchups and reffing and off-the-courts issues -- is a task that usually take seasons and not merely months.
Guys learning to read each other on the floor, leaders understanding what leading actually involves, guys coming to be proud of the role they have carved out for themselves on the team, coaches developing confidence in their guys which makes players thrive, that all grows from repetition in practice and games and end-of-game situations and in losing situations. Talent and god-given physical gifts are not going to alone overcome the time factor though it can be shortened some for sure.
What's the point I am making? I suspect Coach Underwood will have the goal of winning the B1G championship this year and to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament. I would be stunned if he backed off from that mindset at any point in the coming season short of something like catastrophic injuries. But in the back of his mind, he knows if this current roster -- which needs to be molded into a team by him, his staff and the guys themselves -- tastes success this year and largely stays together, then the following season will be the when the big payoff will arrive.
That's my read.
So do you think the players we've recruited and picked up in the portal this year are giving BU and staff indications they'll stay beyond the 24-25 season?? Or will we be faced with replacing 8-9 players again this time next year???
I'm sure they've all indicated multiple seasons. But the NIL portal environment means you get no guarantees.
The bitter irony is that the better we develop our talent the more difficult it might be to keep them.