The Sleepers discuss the busy Illinois basketball offseason, including the additional of Justin Harmon and Marcus Domask and the departures of RJ Melendez and Jayden Epps
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29 Comments
Epps wasn't a PG….he started 11 games (9 in a row), didn't have a 2-1 Ast/TO ratio. He is what he is….an undersized 2 bucket getter who may or may not develop a 3 pt shot. He could be a very nice 4 year 20 PPG SG for some team, but he IS NOT a PG
I hear they are going after syracuses big and rayjay dennis
Jayden Epps was a team cancer. Good riddance. He's a selfish player.
You're judging this roster when free agency has just started? Weird.
The Big 10 is going to be even worse than they were this year. Why would it be better?
I don’t see either portal guy as being a for sure starter. If you’re bringing back TSJ and Coleman then you have to prioritize depth THIS year. You have to go year to year with the way the portal is now, there’s no more projecting for multiple years down the road. We have 2 scholarships open and I’m sure it’ll be a vet PG and a solid big
Core is Rodgers, Harris, dainja and goode
If Coleman starts at 5 I would assume Goode would be the 4. Considering he was probably starting last year before injury.
Joke will be on you when Illinois adds Tyger and Hunter 😂😂😂 just kidding. But they do want another Star level player and a vet PG so I think if it plays out with Shannon and Hawkins back and a good veteran PG and a starting Big then it makes more sense. Harmon is a head scratcher to most Illini fans but apparently they are envisioning him as a better Harris. His on ball defense on screens and open catch and shoot numbers are good according to synergy but he’s a combo guard off the bench and really picked up in the NIT and is a Chicago kid who wanted to come home
Also Goode, Rodgers, Dain , Harris, Shannon, Hawkins, being back is some continuity and add in Hansberry and DGL plus two more transfers , or could look vastly different than today
Epps Dad is the reason he is gone, and along with his pouting you probably missed the NU game when he was pulled in the 1st half and he sat on his butt entire 2nd half and didn't cheer his team on 1 time. Big time bad attitude, his assist rate was garbage, and shooting was poor, but mostly his attitude. Don't give up On Daddy Brad a point, possible 2nd guard and a big time big lol. Dain was leaving another pouter if he didn't have to sit a year!
Why recruit hs kids if there just going to the portal for $ lol. Your going to be surprised with the 2 they already have. Brad wants old players.
What did UCONN do lol.
7th lol your going to eat those words.
Like the potential of Dra Gibbs, but he is not gonna start day one especially when brads plan seems to be to bring in a bunch of 22 and 23 year olds plus Hawkins and Shannon possibly being back. Lots of people including Illinois fans weren't the biggest fan of adding Harmon but I love it personally. Harmon is a dawg (which we lacked this year) and I think he will be the backup point guard playing around 15-20 mins a game because he can defend well and get in the paint.
Greg lets be honest Caleb Love is just not better than Ace Baldwin. Ill take the A10 player and defensive player of the year over the career 36% volume shooter.
“They need a core” names the core then complains they don’t have enough of a core… huh?
Epps doesn’t feel different at all. Dad has an opinion, kid has a bad attitude. Demanded money he wasn’t worth, and walked.
Hope IL picks up A.J. Storr from St. John's from the portal.
Bro forgot about Shannon, Hawkins, and Goode lmao
Harmon and Domask are 23 yo veterans that are wanting to prove themselves at the B10 level. Likely willing to accept a role for that opportunity. Likely that opportunity is going to add 2 veteran players to run with your 2nd squad off the bench.That 2nd squad, again this year, will also consist of an unproven, true freshman shot seeker TGL (epps replacement) and the defensive sparkplug with questionable offensive skills in Harris. Last years team didn't have that in the 2nd unit. Those 2 veterans can also go get a bucket if needed. They can also contribute minutes with the first squad, because they are versatile. That is called experienced depth. Niether Michigan team has this. MSU is getting depth but not experienced depth. Brad is not selling starting spots to mid-major guys. You call him Daddy Brad and then do not give him benefit of the doubt that he is building the next team to spank you with. Rj has never averaged 17ppg or was an academic all American. Or has been an upperclassman. His play last season didnt show he could deliver. It's a good roster trade out. Possible 6 guys returning, 4 possibly starters. That is Core. Ty Rodgers is a better player than Malik Hall next year, imo. No love? I like your pods but it's getting a bit obvious that your looking to get Illini fans riled up. There are plenty doing the same on the message boards. I enjoy your pods, all B10 things included. But you guys are better than this. If you want to question who's going to make shots if they run it back and only sign a true PG and rim protecting big transfer..well that would make sense.
I usually like your guys' takes but this was pretty bad. Justin Harmon and Marcus Domask represent veteran players who will play respective roles and will come in without egos(ex: Matthew Mayer, Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps). Domask was being targeted by Wisconsin and Notre Dame as well. So, if Shrewsberry saw potential that Domask can bring to the table, then it's actually probably a pretty solid get. Teams don't need to only get elite level players. Historically, it's the players who come from mid majors who are more hungry and have something to prove(ex: Tyson Walker, Jalen Pickett, Tristan Newton, etc..). They need to get a PG and big man(they've been in on Shedrick from UVA) but to give them a grade when they're not done yet is kinda dumb. Epps wasn't a PG and didn't appear to be a team first guy. Domask and Harmon should be team first guys, not me first guys
Domask is a solid player and has an all around game and scorer. Doesn't mean he will be a Meyer. I wouldn't count out Harmons' potential contributions. He is hard-nosed and a good athlete. He can play make a bit and score at a decent clip. I think a solid guy to come off the bench as a rotational piece. We need to go get tyger, and I'm hoping shawn phillips with hawkins and Shannon returning, and that would be my dream at this point I'm time to add. Obviously, if we do not get a big, that would take dainjas' spot.
One guy both of you need to also think about is Hansberry coming in. He is a 4 and Harmon will be the 6th man of the bench.
Starting line up:
pg transfer
TSJ
Luke Goode
Hawkins
Dain
Bench:
Harris
Dra
Domask
Hansberry
One more transfer in. (Big)
BIG TEN top 4 finish min
Lol Rutgers, NW, and Wisconsin above Illinois?really Greg haha. Book mark this for October
Ty Rodgers is going to have a break out season
When did Brad say he wanted starters from the portal at every position?? Yes, he wanted a starter from the portal at PG, but that was it. Mainly because he doesn't know what TSJ and Coleman are going to do yet. If they go, then yes, he needs to get starters at the 3 and the 4.
If you made this podcast this same time last year neither Shannon nor Mayer would be on the team yet. How about a little patience
Portal players future of reloading for big ten basketball teams teenagers egos will be shattered in not being able in competing against older Portal players players leaving realizing unable to compete final four teams were all mature 20 year Olds nil based on basketball teams winning drawing fans interest $$$ win
Epps left because he couldn’t handle Underwood yelling at him when he made a mistake. Domask and Harmon were both brought in to be spot-up shooters, something they both excel at.