College Basketball 2017-2018

[SouthSideRyan]

Wichita State moves to the American Athletic Conference and I'm not sure the Valley will ever recover.

 

The last at-large bid (or seed that was clear at-large worthy) from a non-UNI team in the current conference was Drake in 2008. And even UNI has missed 5 of the last 7 tourneys. Illinois State was the only other team to make any postseason tournament this season.

Edited April 7, 2017 by SouthSideRyan

[Thed Hoyerstein]

Wichita State moves to the American Athletic Conference and I'm not sure the Valley will ever recover.

 

The last at-large bid (or seed that was clear at-large worthy) from a non-UNI team in the current conference was Drake in 2008. And even UNI has missed 5 of the last 7 tourneys. Illinois State was the only other team to make any postseason tournament.

 

You're correct on the Drake bid, but even that was an autobid.

 

The Valley as a premier mid-major conference is pretty much toast, as the only schools that were investing into their basketball programs were Creighton and Wichita State and by doing so, they outgrew their peers and leveraged that into a more prestigious conference affiliation. Doesn't help that many of the Valley leftovers are in pretty challenged financial condition (from a school budgeting perspective) and are heavily dragged down with FCS football expenses. Neither Wichita nor Creighton had that and thus were able to focus their primary resources into basketball.

 

Eventually you'll see Arch Madness fold and the conference tourney will be hosted at campus sites. Pretty big bummer for one of the best mid major conference tourneys.

[bukie]

Now the MVC will add Valpo and things will shake out similarly for them going forward. A league full of teams that will occasionally be at large borderline. A step back for the league, but it's not turning into the WAC.

[UMFan83]

Thought the Illini would keep their class intact like 3 days ago and now it looks decimated.

[illiniguy]

Thought the Illini would keep their class intact like 3 days ago and now it looks decimated.

Pickett is a top 250 kid, that one doesn't really hurt. Need to keep Frazier though. I'd probably offer Verge now and wait a year for him to qualify.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

it hurts in that it's April and there are now four scholarships to fill.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

imagine being this attached to John horsefeathering Groce.

[illiniguy]

it hurts in that it's April and there are now four scholarships to fill.

Amauri Hardy will probably be one of them, from what I have read. I wonder if DJW and Jordan stay with the team.

[illiniguy]

imagine being this attached to John horsefeathering Groce.

I think Cuonzo would have flipped Tilmon anyways, Pickett I think realizes he isn't a fit for the style Underwood wants to play. I doubt he ends up at Missouri.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

it hurts in that it's April and there are now four scholarships to fill.

Amauri Hardy will probably be one of them, from what I have read. I wonder if DJW and Jordan stay with the team.

 

yay? if losing pickett doesn't hurt, landing hardy doesn't help.

[illiniguy]

it hurts in that it's April and there are now four scholarships to fill.

Amauri Hardy will probably be one of them, from what I have read. I wonder if DJW and Jordan stay with the team.

 

yay? if losing pickett doesn't hurt, landing hardy doesn't help.

I get they are ranked around the same, but it is about fit. Pickett is very similar to Malcolm Hill in style, not as talented, that style doesn't really fit in Underwood's style of play.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

well, we also don't really need point guards, unless the pg is mark smith, but that's not happening.

[illiniguy]

well, we also don't really need point guards, unless the pg is mark smith, but that's not happening.

I disagree, always can use point guards that can play.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

well, we also don't really need point guards, unless the pg is mark smith, but that's not happening.

I disagree, always can use point guards that can play.

 

Agreed. Thankfully, we already have like 3 guys who can fill that role. For now, anyway.

[illiniguy]

well, we also don't really need point guards, unless the pg is mark smith, but that's not happening.

I disagree, always can use point guards that can play.

 

Agreed. Thankfully, we already have like 3 guys who can fill that role. For now, anyway.

Fraizer isn't leaving. He is blowing up on twitter. I think his parents loving Lovie is huge.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I know we have two ace recruiters and Underwood is a good coach. Ultimately we'll be fine. But it's never fun to see recruits defect, so for now I'm feeling negative.

[illiniguy]

I know we have two ace recruiters and Underwood is a good coach. Ultimately we'll be fine. But it's never fun to see recruits defect, so for now I'm feeling negative.

Yeah, I hate losing Tilmon. I really don't care about Pickett though, maybe he ends up a lot better than I think, but you don't hire Orlando to get that kind of guy, jmho.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I liked Pickett because he seemed to love Illinois, and that central IL, east St. Louis area is blowing up right now, and he seemed like someone that'd champion Illinois to other recruits. But that horsefeathers never works in practice and hasn't ever done jack horsefeathers for us in the past, so whatever I guess.

