STATE OF THE PROGRAM: Illinois Fighting Illini Offseason Report Cards, College Basketball 2024-2025
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- The Sleepers deep-dive on the state of the Illinois basketball program, grading five key categories: departures, returnees, transfers, freshmen and vibes.
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Im sorry.....you dont grade a program on what you thought they were going to get.........you grade them on what they got.......based on that, the transfer class is a 9 not an 8.
U are grasping at straws big fella
Continuity matters coming from an MSU fan is sad af. Antigua over Frazier was a huge addition. Extra credit.
talent alone, Illinois will compete and finish in the top 4. the following year, they will win the b10 again.
you can't count on people staying anymore
@@chrisshort6966 they just had a season with their core staying. The guys that left this year were either being recruited over (WVU guys, Nico, Dain, & Goode) or were just done (Hawk). This team promises to have a helluva core that you can sell retention again.
VIBES for sure are high! ILL, bring on March Bradness 2025!
To me I’m expecting tourney probably a first round win and then a competitive second round. Also top 4 seed in conference
The way I read the Hawkins situation is that Illinois wanted an early decision so they can go out recruiting to cover some of what he does. Hawkins made an early decision, but as he gathered more information it became apparent to him that he would need an option to come back to college. That would fit Hawkins comments about not wanting to take someone’s spot, but he takes someone spot no matter where he goes. I think there is a world, while the chances aren’t great where both sides reconsider. We will find out very soon.
I'm sure Hawkins is saying he's transferring to drive up the price. 50/50 he comes back to Illinois. I also heard they had a side pot of money for him specifically if he wanted to come back.
@@tjn2254 Well based off what I am seeing tonight, I doubt that’s in the cards.
Hawkins is going to the NBA, its almost certain. Domask was denied another year by NCAA and Shannon, Harmon, and Guerrier. At the time of moving, none of Harris (my fav), Dainja, Moretti, Goode, and hansberry were not starting. In fact, with the transfers (whom all those leaving players probably knew were coming already before announced) only Hawkins would have had any chance of being a starter. These players barely cracked time. This is only a mess because of the large number of starters leaving. The new rules on defense make offense a major concern. A LOT of Shannon's freethrows would have been offensive fouls just a few years back. The rule changes mean you stock up on offensive players who can rebound shoot and ball handle. I don't think the old addage that defense wins championships has any merit anymore. In fact, look back at Illinois-Indiana in the 1980s. Knight had the leading offenses, Henson had the leading defenses. Who won the most championships? You need an average defense and a stellar offense. The biggest concern is only will there be chemistry problems. That is it. IF chemistry is ok, then they will start off rocky and then dominate later. IF chemistry is a problem... reload next year. There is no doubt that the lower conferences are going to be feeders for the big conferences in the near future. I don't like that, but the writing is on the wall.
He just pulled out
@MLMcCallum - look around at all the major programs - they are all dealing with the same transfer issues and hitting the portal hard. This is the new normal for both football and basketball. Every one of these teams will have the same chemistry questions. This is the wild, wild west.
In this current college bball environment, flexibility in the coaching and recruiting is going to be key. Illinois is fortunate to have a former community college coach where the roster turned over 65-80% every year. With so much turnover, even coach U will be challenged. You should start to see a lot more coaching turnover nationally as coaches don't adjust. Coach U will and it will end up being a benefit to the U of I bball.
I think this is a Top 3 B10 team. Half of this fairly young roster were Top 50 prep recruits, along with a couple legit 5*s. I think this roster is going to feed off individual matchups. This roster has a higher ceiling than last years. Even though the roster is young age wise, most of the starters have 2+ years of in-game experience. Length at all positions, a deep bench. Legit 7 footer who can stretch the floor and has been playing in top tier euro leagues against grown men/former NBA players. Former McDAA PG who has 2 years of experience starting for Arizona. In this era its impossible to really predict anything, but I am pretty high on this roster.
This is going to be both a fun and frustrating year. Illinois swapped experience and an alpha scorer for more upside and two point guards.
There is a lot of complementary pieces and depth on paper so I’m curious how everything comes together. I could see Nov/Dec being up and down but maybe hitting their stride mid January.
Overall, I think it’s a tournament team, but it’s hard to project a ceiling and floor.
The scoring system is flawed losing elite talent to the NBA and graduation is punitive.
It's a scoring system for the upcoming season... How does losing players help the team next year
The issue with the scoring is having two categories -- one for departures and one for returnees. They are directly connected. Just have one score for "continuity" if you feel that's important, or for "roster strength"
The only legit transfers that left are Dainja and Moretti. Goode is going to his dream school to attain a graduate degree, Harris and Hansberry followed Chester to WV. So we can’t sit here and spectulate about them being “bad guys” such a dumb take. Dainja doesn’t fit the system, Moretti didn’t see a huge role. It’s not like we lost studs.
It’s a joke
Let’s goo I’ve been waiting!!!
