Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

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#101      
Kenny67
Bassinillini said:
Think how quickly things have turned upside down from a norm of mostly 3-4 year players with an occasional grad transfer, JUCO or rarely someone leaving early for the pros to a norm of mostly portal transfers and freshmen with an occasional 3-4 year player or two sprinkled in. Lots of audacity to second guess any coach who is navigating such unchartered seas for the first time. Cal and Bail mostly struggling to stay above water. By comparison Brad seems to be much better in choppy water.
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Bro bassinillini ...
Agree coach BU does well in choppy waters.
Recall coach BU was a bball JUCO coach where the coach must rebuild half the bball roster every season.
 
#102      
Fly Illini Fly!
It's 100% accurate at the time the info is being released. Not 100% accurate in terms of a prediction.

Unfortunately, some take it as a prediction and not as a "what's currently happening."
 
#103      
Kenny67
The Galloping Ghost said:
If you want to criticize the roster construction on May 11th, be my guest. Personally, I think it's kind of foolish. Yes, we currently have a hole that we are all very aware of, but Brad's shown he's a heck of a problem solver. There's still time and options for him to solve this problem. And I do think Brad's record over the past 5 years earns him the benefit of the doubt to wait till we actually know what the final roster is. But hey, I get it. Watching sausage get made is messy business. The thing is, though, if you don't have the stomach for it or it's stressing you out in May for a season that starts in November, you don't have to watch. Just like you don't have to post in the game threads about every single less-than-perfect possession.
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Bro ghost .
IMO, I like the transfer portal activity and the team rebuilding process. This likely will settle down a bit after this last covid year is over.
 
#104      
More3s
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Guards: Kylan, DGL
Wings: Tre, Monsanto, Watkins, Ty
4s: Morez, Ben, Booth
5s: Tomislav

Not trying to be negative just stating what is most likely - This team likely won't be ranked preseason and will likely finish the season in the 7-10 seed range. Sure can be better than that but that's what's likely.

Is that accurate? ...Or is that putting it too below the bar?
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Wow, we have way different outlooks on that hypothetical team. If we happen to land Watkins (which is a huge IF, but that's who you listed there) then I would LOVE the team's outlook. A starting lineup of Boswell, Watkins, White/Rodgers, Humrichous and Ivisic sounds super strong to me.

Watkins would be about at Storr's level as far as impact, and very possibly higher, and I also think he would likely be a better college player next year than Demin. (I would have loved to get Demin - it would be exciting to have such a prospect and I think he would be very good - but I also think that an older guy like Watkins is still more likely to be a better college player next year. It would be a 22/23 year old vs an 18 year old.)

If Brad somehow manages to land both Watkins and Monsanto, that's a home run, imo. Honestly, it doesn't seem likely to me that it would actually work out that way, because that's asking for a lot. But still... would be an incredible portal haul.

(Also, poor Jake Davis)
 
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#107      
Loyalillini10
PasadenaIllini said:
First I was asked about the coaches who are paid more than Brad. I explained what distinguishes them from Brad. And then based upon my explanation, "Brad Underwood is never going to have (my) confidence or trust?" What part of my explanation wasn't factual? What part of my explanation involved "moving the goal post?"
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Nope. My response had everything to do with you mentioning coaches that have made it to a Final Four and, "When Brad enters that territory he'll have earned more deference." Last season, it was a Sweet 16. He and the team get to the Elite 8 and now it is a Final Four. Thus, goal posts moved.
 
#108      
Combo
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Guards: Kylan, DGL
Wings: Tre, Monsanto, Watkins, Ty
4s: Morez, Ben, Booth
5s: Tomislav

Not trying to be negative just stating what is most likely - This team likely won't be ranked preseason and will likely finish the season in the 7-10 seed range. Sure can be better than that but that's what's likely.

Is that accurate? ...Or is that putting it too below the bar?
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If we land Watkins, we're likely better than a 7-10. Much better if they develop some chemistry. That would be a pretty talented group, though certainly not Duke-level.
 
#109      
derrick6
Need to add speed and finishing at the rim to the roster. Especially in transition, imo.
 