[illiniguy]

I liked Pickett because he seemed to love Illinois, and that central IL, east St. Louis area is blowing up right now, and he seemed like someone that'd champion Illinois to other recruits. But that horsefeathers never works in practice and hasn't ever done jack horsefeathers for us in the past, so whatever I guess.

What is weird to me is the timing. He just recommitted. Now he has the exact same statement that Tilmon has. It's clear what's going on here and I think it is hilarious that Martin is butthurt we didn't consider him for the job, when he chose Purdue over us as a player, lol. Luckily he is the black John Groce and will find a way to squander that talent.

[sweetpeteman]

Wichita State moves to the American Athletic Conference and I'm not sure the Valley will ever recover.

 

The last at-large bid (or seed that was clear at-large worthy) from a non-UNI team in the current conference was Drake in 2008. And even UNI has missed 5 of the last 7 tourneys. Illinois State was the only other team to make any postseason tournament.

 

You're correct on the Drake bid, but even that was an autobid.

 

The Valley as a premier mid-major conference is pretty much toast, as the only schools that were investing into their basketball programs were Creighton and Wichita State and by doing so, they outgrew their peers and leveraged that into a more prestigious conference affiliation. Doesn't help that many of the Valley leftovers are in pretty challenged financial condition (from a school budgeting perspective) and are heavily dragged down with FCS football expenses. Neither Wichita nor Creighton had that and thus were able to focus their primary resources into basketball.

 

Eventually you'll see Arch Madness fold and the conference tourney will be hosted at campus sites. Pretty big bummer for one of the best mid major conference tourneys.

 

 

Bradley invested, they built a new training facility, payed a lot of money to bring in a new coach, they just sucked at it. Bradley spent several million dollars buying out and signing Geno Ford, who barely made it 4 years before being fired for being just completely terrible.

 

That said, Jim Les won. They fired him in 2011 and he made it back to the NCAA tournament this year with UC Davis.

[Guest]

I liked Pickett because he seemed to love Illinois, and that central IL, east St. Louis area is blowing up right now, and he seemed like someone that'd champion Illinois to other recruits. But that horsefeathers never works in practice and hasn't ever done jack horsefeathers for us in the past, so whatever I guess.

 

Underwood told Pickett that his scholarship would be honored and that was about it. He wasn't feeling the love.

[Guest]

Thought the Illini would keep their class intact like 3 days ago and now it looks decimated.

Pickett is a top 250 kid, that one doesn't really hurt. Need to keep Frazier though. I'd probably offer Verge now and wait a year for him to qualify.

 

i wouldn't worry about Pickett, he didn't fit Underwood's system. Underwood is in KC today visiting a kid named Francesco Badocchi. Here's his highlight tape, and pay attention, even though this kid isn't highly-rated and has mid-major offers now, this is the type of kid that fits Underwood's system and is the type of kid he's going to be going after.

 

[illiniguy]

Thought the Illini would keep their class intact like 3 days ago and now it looks decimated.

Pickett is a top 250 kid, that one doesn't really hurt. Need to keep Frazier though. I'd probably offer Verge now and wait a year for him to qualify.

 

i wouldn't worry about Pickett, he didn't fit Underwood's system. Underwood is in KC today visiting a kid named Francesco Badocchi. Here's his highlight tape, and pay attention, even though this kid isn't highly-rated and has mid-major offers now, this is the type of kid that fits Underwood's system and is the type of kid he's going to be going after.

 

I have played against him, he's a beast. But, I am also 37 now, lol. Seriously though, very good local player.

[illiniguy]

I liked Pickett because he seemed to love Illinois, and that central IL, east St. Louis area is blowing up right now, and he seemed like someone that'd champion Illinois to other recruits. But that horsefeathers never works in practice and hasn't ever done jack horsefeathers for us in the past, so whatever I guess.

 

Underwood told Pickett that his scholarship would be honored and that was about it. He wasn't feeling the love.

Rumor has it he was told he'd redshirt and maybe play by year 3. He was told he come come, but he wouldn't play.

[Guest]

I liked Pickett because he seemed to love Illinois, and that central IL, east St. Louis area is blowing up right now, and he seemed like someone that'd champion Illinois to other recruits. But that horsefeathers never works in practice and hasn't ever done jack horsefeathers for us in the past, so whatever I guess.

 

Underwood told Pickett that his scholarship would be honored and that was about it. He wasn't feeling the love.

Rumor has it he was told he'd redshirt and maybe play by year 3. He was told he come come, but he wouldn't play.

 

yeah, i heard that too..

 

Looks like Bragg is back in play.