Talen Horton-Tucker cuts list to 3 (ISU is on it)

[Peter]

There is evidence, just premium boards. There is no benefit. General consensus was we never had a chance until the sudden movement this week so if anything this "excuse smokescreen" actively HURTS Illinois. Makes zero sense from UI's perspective.

Media in Illinois (outside of Champaign) doesn't care about UI, it's all pro-focused. A huge difference from Iowa where college sports are everything.

I don't know if I have all the facts straight, but if Illinois rescinded a scholarship offer to appease an AAU coach, then good luck to Brad Underwood and co. having any success over there. If this is what recruiting in Chicago is like, it's no wonder Illinois has been a dumpster fire for decades.

 

[Cyclonepride]

One thing that I can say definitively, if recruit A ever tells Steve Prohm that he won't play with recruit B, recruit A is hitting the highway.

 

[LincolnSwinger]

Not sure where you're getting that from my post. Illinois has wanted THT and clearly wants him still. The impact of spring events 1) our coaching change and 2) his move from MIF basically made the consensus that he was gone. Because of this + lack of interest in UI from Chicago media THT wouldn't have been a big story at all. It'd be a big miss for the team (as they obviously want him...as do I) but Conditt was a bigger loss from a PR & media perspective because we were much more in the hunt for him.

Obviously the last 4 days have changed all that with THT and now it IS a media story and the perception will be worse because we at a point this week we became major contenders.

FWIW, I agree with you as an uninformed outside observer. A strategy of saying "we got manipulated by our 5* recruit and his handlers" is worse than just quietly accepting a recruiting loss, which happens all the time. So I seriously doubt the Illini camp would intentionally pursue that explanation as a "smoke screen". Just more to lose than gain IMO.

 

[ILikeCy]

Not even close to HB situation. HB was the top recruit in the nation, lived in the same city, and his mom worked at the university. I think THT will be a good player, but if Illinois doesn't get him, they won't be bringing up stories of "remember how THT chose an out-of-state school" several years later like we still do with HB.

I take back what I said this morning. Based on how this is playing out today with all the craziness behind-the-scenes, Illinois fans probably WILL be talking about this one for many years to come!

 

[Chief Illiniwek]

I don't know if I have all the facts straight, but if Illinois rescinded a scholarship offer to appease an AAU coach, then good luck to Brad Underwood and co. having any success over there. If this is what recruiting in Chicago is like, it's no wonder Illinois has been a dumpster fire for decades.

Unfortunately that's how Chicago is for high-level recruits. It's ugly and most college coaches don't want to be involved.

And to defend our honor a little bit, we've only been bad for the last decade . That's what a couple bad coaches in a row can do to you!

 

[Prone2Clone]

I think we can all agree...

**** Iowa, DILLY DILLY!

 

[xr4ticlone]

Just an FYI I really like Walking Buckets

How could any team not want this guy? He never misses a shot!

 

[SimpsonClone]

As one could say about any evidence from ISU. That being said, the source was actually neutral from Illinois.

This will be the last time I mention it too, but there is literally no benefit to UI "putting it out there." It would only hurt us in the media and clearly that's the case. Not sure why you'd think UI would want to actively put media stories out there that would be a lose-lose for them.

Because it is Twins and he is skeptical of everything/one U of I. My guess is he is subconsciously tying you guys to the team out east. I apologize for that, no one deserves to be bundled in with that group.

Thanks for the information. Best of luck to you guys moving forward.

 

[seattleCy]

As one could say about any evidence from ISU. That being said, the source was actually neutral from Illinois.

This will be the last time I mention it too, but there is literally no benefit to UI "putting it out there." It would only hurt us in the media and clearly that's the case. Not sure why you'd think UI would want to actively put media stories out there that would be a lose-lose for them.

My two cents. I don't think there is a good reason UI writers would make up the drama with Ayo and THT, but I do think there is an incentive to push the story the THT verballed to Illinois even if he actually didn't.

The drama sucks for them, but it was there regardless, so pushing the story "without the drama, we had THT" is better than "even without the drama, we never had THT."

So I think it's entirely possible that the drama stuff is real, but the verballed to UI stuff is exaggerated. I'm not saying I believe that for sure, just that it's possible.

 

[SimpsonClone]

Unfortunately that's how Chicago is for high-level recruits. It's ugly and most college coaches don't want to be involved.

And to defend our honor a little bit, we've only been bad for the last decade . That's what a couple bad coaches in a row can do to you!

Heard that!

 

[Chief Illiniwek]

Because it is Twins and he is skeptical of everything/one U of I. My guess is he is subconsciously tying you guys to the team out east. I apologize for that, no one deserves to be bundled in with that group.

Thanks for the information. Best of luck to you guys moving forward.

Thanks, I'll be getting out of your hair for the announcement to let you enjoy it.

Thanks for being a good group and welcoming so many outsiders to your board today with open arms. Best of luck moving forward and congrats on getting a good one!

Keep beating the TOE and we'll do the same if you guys can stick it to Self down in Lawrence....

 

[SimpsonClone]

Thanks, I'll be getting out of your hair for the announcement to let you enjoy it.

Thanks for being a good group and welcoming so many outsiders to your board today with open arms. Best of luck moving forward and congrats on getting a good one!

Keep beating the TOE and we'll do the same if you guys can stick it Self down in Lawrence.

Come back whenever. Oh and **** Iowa! Dilly dilly!

 

[xr4ticlone]

I'd say about 90% basketball politics. Again, until this heated up in Illinois' direction this week, no one needed an "excuse for losing" THT because the vast consensus was it wasn't going to happen. Conditt was a much bigger "media" blow because we truly wanted him and were in on him hard. UI got serious interest from THT only at the last minute to the happy surprise of our fans. Him to ISU would be a non-media story in Illinois but this whole Irvin/Ayo thing is going to make this WAYYYY worse PR for Illinois than Conditt and most certainly THT would've been.

Additionally there's no real media pull for Illinois. Chicago media is 95% pro-focused and in many cases is slanted pretty anti-UI.

So hey, you got Fred Hoiberg which is what you really cared about anyway.

I don't watch the NBA, but I'm sure that's going great for Chicago and the Bulls.

 

[Chief Illiniwek]

So hey, you got Fred Hoiberg which is what you really cared about anyway.

I don't watch the NBA, but I'm sure that's going great for Chicago and the Bulls.

LOL not even gunna bite on this because my thoughts would be considered sacrilege around these parts....

 

[CloneGuy8]

Reading this thread throughout the afternoon

 

[CyTwins]

As one could say about any evidence from ISU. That being said, the source was actually neutral from Illinois.

This will be the last time I mention it too, but there is literally no benefit to UI "putting it out there." It would only hurt us in the media and clearly that's the case. Not sure why you'd think UI would want to actively put media stories out there that would be a lose-lose for them.

I already explained a situation where it benefits Illinois but no point arguing about it because you seem like a good dude and hopefully you stay around here. Best of luck this season!

 

[SimpsonClone]

LOL not even gunna bite on this because my thoughts would be considered sacrilege around these parts....

I take back what I said about coming back whenever. Mods, ban this guy.

 

[CyArob]

Being an Illinois fan must suck

 

[inCyteful]

My inside sources are saying that he is going to commit to one of the three schools on his final list.

UNLV is on the phone, wait one...

 

[Doc]

LOL not even gunna bite on this because my thoughts would be considered sacrilege around these parts....

I think a bunch of us think we may have upgraded from Fred. Although he'll always have a special place.