Illini take a recruiting hit

[tornado]

One of the top recruiting target for Bruce Weber was DeAndre Liggins.
He just committed to Kentucky and spurned the Illini!!
He is the #18 player nationally (per Rivals) and was thought by a lot of optimistic Illinois fans to be leaning towards committing to the Illini!

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=686976

[Braves4Life]

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

[amckillip]

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

While I think this is a blow I still say to say Weber will be fired any time soon is Ludacris, he is getting good recruiting classes, and they will get better with time. I'm a BU fan, I don't know why that means I should hate the Illini.

[Stryker]

Memories fade fast, and I would be surprised if he stayed at Illinois for a really long time(next 5 years...?) and if Weber doesn't take them back to at least the sweet 16 again he will be gone even faster.

[Scouter]

I'm a BU fan, I don't know why that means I should hate the Illini.

I agree, amckillip. It makes BU fans like they have an inferiority complex.

[Braves4Life]

Weber and Illini

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

While I think this is a blow I still say to say Weber will be fired any time soon is Ludacris, he is getting good recruiting classes, and they will get better with time. I'm a BU fan, I don't know why that means I should hate the Illini.

I don't "hate" the Illini. That's a pretty strong word. I just don't like the Illini and their elitist attitude all that much. I actually kinda like Weber (unlike many here) and think he's a classy guy and a pretty good coach. In fact, I think he's far too classy and clean to run a high BCS program (which Illini fans sadly think they are). I just don't think the Illini "faithful" will give him the time to build a good clean program. They see what sleazy Sampson is doing at Indiana and THEY WANT THAT!

I really think Weber would be much happier at a strong mid-major (like SIU) and will take his money made while at Illinois and return to a mid-major and have a quite successful career and retire a happy man

[bert notorius]

I don't hate the Illini either. But I am a realist. (not a nihilist) If Billie Gillispie were the coach at Illinois, Liggins would still be headed to Kentucky. Heck, I might head to Kentucky, just because it's KENTUCKY.

[amckillip]

Re: Weber and Illini

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

While I think this is a blow I still say to say Weber will be fired any time soon is Ludacris, he is getting good recruiting classes, and they will get better with time. I'm a BU fan, I don't know why that means I should hate the Illini.

I don't "hate" the Illini. That's a pretty strong word. I just don't like the Illini and their elitist attitude all that much. I actually kinda like Weber (unlike many here) and think he's a classy guy and a pretty good coach. In fact, I think he's far too classy and clean to run a high BCS program (which Illini fans sadly think they are). I just don't think the Illini "faithful" will give him the time to build a good clean program. They see what sleazy Sampson is doing at Indiana and THEY WANT THAT!

I really think Weber would be much happier at a strong mid-major (like SIU) and will take his money made while at Illinois and return to a mid-major and have a quite successful career and retire a happy man

You didn't consider U of I a 'high BCS program?' What are high BCS programs? Do only UK, KU, Duke, UNC, and IU count? Very few program have been as successful as U of I, MSU, UF, UL, Memphis and... Anyway I also don't understand how U of I has an 'elitist attitude'? Their fans or what? That statement just doesn't make much sense. Many ISU fans would same the same about BU. I guess my point here is that success breeds Jealousy, and I think that alot of the disgust here towards U of I. Don't get me wrong everyone is entitled to there opinion, but for as much as we don't like 'bashers' on this board, people are all over the Illini. The Illini players got caught a couple times doing something that happens at nearly EVERY college, INCLUDING BU, and they get attacked. I'm not saying you in particular B4L, you happen to be a poster a respect quite a bit, rather the board in general.

I guess I just I'd like to think BU Fans are classy enough to respect others success and take pride in our own, rather than tear down what others do or don't achieve.

[That Guy]

I don't hate the Illini either. But I am a realist. (not a nihilist) If Billie Gillispie were the coach at Illinois, Liggins would still be headed to Kentucky. Heck, I might head to Kentucky, just because it's KENTUCKY.

I don't like Illinois much at all, but I HATE Kentucky. This is a shame for Illinois, although I wish Liggins nothing but losses while at UK.

[Lakeview Brave]

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

Could we also say that Bradley lost another top instate prep? Or only schools that think of themselvs as top tier programs can lose top recruits? If Iman Shumpert doenst come to Bradley will the headline read "Bradley loses another top recruit"?

[Braves4Life]

Wow! Weber loses another top In-state prep to another big-time neighboring program.

This does not bode well for his future I give him no more than two years at Illinois before the high-roller alumni have him fired

Could we also say that Bradley lost another top instate prep? Or only schools that think of themselvs as top tier programs can lose top recruits? If Iman Shumpert doenst come to Bradley will the headline read "Bradley loses another top recruit"?

Yep! We always lose the top recruits ..............But that's about to change!

[Lakeview Brave]

I hope so! If Shumpert comes to Bradley that will be the greatest recruiting coop of all time!!

[tornado]

Illinois is so rich in talent that Bruce Weber couldn't be expected to land them all.
He is actually doing quite well in the Class of 2007 with four of the top 15 or so players (McCamey, Cole, Tisdale, Jordan)

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/2007rankings.html

[MacabreMob]

I don't hate the Illini either.

Now THAT was funny.

Sorry to hear about the Cryin Illini losing out on a recruit of his caliber.

[Chico]

I agree AMC. Never did figure out why so many fans root against their State school. I root for the Ilini except when they play Bradley, which isn't often enough.