Illinois State Staff Getting It Done

[cpacmel]

I know you guys like to keep up with other Valley teams:

http://hoopsil.com/2008/09/illinois-state-staff-getting-it-done/

The author has an interesting take on the schollie situation at ISU:

After Johnson??™s commitment, it was thought that the Redbirds were finished recruiting for their 2009 class. However, just days later, news broke of another Illinois State commitment. Johnson??™s AAU teammate Zeke Upshaw, a 6-foot-5 wing, pledged his loyalty to the Valley school. So this could mean one of a few things: Osiris is leaving early for the draft, a player is expected to transfer out, or one of the new recruits will simply walk-on next season. All seem plausible.

He must have omitted the idea of Jankovich booting someone from the team.

[Dubl R 1]

Ahh yes, the old Rico Hill move. Hadn't thought about that. I'm not sure if Osiris is ready for the NBA yet or not. Probably needs to work on more consistent shooting and ballhandling with regards to seeing the floor while dribbling the ball.

At 6'3'' he's on the small end of alot of shooting guards in the NBA. He won't be able to just "beast" people to the bucket at that level.

[lake Camelot]

Nba?

I don't see him being an NBA player, but a good overseas player. But then again I never thought of Troy Hudson as an NBA player either.

[Da Coach]

Congratulations to Jankovich for a fine recruiting class.

Will any of the 2009 recruits be able to help out on the inside, since that appears to be a possible weakness for the Redbirds this year?

[cpacmel]

We will have to wait and see. One of the 3 freshmen frontcourt players (Robinson, Modupe, or Thornton) has to step up this year.

We do have Odiakosa, who can more than hold his own in the MVC.

[Da Coach]

Odiakosa will have to have a good year. From what I heard about their injuries, I don't expect Hill and Sampay will be able to contribute much.
With many of the MVC teams going bigger, will the freshmen be able to contribute right away?
Some ISU fans I know are a little concerned the 2009 class didn't address the shortage of big men more.

[MacabreMob]

He must have omitted the idea of Jankovich booting someone from the team.

Or forgot to consider someone might flunk out.

Just kidding cpac.

[Bradleyguy10]

The midwest's Gonzaga???? Is this guy SERIOUS?!?

You've had ONE YEAR of success.....get over yourselves

Every team has their up years...dang in 2006 I guess Bradley should have called themselves the Midwest's Gonzaga

p.s. does Memphis count as the midwest?

[RedbirdFan21]

Odiakosa will have to have a good year. From what I heard about their injuries, I don't expect Hill and Sampay will be able to contribute much.
With many of the MVC teams going bigger, will the freshmen be able to contribute right away?

Just curious where you have "heard" this?

All reports from the pantagraph and ISU have said Hill should be ready to play by November and Sampay by December.

Did I miss something- or did you just mean the non-conference season... which is well documented as horrible.

Some ISU fans I know are a little concerned the 2009 class didn't address the shortage of big men more.

While this may be the case (some people you know being concerned)... I am not sure what more they could have done. They got 3 guys at or over 6'7"... none of them may be true centers- but when is the last time they had a true center. It's clear they are going for many athletic 4 then a true 5.

[Lakeview Brave]

Jank "made a big turnaround"??
I'd say the batch of players left behind by PM made the big turnaround...but I get it....you're giving Jank all that credit...

according to a few BU "fans"...simply landing a few players does NOT constitute "getting it done".
Jank has to get to the NCAA, win some games there and do it consistently!
those are the requirements set forth by none other than Kirk Wessler!!
Lots of schools have "landed a full recruiting class", but that doesn't mean a whole lot, does it?
BU has been to the Sweet Sixteen, gone to the post season 3 years in a row, and has 3 consecutive 20-win seasons...
and yet our local press hasn't been anywhere near as kind, complimentary, and willing to give JL credit as this guy is...
"Tim Jankovich is definitely getting it done on the floor" --
as Stan Wiessman of hoopsil.com says, whoever he is.
I think that still waits to be seen.........

Creighton and SIU are/have been "getting it done" consistantly. Everyone else got it done once or twice or still working on getting it done. Those schools are the standard for now.

