I’ve read that Gentry was the one who convinced Underpants to abandon his maniacal pressure defense. With Gentry gone and a roster full of guards I wonder if he goes back to it now.
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Illinois supposedly wants another Chicago guy but unless it’s a guy who previously worked for meanstreets or Mac Irvin, I think that’s pointless. Your not getting any of the top Chicago guys with Coleman at uk and juwan at Michigan.
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The Illinois boards want Tai Streets himself as the lead assistant.
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Here’s hoping they’re right and he ruins Gonzaga’s mojo.
Crystal Ball just came in for TyTy Washington to Kentucky and he has moved up his commitment date. Makes me wonder two things:
- Was he actually headed to Illinois before the assistant shuffle?
- Does this eliminate Kentucky as a transfer threat for Curbelo?
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I don’t think this was ever a thing 
the Illinois 247 board is still terrified that it is
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Illinois insider on 247:
Let’s talk HCBU, he needed to make a splash when he came. Hired two assistants with not a lot of loyalty to the program but could recruit. I’ve already hit on why they left, but it was never going to be long term.
There was a ton of drama last season. Underwood isn’t a drama guy. In fact, that’s why he hates recruiting. You pour your effort and heart out to get kids that end up going somewhere that hired a friend of their handler (just an example).
Now, he wants guys who are loyal and guys who are similar to his mold. This Chet hire is a middle finger to the new school. He realized quickly big time recruits come with big time drama. So now, we go after his guys coaching. Guys that will put there heads down and work their asses off. That’s the mold BU comes from and is done with the drama.
I would expect the other hire(s) to be similar. For lack of a better word, junkyard dogs. Guys that go out and work. Bring kids in that can be told what to do. This is a bigger change in overall philosophy this season.
I love the hire. He doesn’t come with drama. He comes with a work your tail off and get results. That’s what we will be moving forward. Look at Trent and Monte. Two guys who fit that mold and BU thinks will do more for the program than even some assistants. And that’s bring it everyday. Go Illini!
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Is typing Brad that difficult? Or just BU if you must shorthand?
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Took me way too long to realize that he didn’t make a typo while trying to have a conversation about historically black colleges and universities.
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The HC as initials thing is honestly ridiculous. Very common on SEC message boards for whatever reason - it’s not Nick Saban, it’s CNS. It’s not Urban Meyer, it’s…
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Yeah most SEC message boards do it. But so do MSU message boards. And apparently some Illinois… I’ve always found it super tacky. And adding the H is even taking it to another level smh
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As for the rest of that… yeah good luck building your program around Damonte WIlliams and Trent Frazier types. Those pesky high rated recruits like Cockburn, Curbelo, and Dosunmu did nothing for you. Good riddance, I say!
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I bet HCBU himself wrote this.
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it sounds like the likeliest outcome (in addition to Frazier already onboard) is hiring Al Pinkins from Florida and promoting Geoff Alexander internally. Those would be major downgrades IMO. Frazier could be a future star but Pinkins is soaked in the Mike White stench and Alexander has been Underpants’ personal assistant for the past four years, not coaching or recruiting. Longer term he is just a rando from Western Illinois. Pinkins has spent most of his career in the SEC and has coached some decent bigs.
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But he also worked with Chris Beard.
I realize you’re joking but he’s got a nice resume.
Alexander is the only odd hire there, but he’s been a D1 assistant for a while and has a long history with HCBU
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and Indiana (CTC and then CAM) and Purdue (CMP) etc
Just seems dumb.
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I am just having fun with the Mike White hate by association but I do think a bench of Frazier, Pinkins, and Alexander would be a downgrade from Antigua, Coleman, and Gentry.
Especially if there is any weight to this insider post about downshifting on the trail and only pursuing three-stars, although that has yet to be verified obviously.
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That sounds like pure message board fan fiction and not an actual thing. But would be hilarious no doubt
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