Feel it’s a little rough on counting both attrition and returns. Basically ding them twice for the same thing.
You’re right about vibes though. I feel we’ve got something dangerous brewing. Could be some early season growing pains, but we’ve got some ballers out there who will generate a ton of offense. I’ll keep the orange and blue shades on, but I truly believe this team is winning the B1G next season
I'm really enjoying this series. Are you guys going to post a summary of all scores at the end?
Let’s give him them really low scores on departure and returnees so it tanks there score. I expected this and bringing back the ones they did is huge! I’ll take DGL and Ty over all returnees except Coleman. The team will be fine.
I will sadly say as an Illini fan without adding a play better than Boswell that next year’s roster is a .500 type of roster. Making the tournament is the ceiling next year. Most likely outcome is not making the tournament. Losing Hawkins is very sad. Excited for the build for 25-26 and seeing the team develop, but it’s going to be a big reality check for the Orange Kool Aid drinking crowd. Not sure the roster next year is better than the 12-21 team in Ayo’s freshman year.
Just stop. Step away from the keyboard, go get some fresh air, maybe enjoy an adult beverage. Writing your opinion about Illinois over and over again doesn't make it any more valid.
@@johnwalker4213 Hmm, no. Going to be a painful year for the fanbase.
I don’t think the expectation each year has changed amongst a majority of Illini fans. The expectation is make the tournament every year and a second weekend at health clip, let’s say 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4. Then, make a final four run every 10-15 years. I think that’s where a vast majority of Illini fans land
Final four run every 10-15 years? Nobody is feeling that. If we hit one final four in the next 10 or 15 years underwood is massive failure.
@@tjn2254 So Lou Henson was a failure then? To have expectations beyond every 10-15 years as a baseline, your expectations are well higher than the history of the program. Is Underwood a historic coach? I don’t think so. Does 3 in 20-25 years feel better to you? It’s similar IMO. The point is I don’t think there are many Illini fans expecting a final four every 5 years for example. If you are, I would encourage you to look at the history of the program.
@@tjn2254 I do want to remind you that Illinois has been the final four a whopping two times in the last 70 years.
@@tjn2254 Good reply. Underwood has already won 3 trophies since he has been here. Pretty impressive stuff. We will see what happens. If we have another run in the next few years which I think we will, that would quiet a lot of people. This new era brings opportunity with them that know how to work the portal.
@@aaronweeks1347 we probably would have been in final four last season if we didn't get stuck in UConn's bracket in Boston.
Looking at national rankings out of high school, this is an overall significant upgrade. A number of top 50 guys, this is new. . . . True, several of these are projects. Coach O may be a factor
I get being critical of the departures. However, this was as a result of their plan for this past season. It was always going to be a heavy departure year.
Let’s say your Luke Goode. You’re a lifelong Indiana fan. Your family is rooted in that school. The coach of Indiana when you came out of high school didn’t want you. You landed at Illinois and won a lot, but now you are a graduate and that team you were on has lost every big contributor. Things at Indiana have changed and they now want you. Is there really anything Illinois could’ve done without sacrificing winning to keep him??
Greg has been critical about losing Harris and Hansberry, but never really has addressed what he would do if he had the opportunity to hire Antigua at the cost of losing those two guys. What choice does Greg make? Was Antigua worth losing those two players, especially long term? It’s a choice, choices have consequences, it’s not always win, win. I will tell you most Illinois fans didn’t want to lose any of these three player. Many of the fans will spin the losses as a trust in Brad thing. Some of them will now downplay those players to defend Brad. For me, I think the best decision was made for the long term health of the program. Tough decision for sure. Illinois definitely is not in on top recruitments if they keep Frazier.
Y’all are just a bunch of haters
This is a horrible assessment design departures, returns, freshmen, and transfers are important metrics but they are not mutually exclusive. A low score in any of these areas can be overcome by a great score in one of the others. By adding these 3 metrics you don’t allow for that. E.g. you could lose all of last year’s team and bring in 12 5-star recruits/transfers so your best score might be 22x2 = 44 + vibes maxes you out at 64. Would that be good grounds for comparison?
on the returning players, this is just what happens when you try to stack a roster with a bunch of seniors/5th years in an effort to make a march push. Just is kind of an inevitable side effect, if this continues to happen year after year, well clearly something is fucked.
All I hope is that they will be fun to watch and i think this team will be. It may be defense optional but they should put up some points.
Marcus D. was fantastic!!!!!
Brad has to get a couple bruthas with his last 2 open scholarship spots. Too many white guys on this team right now. What are we, Iowa? Wisconsin? St. Mary's?😂
Your a 🤡
Your discord Illini fans are NOT representative of most Illini fans I know. I regularly hear that expectations are for a rebuild this year. Annual expectations are to make the tourney. Trust in Brad's roster building is pretty high, Not so much on his time playing freshman or his ability to adjust in games as needed.
