If you look back at history in the last 30 years, Illinois had its best teams when the states best players stayed home.
Lou was finally able to do it in the mid to late 80's, and we put together the greatest Illini team in history IMO. Kruger & Self started bringing us back to the promised land with the commitments of McClain, Griffin, Frank, Head, Auggie, Dee, etc. Of course DWill was from Texas, but you still notice a pattern here.
I still have faith in Groce that he will get this turned around, but it's not gonna happen in 3 years, nor 5 years. I think we start going back to the Big Dance next year, but I want more. Call me greedy, but I want Final 4's & Championships. To me coaching is a big part of it, but recruiting is even bigger. It takes talent to get to the Final 4, and that's something we're obviously lacking. If Groce can somehow convince the Jabari Parkers, Okafors, Brunsons, etc to stay home we can get their.
Now how does he do this? It starts with winning. Something that we're obviously lacking right now. I'm giving him a pass this year. Do you guys think we would've been better with Abrams, Darius Paul, & if Cosby would've lived up to the hype? What if Quentin Snider would've kept his commitment? A lot of things have gone wrong.
You have to keep moving forward. We're bringing in the # 12 recruiting class next year with Michael Finke. You have to think they will be better. We're all in agreement that we need a PG & a Big. Let's hope this happens. If these smaller dominoes start to fall (Lovett, etc.) even though I think he's huge, we start winning more games. Eventually the in state five stars might just think Illinois is cool again.
Guys Bruce Weber really really set us back. Unless your name is Calipari, you're not going to build Illinois up overnight. I know we live in a "I want it now" society, but it's going to take time. Have faith in your coach, kids, & school and please support them. I still feel good about where we are heading.
Lou was finally able to do it in the mid to late 80's, and we put together the greatest Illini team in history IMO. Kruger & Self started bringing us back to the promised land with the commitments of McClain, Griffin, Frank, Head, Auggie, Dee, etc. Of course DWill was from Texas, but you still notice a pattern here.
I still have faith in Groce that he will get this turned around, but it's not gonna happen in 3 years, nor 5 years. I think we start going back to the Big Dance next year, but I want more. Call me greedy, but I want Final 4's & Championships. To me coaching is a big part of it, but recruiting is even bigger. It takes talent to get to the Final 4, and that's something we're obviously lacking. If Groce can somehow convince the Jabari Parkers, Okafors, Brunsons, etc to stay home we can get their.
Now how does he do this? It starts with winning. Something that we're obviously lacking right now. I'm giving him a pass this year. Do you guys think we would've been better with Abrams, Darius Paul, & if Cosby would've lived up to the hype? What if Quentin Snider would've kept his commitment? A lot of things have gone wrong.
You have to keep moving forward. We're bringing in the # 12 recruiting class next year with Michael Finke. You have to think they will be better. We're all in agreement that we need a PG & a Big. Let's hope this happens. If these smaller dominoes start to fall (Lovett, etc.) even though I think he's huge, we start winning more games. Eventually the in state five stars might just think Illinois is cool again.
Guys Bruce Weber really really set us back. Unless your name is Calipari, you're not going to build Illinois up overnight. I know we live in a "I want it now" society, but it's going to take time. Have faith in your coach, kids, & school and please support them. I still feel good about where we are heading.
