Kofi Commits to Illinois

[superjohn]

wait. now i'm totally confused. when is an AAC game not a NCAA game? daaayum, I must be reachin' new levels of stoopit in trying to reach my goal of Boxes of Rocks Wearing Socks. but i'm mos def on the goats paying attention to that game though, cuz I heard 'em, up close and personal like. somma dem animals kinda funny, too.

You can't be serious?!??

 

[3rdbass]

Shonn Miller did not make himself available enough on the offensive end. He was a great addition to the team but he was not a natural scorer as a big. The last "big" UConn had who worked for the ball and had some scoring skills was Jeff Adrien. I am not including AD because he was here for a cameo appearance.

I beg to disagree with this as he was very important in many games. Either way if this team had a Shonn Miller we would have an inside game.

 

[tcf15]

I was happy he left, but he would certainly help this team right now. His stats on this team would put him at:

2nd in 3P% (.418)
1st in FTA per game (4.3)
1st in RPG (7.1)
3rd in APG (2.4)
4th in PPG (12.2)

Also, was curious on Durham's stats after looking up Vance's.

Durham currently has 46 blocks in only 14 games played.

The only guys since KO took over that have had more than 46 blocks in a single season: DeAndre Daniels (once) and Amida Brimah (four times).

 

[B1GEast]

Terrible

 

[August_West]

Also, was curious on Durham's stats after looking up Vance's.

Durham currently has 46 blocks in only 14 games played.

The only guys since KO took over that have had more than 46 blocks in a single season: DeAndre Daniels (once) and Amida Brimah (four times).

Always said Durham is the one that got away.

Vances solid year nonwithstanding. Durham would be playing 30 plus at the 5 on this team. Hes not a bruiser. But hes skilled.

 

[superjohn]

Also, was curious on Durham's stats after looking up Vance's.

Durham currently has 46 blocks in only 14 games played.

The only guys since KO took over that have had more than 46 blocks in a single season: DeAndre Daniels (once) and Amida Brimah (four times).

In only 15 minutes per game. 3.3 blocks in 15 mpg is unheard of, has to be the best rate in the country.

 

[JB75]

It’s not sour grapes for me but i cud see if kofi would’ve chosen St. John’s or Pittsburgh- at least they are local and have a winning history. I could even somewhat understand that - and of course Kansas - if they were in the running - I just can’t seem to wrap my head around why he would choose Illinois over Uconn. the only slight thing is I guess that Illinois was always involved with him . when he left for a visit Last week I thought it was just a courtesy visit - something doesn’t add up here and again , not sour grapes just can’t understand why you’d want to go to Illinois - what do they possibly offer? It’s not a winning program, its in the middle of the Midwest , it’s a bottom feeder in the big 10, and most importantly- it’s not close to home. I’m trying to remember a time when we had such a good recruit that we thought was so locked in To us but ended up choosing a school beneath us. So weird.

 

[Dove]

Vance Jackson wouldn’t help our team. He does nothing we need.

I blame this comment on post-coma issues.

He scores and rebounds. Hurley and Co. would have improved him in other areas.

 

[polycom]

wait. now i'm totally confused. when is an AAC game not a NCAA game? daaayum, I must be reachin' new levels of stoopit in trying to reach my goal of Boxes of Rocks Wearing Socks. but i'm mos def on the goats paying attention to that game though, cuz I heard 'em, up close and personal like. somma dem animals kinda funny, too.

AAC game is two AAC teams play an NCAA game is commonly known as game between conferences...but what do I know according to someone here I'm a KO homer.

 

[uconnbill]

Its unacceptable that we cant even recruit decent enough players to win this Frikkin League from time to time. We should be able to land better recruits than USF and ECU for gods sake.

Not sure what you are talking about, but he has and will continue getting better players. Now if your talking about the Ollie years that is different as he lost as many it seems as he brought in.

 

[uconnbill]

Good point if the AAC vs B1G was a consideration for Kofi then the conference once again causes us to miss. More and More reason to head back to the Big East and either go independent in Football or drop down a level or better yet kill the program.

Another person who hasn't a clue outside of basketball. Football runs the world of NCAA, period. Leaving or dropping down, means UConn becomes insignificant in NCAA sports.

 

[intlzncster]

Well if that is the case, we are stupid for not cheating

We already burned the bridge unfortunately. And thankfully, it doesn't appear we have a death wish.

stupid for getting caught when we do.

We kinda blow at it tbh. I've semi-satirically complained in the past about it. Also, we're too successful on the court. And JC too much of a dick.

Everyone else seems to do it better.

This is 100% fact. See APR fiasco. Somehow UK manages damn near a 1,000 every year.

What people don't either get/accept in general, imo, is that most major sports programs have zero conscience. The only difference between Louisville, and say, UK, is that Louisville was way more sloppy. Not more 'immoral'.

I'm maybe a bit more cynical than most about it, because I went to school in the SEC, where they don't much keep it a secret.

 

[WrenchFan69]

In only 15 minutes per game. 3.3 blocks in 15 mpg is unheard of, has to be the best rate in the country.

It is

 

[HuskyHawk]

I was happy he left, but he would certainly help this team right now. His stats on this team would put him at:

2nd in 3P% (.418)
1st in FTA per game (4.3)
1st in RPG (7.1)
3rd in APG (2.4)
4th in PPG (12.2)

Ok, but who's minutes is he taking? He's not a 4. I am fairly sure that part of the reason he bolted was that Ollie was not planning on using him as an outside-in small forward, just as he didn't with Larrier (and we currently don't with Polley). The position Vance would insist on playing is currently being manned by Vital and Sid as backup.

It's a roster construction issue again. I am sure he would help, no question, but he wouldn't help nearly as much as somebody who could (and wanted to) play the 4-5.

