Off to DePaul.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Today Dosunmu gets to throw the Illini hat down.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

I spent the last few moments trying to figure out who Brad Underwood is

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

The Chevy Blazers are back, baby!!

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You know me like that.

Look promising.

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Smith and Dosunmu are going to look real good together next year.

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You know me like that.

Don't know if Ayo is that guy but its a real good get for Underwood. They got the No.1 player in the state. That would never have happened under Groce. Chin and the Irvins are extremely tight. Chin and Mike Irvin were high school teammates at South Shore.

He also was once a member of their AAU coaching staff. Illinois will have an immediate in on every player who plays for the Fire going forward.

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You're sick. While y'all busy thinking, I was busy getting two primo seats (half court, row 6, 55 bucks apiece) to see the Illini take on NC-Central. Gonna be a barn-burner.

Usually take my son (who is NOT a sports fan or an athlete, but whatever--just trying to get him interested in college and away from video games) to one pre-season game like this. Always a good time.

Anyone up for a Big Ten game? Only problem (at UIUC) is they play on weeknights and Sunday nights....

Iowa State gets Horton-Tucker. Between Horton-Tucker, George Conditt, and Zion Griffin from Hinsdale South, they've cleaned up in the Chicago Area. Reloading not rebuilding at this point. They could have a top 10-15 class for 2018.

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Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

The Horton Tucker situation is a good example of why it will be really hard for a coach to have sustained success at Illinois.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

A guy from a couple classes ahead of me in high school (my brother's class) just donated $150 million to the school. They are naming the business school after him.

We are about to take over.

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You know me like that.

That is cool. Better to be known for business than basketball anyhow.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Freaked my brother out. We all knew the guy was pretty successful but he kept such a low-profile that it kind of shocked us all.

_________________
You know me like that.

Some really weird rumors out there regarding the THT rift with Ayo.

This could be a massive disaster. They'll regret the decision they made. No recruit should be able to do this to you.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Sounds like Underwood chose the Mac Irvin Fire over Simeon. Given recent history, not sure that was a mistake.

This will be used to negatively recruit against Illinois. Letting one guy run the show before he even enrolls. Why would you want to be part of that?

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

that hs is the cradle of billionaires

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Everyone uses whatever they can to recruit. Of course other guys will use it to paint Illinois in ugly colors. But college athletics is an "every man for himself" business. Guys get scholarships taken away all the time- guys who have actually been in school.

And fuck Simeon. Sure they deliver the "B" players to Illinois, guys like Tate and Williams who belong in the MAC, but when a real player like Rose or Parker comes along it's, "Hey Illinois, go fuck yourself."

_________________
Don't take it personally.

Also, Horton Tucker and his family didn't bash Illinois.

I'm interested in LTG's take on this one.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

- Horton Tucker is really good.

- Nick Irvin is still a douchebag.

- This happens all the time but the Illinois coaching staff either is completely incompetent or arrogantly thought they could change Irvin's mind before pulling the offer the day of.

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Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

I'm on board. If you need to make a choice, you can't choose Simeon alone. And it seems a choice needed to be made.

Simeon hasn't made an impact on Illinois in 25 years.

_________________
You know me like that.

Underwood should have chosen the Irvins over Simeon. Simeon has provided junk since Nick Anderson. Kevin Turner was ok but not elite and really just a throw in for Notree years ago.

The best players in the state tend to play for the Fire anyway. Robert Smith has used leverage when believed that he had it so why shouldn't the Irvins?

I don't blame Smith for Rose and Parker because the family handled the recruiting in both situations.

I do blame him for forcing ILLINOIS to take kids that were not Big Ten players however. He used the Simeon brand to force Ilinois's hand on guys like Tate and D.J. Williams. Stan Simpson too. Promised better players down the road and it never materialized.

I actually see Talen Horton as one of those kinds of players. He is only about 6'3 tops and not athletic. He'd have transferred out at some point anyway.

The Irvins didn't do business with Grove because they were mad that he chose Paris over Chin for the assistant coach job. It's one of the reasons that they missed on bright lights and to a lesser degree Charlie Moore. They didn't want to deal with Illinois or Paris in particular. Probably one of the reasons, albeit a slight one, as to why they missed on Brunson.

Chin is their guy. This means that Illinois will be in play for every player that comes through the Fire program. Doesn't mean they will get them but they will have more of a chance.

Problem with that is that the Fire haven't been all that good the last 3 years. They have been getting blasted on the circuit since guys like Okafor and Alexander have departed.
Their talent has coincided with a general drop in talent in the Chicago area. If Chicago isn't good then they aren't either.
Ayo isn't an NBA prospect though he will be a help to the program.

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Yeah what exactly is Horton-Tucker? He looks kind of like Q Richardson with more baby fat. Yet Kansas & Michigan State offered him, among many others.

_________________
Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

He is an undersized 3. He has long arms which makes him appear taller than he is. He has a decent skill set but he doesn't wow with it.

_________________

Some of the stuff I've read suggests that he will put on muscle and be an undersized power player in the Dantley/Aguirre/Calvin Natt vein.

_________________
Don't take it personally.

He is already a thick kid. He can tone up a little but he doesn't really have to add weight. He doesn't have the low post game those guys had.

The high majors really started checking for him late. I don't see him having much impact in the Big 12

_________________

Lost to Eastern Illinois tonight.

Outscored by 17 in the 2nd half.

_________________
Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"