Your overall process is interesting. The flaws in it to me are limited insights, outside of your criteria. I'd like to know your grades when limited to their Top 5 current players and their second 5. To me it's not about what a program had as compared to what it has.
This new roster will be a better offense overall. Better shooting. Better offensive flexibility. Better passing. Better depth.
Go player by player comparing last year's roster to this year's and you'll prove me right.
if kj is special this is a possible sweet 16 team. If he's a dud this team is going to struggle.
Bro why are u saying that immediately nothing has happened yet they haven’t said it yet
They get 10++++++ for not wearing green
Illinois will win 20plus games and compete for the BigTen. Boswell, white, and Humrichious will play at an All Big-Ten level with the higher usage rate..
"might have been good" LOL
I'm vibin'
agree with Aaron below what do you do
Antigua vs Harris/Hansberry. Well who do you two pick????
Loss/returnees are irrelevant in the current environment. College BB (sports) are a replica of the professionals. Or heading in that direction. So, player rotations, like the professionals, is here to stay.
Furthermore, two of the new players have played at the professional level. They have faced ever changing teammates.
And, as for the others, I bet their minds are set of changes.
The people who have not caught up with yearly changes are the analysts. 😊
Coleman was never coming back .He is going to get his bag from somebody. Goode wanted to play for his home state school and he's not going to start anyway . Coleman knew they were going to recruit over him out of necessity. Can't wait forever. This year is a setup to next year when Fears comes in. They upgraded at a lot of positions imo. They still have one schollie left. AJ Storr is not an illini type player , so who cares.
DGL keeps getting recruited over
Its about winning. Some thing that happens no fault of your own Some he was the fault you can be all nice to all the players and they can leave If a player is not going to to help boost your winning got to move on
White, Kasparas & BIG T are being badly under rated by this podcast. BIG T is in the same mold as Hunter Dickinson with a better shot. White played pretty well at USC & played for both a bad team and BAD coach while at Louisville. He will light it up when given the opportunity. Kasparas is 6'5" & 200lbs. He will get Fletched and put on some more muscle. The kid is ATHLETIC. Not fast but he has a 38" vertical leap.
Can you do East Carolina
lol
They all can’t wear a green uniform
I think Michigan state lost a ton too!!!
Hey buddy. Just wanted to inform you one of the worst MSU teams in two decades beat the first Illini team in 19 years to make the second weekend.
Sounds and smells likes sour grapes
The Illinois fanbase often overrates incoming players. Drinking the Orange Kool Aid. The fanbase will go to the mattresses defending a coach when he has their support. Right now the fanbase is pro Underwood and will react to anything and anybody who is critical of him or the program. Illinois fans are very much like Cubs fans, some of the same people. I am a bit more on the critical side of the Illini fanbase and often will get some of the backlash you guys might get. One of the flaws of the fanbase is it likes to fight amongst itself basically about being overly positive and overly negative about the program. Program has great vibes when it supports its coach, but history tells us that can turn quickly. I am an Underwood supporter, but think he is likely a below average game coach that has been shown to be true in some big games. His game coaching is the ceiling to the program in my opinion. I have grown to accept who he is. Lou Henson 2.0 which I will take everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
Agree with the backlash on saying flaws with players from this fan base. Also agree underwood is not a great in game x & o coach. Dude can't adjust on the fly.
Dweeb. We make the tournament every year. We trust our coaches scouting eye. Sorry you can’t relate
Fucking haters
Guys, enough with the criticism. I appreciate the criticisms, I’ve felt much the same at times. But keep in mind the Illini have won 3 big 10 crowns, either regular season or tourney, 3 of 4 years. And I do believe the conf record under Brad shows he’s won more big 10 games than most if not all teams the past few years. Think of former coach bill self. He’s won a ton, an absolute ton of conference crowns, his teams are always highly ranked, yet more often than not the NCAA tourney performance is pedestrian. Be happy the program is consistently in mix for both conference and national honors. Remember the dude before underwood? That was a train wreck for years.
Illinois is hanging banners man. And making tournaments. Reloaded on Best assistants too.
Boo you
The Illinois fanbase often overrates incoming players. Drinking the Orange Kool Aid. The fanbase will go to the mattresses defending a coach when he has their support. Right now the fanbase is pro Underwood and will react to anything and anybody who is critical of him or the program. Illinois fans are very much like Cubs fans, some of the same people. I am a bit more on the critical side of the Illini fanbase and often will get some of the backlash you guys might get. One of the flaws of the fanbase is it likes to fight amongst itself basically about being overly positive and overly negative about the program. Program has great vibes when it supports its coach, but history tells us that can turn quickly. I am an Underwood supporter, but think he is likely a below average game coach that has been shown to be true in some big games. His game coaching is the ceiling to the program in my opinion. I have grown to accept who he is. Lou Henson 2.0 which I will take everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
Same as every other fan base