What teams spend on recruiting

[tornado]

I suspect Bradley's numbers are a little less but.....

The schools that spend the most blow thru $600,000-$700,000 - much of it in just the few weeks they are active recruiting in the summer...
and what's being spent has exploded to almost 10 times what it was a decade ago.

but note they also spend TENS of thousands on "recruiting services" and "recruiting subscriptions"

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2015/07/17/indiana-university-basketball-team-news-coaches-recruiting-expenses-tom-crean/30291627/

[tornado]

in that list of what Big Ten teams spend -- Illinois is right at the top behind Indiana...and yet they haven't cracked the upper echelon of the Big Ten for quite some time and miss on a lot of top in-state kids...

Champaign-Urbana writer Loren Tate talks about it in his column today and also notes that the Illini are preparing for a European exhibition trip this fall and have numerous players hampered and held out of practice with injury.
Darius Paul coming off shoulder surgery won't play, Tracy Abrams healing from ACL, then significant injuries to Jalen Coleman-Lands & Aaron Jordan may limit or prohibit them from playing.

The Illini season ticket package this year ONLY includes 13 games....that's because five more are being played in Springfield and those require purchase of a separate ticket package...and rumors are there's still plenty available...

[tornado]

....injuries to Jalen Coleman-Lands & Aaron Jordan ....

Bad news......word leaking out that talented Illini freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands has a stress fracture in his left leg and may miss much or all of this upcoming season - another bad blow for the Illini, but they ought to have some depth that one incoming freshman shouldn't be a season-breaker.....and, you can't blame injuries....

[tornado]

btw - our guys don't have hundreds of thousands of $$ to spend on recruiting - they don't have private jets and chartered flights..and they sure can't grab $$ from tuition funds or taxpayer pockets!
Our guys have done a remarkable job thus far on a relative small budget due to the financial problems laid in the lap of Chris Reynolds & Coach Wardle..

BUT - fans can help that - anyone reading this - when you renew your season tickets - put in a little extra - maybe $10 or $20 or if you can afford - $50 or so and tell them you want to help with the recruiting!
I think you will be quite surprised at the result that follows! (PM me if you want)

[tornado]

University of Illinois must have some money to burn...
now they're spending $550,000 for some outside marketing firm to come in and consult on "branding".... (possibly in reaction to the recent negative headlines)
Some faculty want to know why they are spending that much when they have all their own PR people already hired.
"I just don't get the sense that the administration really has any understanding of the value of money"

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-07-26/fee-550000-branding.html

The Chancellor says...
"Branding is a "hot topic"

The ability to articulate a winning vision...
It's more than a logo or slogan..."

but everyone knows she's just trying to repair damage done by recent "crises" and scandals -

[tornado]

Bad news......word leaking out that talented Illini freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands has a stress fracture in his left leg and may miss much or all of this upcoming season - another bad blow for the Illini, but they ought to have some depth that one incoming freshman shouldn't be a season-breaker.....and, you can't blame injuries....

very unfortunate news for Illini...
more injuries...
Tracy Abrams, returning from an ACL injury last year - just tore his achilles tendon and will be out for this entire upcoming season.

Note that MOST teams are NOT practicing yet and only doing summer & preseason conditioning and workouts...
BUT Illinois is going on a preseason overseas tour - so they are going FULL TILT in practices that are allowed for the teams who have those tours..
Could this be one unwanted negative to starting basketball practices so early on the players?
Trying to get ready & get into shape with JUST ten allowable practices instead of the whole summer and fall to get ready for the regular season.

[Da Coach]

very unfortunate news for Illini...
more injuries...
Tracy Abrams, returning from an ACL injury last year - just tore his achilles tendon and will be out for this entire upcoming season.

This leaves the Illini very shallow at point guard for the 2015-16 season. They basically have Jaylon Tate, and nobody else. It is amazing that John Groce did not bother to bring in a single point guard with his 2015 recruiting class, considering many could see this problem coming, and Abrams has been injury prone.

From what I hear, Groce is burning up the phone lines looking for another point guard from the transfer list to bring in to help this coming season. There are a couple he is focusing on, and one of them is another former Bradley point guard with one year of eligibility left.

Does anyone know if they have a scholarship available? Last we heard, Mike LaTulip was given a scholarship, and was going to redshirt this season, and he planned to transfer and play his final season elsewhere. He is not really a point guard, so he probably can't help them much this season if he did play. I suppose that would be the one Groce would take back to free up a scholarship.

[Da Coach]

From what I hear, Groce is burning up the phone lines looking for another point guard from the transfer list to bring in to help this coming season. There are a couple he is focusing on, and one of them is another former Bradley point guard with one year of eligibility left.

Jim Mattson has the story now-

https://twitter.com/hoijim/status/626166321009586176

[Da Coach]

Sam Maniscalco's article for the Illinois Rivals site about Tracy Abrams

https://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1786919

[tornado]

really good job by Sam Maniscalco...

he relates personally to Tracy Abrams' injuries...

"I feel for Tracy, having gone through season ending injuries at both Bradley and Illinois. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

After having to battle through ten months of rigorous, dedicated rehab only to find out you're going to miss
a second consecutive season, simply sucks. Pardon my French but there aren't many other words for it.
Missing one season is bad. I can't even imagine missing back-to-back seasons like he will have to do.

I have played with and against a lot of players in my career. There isn't another guy I would want to have
on my team than Abrams. I am sure I am not the only one of his teammates that feels this way,
as he would be a popular pick among many guys. There is no doubt that he will dedicate himself again and come back a stronger, better player."