Illinois State Staff Getting It Done

[Stryker]

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.

So Jank wants to have a team like Bradley has had the past couple of years? I guess if he can do that it will be an improvement over what they have been getting without a lot of guards. The thing is, this is probably the last year Bradley will be guard heavy for a while. We will have more size than any team in the MVC the next couple of years. It won't be the same type of team that it has been the past 2 years.

[RedbirdFan21]

So Jank wants to have a team like Bradley has had the past couple of years? I guess if he can do that it will be an improvement over what they have been getting without a lot of guards. The thing is, this is probably the last year Bradley will be guard heavy for a while. We will have more size than any team in the MVC the next couple of years. It won't be the same type of team that it has been the past 2 years.

I don't necessarily think Jank was a team that is guard heavy persay- as opposed to a very athletic team- like they had a KU with athletic guards, long wing players, and athletic "bigs". A team that can get up and down the floor and play up-tempo- hense the shorter, lighter, big men in Modupe, Thornton, and Robinson. They are all 6'7" and 6'8" and slender- but can really run the court; as opposed to a big 6'11" dude that is big and could be considered a true center, but slower and not fit the uptempo style. I would say he wants a team like KU more than BU, but if the description fits- so be it.

[SFP]

Lurker Kansas had some bigs at 6'9"+ that could really run the floor but also post you up. What we have learned at BU you need both and when you have a few that can run and play the 1/2 court then you are prepared. We got beaten by Memphis in the Sweet 16 not because our guys could not match them as athletes it was because they were just plain old bigger at every position. There have been a few small ball teams that have done extremely well, Villanova comes to mind, but the majority of the top teams have a stable of bigs. That is what we are going after right now and hopefully with our new facility and JL's recruiting ability we'll achieve this.

SIU has a way of slowing the game down and if you do not have the type of team to deal with it they'll win every time.

[Stryker]

I don't necessarily think Jank was a team that is guard heavy persay- as opposed to a very athletic team- like they had a KU with athletic guards, long wing players, and athletic "bigs". A team that can get up and down the floor and play up-tempo- hense the shorter, lighter, big men in Modupe, Thornton, and Robinson. They are all 6'7" and 6'8" and slender- but can really run the court; as opposed to a big 6'11" dude that is big and could be considered a true center, but slower and not fit the uptempo style. I would say he wants a team like KU more than BU, but if the description fits- so be it.

I think every team wants more athletic players, they are the ones that are generally higher ranked, and one of the main differences between players that are great and players that are good. If Jank can get more of them, good for him. Les has been able to land a few more recently like Wilkins, Brown, Roberts and Theron Wilson, all of them extremely athletic and larger as well (Roberts is a guard).

I see all 4 of those guys as great recruits because they not only have the athletic build to exceed in D1 ball, but have the skills to do so as well(I know three haven't played yet). A lot of times "mid-majors" will get some really athletic guys but they are extremely raw, no good coaching in their past, and maybe lacking some focus and experience. Bradley has some players like that in the past but the guys we having coming in seem different. I expect great things.

[RedbirdFan21]

Lurker Kansas had some bigs at 6'9"+ that could really run the floor but also post you up. What we have learned at BU you need both and when you have a few that can run and play the 1/2 court then you are prepared. We got beaten by Memphis in the Sweet 16 not because our guys could not match them as athletes it was because they were just plain old bigger at every position. There have been a few small ball teams that have done extremely well, Villanova comes to mind, but the majority of the top teams have a stable of bigs. That is what we are going after right now and hopefully with our new facility and JL's recruiting ability we'll achieve this.

SIU has a way of slowing the game down and if you do not have the type of team to deal with it they'll win every time.

I don't disagree with much of your post... however... SIU tried to slow the game down vs. ISU twice last year- and were unsuccessful- losing both games.

[SFP]

I don't disagree with much of your post... however... SIU tried to slow the game down vs. ISU twice last year- and were unsuccessful- losing both games.

Unfortunately they were able to dictate their game against us last year. I believe this year they will be susceptible to small ball and a bit of pressure. I may be wrong but I do not see them as one of the top 3 teams in the Valley this year. This will be a very interesting season this year.

I do hope that your team does well because the sweetest team to beat for me is a good ISU team no matter what our record is. I also am convinced that JL is recruiting players that are just as athletic, that can run the floor, shoot the ball as we have had, but bigger. There will be consistant seperation in the MVC from the top teams to the bottom 1/2 and I believe we are on our way at being one of the top dogs. I'm not so sure about your team yet but the foundation is being built.