#110      
Mobi
LvilleILL said:
Incorrect. And we aren't done adding. We have plenty of talent to complete with the "best teams" in our conference. Who is really that good right now?
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Feel like Indiana is the only school who arguably has a better recruit class than us right now. But do you trust Woodan? Purdue will be good but they lost Edey. I feel like it's hard to predict B1G ranking preseason given the expansion, new coaches, and the departures of top players. I think we CAN be very competitive but I don't want to pretend my crystal ball is clear.
 
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#111      
Illiniforlife
LvilleILL said:
Incorrect. And we aren't done adding. We have plenty of talent to complete with the "best teams" in our conference. Who is really that good right now?
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I would say Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, USC, and Northwestern are all better than us. Also UCLA, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Oregon are right where we are and would be toss up games.
 
#115      
Illinicpa14
john1952 said:
I would say Underwood has earned a B given the volume, give the number of players he had to replace
If we get an elite wing in the next 4 week, perhaps an A-
if the best we can get are players the calaiber of Sharavjamts, perhaps B-/C+
So many variables influencing where a players eventually lands, hard to place all the responsiblity on the coach and staff.
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Just a question off of your first sentence for overall discussion - How do you factor in that the coach is dictating the number of guys he has to replace? He partially created that situation because he augmented the team last year with 3 1-year old guys.

Going into next year if things go well, we have a good amount of multi-year players in the rotation that will make the portal more focused of production/areas to go get.

And for the record, I think he did a great job last year of trying to maximize our chances in a year you are returning a first team all big ten player and have another top guy in Hawkins.
 
#116      
Govoner Vaugn Fan
Joel Goodson said:
being a suburban product, those Ag commercials running during Illini games made a real WTH? impact: Bigfoot Lorsban by Monsanto, locked and loaded, lol
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Actually, Farmers are among the most avid viewers of college basketball, and an ad costs the same whether selling five dollar Footlongs or seed corn. Except the farmers watching might spend a couple hundred grand for seed corn, and a similar amount for chemicals. Only have to reach a couple of them to cover the cost of the ad.
 
#118      
LvilleILL
Illiniforlife said:
I would say Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, USC, and Northwestern are all better than us. Also UCLA, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Oregon are right where we are and would be toss up games.
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Captain America Lol GIF by mtv
 
#120      
LvilleILL
Illiniforlife said:
I would say Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State, USC, and Northwestern are all better than us. Also UCLA, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Oregon are right where we are and would be toss up games.
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While we are at this, let's go over some of these teams
IU: Got a ton of talent, but Woodson is the coach and he's underperfomed with talent
Ohio State: Did they really get any better? Lost Battle Okrpara and Gayle and added Meechie and Bradshaw
Michigan: Their two best players play the same position and are limited offensively. We are way deeper than they are. I'll take Boswell over any of their guards
Purdue: Life without Edey is going to be difficult. Look at their roster. Outside of Braeden Smith, it is very underwhelming pieces or freshman
Rutgers: Two elite freshman and a pile of trash? Good luck
Maryland: Actually like what they have done. But once again, they have no one who can shoot in the frontcourt
MSU: An absolute joke people are saying MSU is better. They would KILL for a center line big t. Look at our frontcourt compared to there's. I'll take our pg over theirs as well
USC: Great offseason. Imo a top 2 or 3 big ten team
Northwestern: lol. Can over 50% of people on this board name guys on the team outside of their top 2 or 3 players for next year? Collins is a great coach but Buie carried that team
 
#122      
pruman91
The Galloping Ghost said:
If you want to criticize the roster construction on May 11th, be my guest. Personally, I think it's kind of foolish. Yes, we currently have a hole that we are all very aware of, but Brad's shown he's a heck of a problem solver. There's still time and options for him to solve this problem. And I do think Brad's record over the past 5 years earns him the benefit of the doubt to wait till we actually know what the final roster is. But hey, I get it. Watching sausage get made is messy business. The thing is, though, if you don't have the stomach for it or it's stressing you out in May for a season that starts in November, you don't have to watch. Just like you don't have to post in the game threads about every single less-than-perfect possession.
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Preach brother , Preach !!!!!
 
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