 

[intlzncster]

Good point if the AAC vs B1G was a consideration for Kofi then the conference once again causes us to miss. More and More reason to head back to the Big East and either go independent in Football or drop down a level or better yet kill the program.

I'm sorry, this made me laugh. So Kofi is gonna go B1G because of AAC.....but not because of NBE?? Come on man.

 

[JMick]

I'm sorry, this made me laugh. So Kofi is gonna go B1G because of AAC.....but not because of NBE?? Come on man.

I just wish we could come to a consensus on this and stop talking about it. The AAC hurts but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as some people think and the NBE, while an upgrade, is a marginal upgrade that won't change the minds of kids and handlers who want a "Power 5" school.

 

[intlzncster]

It's way better than our conference. Also disagree on nobody caring about the Big East, this hasn't been my experience at all. People I talk to still love Big East basketball, nobody seems to have even heard of our conference.

What does the NBE TV contract look like? That tells you how much people truly care about the NBE.

Oh sure, there's some hold outs among fans. But the brand itself isn't that great sans Villanova.

Recruits aren't dying to play in the NBE super. If Kofi was choosing between NBE and B1G, where do you think he would go?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm sorry, this made me laugh. So Kofi is gonna go B1G because of AAC.....but not because of NBE?? Come on man.

It's like people have never experienced this. Look, some kids, even basketball players, want to be at a big school with huge on campus football stadium and all that. Illinois has been mostly putrid of late, but they are definitely still that. While UConn is not really that either, FBS football aside, no team in the Big East provides anything close to that environment.

One reason I went to KU over Maryland was that I wanted that experience (Maryland L school is in Baltimore).

 

[intlzncster]

Except for all the publicity the G'Town-SJU game received this weekend. I don't remember any game ever in the AAC getting that much attention.

Then why doesn't the conference get more ratings? Or more money?

 

[Illinigoat]

Maybe if Illinois reaches the absolute zenith of college athletics, attaining damn near blue blood status, only to watch its conference fall apart, damning it to some Frankenstein conference of misfits. Otherwise, life is peachy for the Illini.

P.S. Does Illinois’s have any extra money lying around? We probably could use it.

When bill self left illinois' for Kansas, ESPN called it a lateral move. Today, it would not be.

 

[Waquoit]

Then why doesn't the conference get more ratings? Or more money?

Not sure I understand. The Big East gets more attention and money than the AAC. Don't know about ratings.

 

[HooperScooper]

This idea of "leading" in recruiting is ridiculous. As if the 18 year old kids are keeping active tallies of pro/con lists and somehow Illinois just just pulled ahead.

Eh, I understand it. Think about your son/daughter looking at colleges. They formulate an initial list based on their academic profile. They usually have some idea of which ones they like the best. They start doing tours. After one of the tours they say that one is their favorite. But that could definitely change over time based on a lot of factors and ultimately they could end up at another school (even assuming they are accepted at all the schools they apply to).

Recruiting is similar so why can't one school lead at some point in time but that changes and they ultimately commit to another school?

 

[Mooch82]

Ok, but who's minutes is he taking? He's not a 4. I am fairly sure that part of the reason he bolted was that Ollie was not planning on using him as an outside-in small forward, just as he didn't with Larrier (and we currently don't with Polley). The position Vance would insist on playing is currently being manned by Vital and Sid as backup.

It's a roster construction issue again. I am sure he would help, no question, but he wouldn't help nearly as much as somebody who could (and wanted to) play the 4-5.

He's no less of a 4 than Polley is....he basically would do what Polley does except shoot and rebound better.

 

[HuskyHawk]

He's no less of a 4 than Polley is....he basically would do what Polley does except shoot and rebound better.

You miss the point. He is unwilling to. He doesn't want to play the 4. Polley will take minutes where he gets them. I agree Vance would be a better version of Polley, if he was interested in being that.

 

[yukonfan4]

Not sure I understand. The Big East gets more attention and money than the AAC. Don't know about ratings.

point of order but if you don't know about ratings then how do you know for a fact the big east gets more attention?

but either way the NBE won't get more money for long. NBE teams get paid just over $4 mill/year from the FOX tv deal whereas the new AAC deal is expected to pay around $8 mill per school per year.

 

[husky99]

Recruiting is like a one night stand. When she walks out it is over. But if she stays for breakfast, then it it is a party...

 

[superjohn]

What does the NBE TV contract look like? That tells you how much people truly care about the NBE.

Oh sure, there's some hold outs among fans. But the brand itself isn't that great sans Villanova.

Recruits aren't dying to play in the NBE super. If Kofi was choosing between NBE and B1G, where do you think he would go?

Agree with most of your posts but completely disagree on this one.

Big East is still known as a basketball conference. Nobody knows what our league is or who is in it, most people have no clue UConn is in the AAC.

 

[ucawn]

If Gonzaga and Nevada can make it happen in their conference, Hurley can make it work in the AAC. Just give it time. It literally hasn’t even been a year and we’re trashing him for possibly getting us more wins than last year. Like come on he wasn’t handed a team where top players are saying, yup let me go there with a first year coach and hope it goes well. I don’t understand why Kofi chose Illinois a 4-11 and he wants championships? I get that he said conference was a factor but he was recruited by other power 5 conferences.

 

[krinklecut]

I haven't read through this whole thread yet but this is how it goes. You don't get all of your targets and there's just nothing you can do about that. Those of you acting like one player was make or break for our program are so dramatic.

 

[Paesano]

Anyone that thinks this decision was about anything other than bag money is delusional.

I hope Kofi realizes that, if he accepted money, he is as guilty as the guy who gave it to him.