[Da Coach]

Just curious where you have "heard" this?

All reports from the pantagraph and ISU have said Hill should be ready to play by November and Sampay by December.

Did I miss something- or did you just mean the non-conference season... which is well documented as horrible.



While this may be the case (some people you know being concerned)... I am not sure what more they could have done. They got 3 guys at or over 6'7"... none of them may be true centers- but when is the last time they had a true center. It's clear they are going for many athletic 4 then a true 5.

I don't have any personal connection to the coaches at ISU. My information comes from a couple sources who are supporters and "insiders" at ISU. They are usually accurate with their info.

Though Hill and Sampay may be back in action by December, I have heard that neither have begun full workouts, which is why my sources think they will probably not play or contribute much until late in the season, if at all.

[RedbirdFan21]

I don't have any personal connection to the coaches at ISU. My information comes from a couple sources who are supporters and "insiders" at ISU. They are usually accurate with their info.

Though Hill and Sampay may be back in action by December, I have heard that neither have begun full workouts, which is why my sources think they will probably not play or contribute much until late in the season, if at all.

Would your source consist of Jim Benson from the Pantagraph???...lol

http://www.pantagraph.com/blogs/main/?p=3076

Dated September 18th...

Bobby Hill (knee) and Brandon Sampay (hip) are recovering from off-season surgeries and were relegated to the sidelines while their teammates went through workouts. Hill shot jumpers alone much of the time, while Sampay worked on his ballhandling and dribbled two balls while sitting on a chair.

I'm just messing with ya... I'm sure you have your sources... i just thought it was kinda funny your "sources" say they haven't started workouts yet... but that was public knowledge...

In any regards-as an MVC fan- hopefully Hill, Sampay, Warren, Mullins, and whoever else in the Valley may be injured or banged up- a speedy recovery and may they all go undefeated in the non-conference season...

[Da Coach]

My sources have told me much more than what your beat writer has reported. I am not going to reveal my sources, nor post personal information about Sampay or Hill that has not been made public yet, but their injuries were quite severe.

There have been players with similar injuries who were never able to return to the same level of play they were at before their injuries. I hope that is not the case with Hill and Sampay.

Let me ask you this--
What is your projection for how many games these 2 players will play in, and what do you think will be their scoring and rebounding averages at the end of the season?

[RedbirdFan21]

Let me ask you this--
What is your projection for how many games these 2 players will play in, and what do you think will be their scoring and rebounding averages at the end of the season?

I have no clue really...I have heard from a source of my own that Hill will be ready to play by November. The same person was not as familiar with Sampay's situation. Mine, like yours, is about the most reliable source possible.

Now this doesn't mean that one or both could have a set-back at any point that cost them, possibly much, more time off the court.

I would think Sampay's injury is more severe since it a hip and they say that is is degenerative.

While an ACL injury in never straightforward or "easy" to come back from- it appears that the surgery and rehab is more straightforward then a hip condition.

I would just think that the staff wouldn't put an projected return month (November in Hill's case and December in Sampay's case) if they didn't believe it...

Its not like Tony Larussa saying Mulder and Clement will be ready for the start of the season and Carpenter will be back after a month to carry to Cardinals last season.

[Phantom]

I think Bobby will be back before Brandon. However I don't think either will be rushed back whatsoever. I suppose that is the one silver lining of our nightmarish non-con schedule...our newcomers should get plenty of PT and time to cut their teeth at the DI level, while Brandon & Bobby can gradually get back into their game and ready for conference play. Even still, it may take them awhile to get fully back into game shape, and conference play will be way tougher than our non-con. Hopefully it works out.

As for our big men, it became apparent when Jankovich started recruiting last year, and the way that has continued through this summer, than he wanted a smaller, faster, more end-to-end style team. That's about the only thing I can think of with the vast surplus of guards we have. Odiakosa is coming off a breakthrough season but he will have to keep improving and accept a bigger role and produce. Robinson will also have to contribute inside as a freshman, so he will need to grow up fast. Hopefully by the time Sampay is ready to get back into the mix, both Odiakosa and Robinson will have settled into their roles, so getting another body in the post will help further establish a rotation there.