[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Illinois is the 16th winningest college basketball program in the nation during Bruce Weber tenure..Weber ranks 3rd in Illinois coaching victories..2 outright Big -10 Titles,6 appearances in the NCAA Tournament..And they made it to the Final Game under him in 2005..

But recently on a radio talk show..I heard a caller say that Weber’s Team 1st style of play,might’ve stunted the growth of several of his players Jereme Richmond,Mike Davis,Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale..

The caller stated that he believed that if Richmond,McCamey & Davis had went to a school like Arizona or Kentucky.. They would’ve been lottery picks this year…

I think the caller was over estimating the talents of those Illinois players..McCamey wasnt an elite athlete,Davis was too soft..And Richmond might be the most talented of the bunch,but he came out way too early..

[DanEboyParticipant]

I don’t think Weber is a good coach at all. He can’t recruit within the state, which hurts immensely considering the talent that is there. The 2005 team was full of players that Self recruited. I don’t really buy the ‘style of play’ argument but I don’t think he develops players either.

You have to be either a recruiter like Calipari or a great coach like a Bo Ryan, who gets the best out of the players he has. Weber is neither.

[DanEboyParticipant]

I don’t think Weber is a good coach at all. He can’t recruit within the state, which hurts immensely considering the talent that is there. The 2005 team was full of players that Self recruited. I don’t really buy the ‘style of play’ argument but I don’t think he develops players either.

You have to be either a recruiter like Calipari or a great coach like a Bo Ryan, who gets the best out of the players he has. Weber is neither.

[NCarmean18Participant]

I’m a loyal Illinois fan, living 45 minutes away from the U of I campus.  I have been watching Illinois since the 04-05 Championship team.  Weber has been a decent coach, not terrible, but not great.  The number one thing that hurts this team is indeed his inability to develope players.  He’s developed 2 players that have ever really made it, and they were both from the Bill Self recruiting class.  Sure, Dee Brown and James Augustine has been there, but neither of them were there very long at all.  Luther Head made a little noise as a rookie, but has since been ineffective and has hardly played.  Deron Williams is the only player that has really made it, but we all know he made it big. 

Illinois has a ton of talent when it comes to high school basketball, and if Weber can’t recruit them, then what help is he to our university.  I’m looking forward to this year, even though I think Illinois will fail to make it to the tournament, I want to see if he can actually develope these young players we have, like he says he can.  If he can, he might get a second look.  If he can’t, he will not be our coach the following year.

Jereme Richmond was going to be the best player on our roster next year, but his arrogance sent him on his way.  Now, we have a center, a 7-Footer named Meyers Leonard who appears to be a top prospect, who was a freshman last year.  He is playing on Team-USA.  So if Leonard has a bad year, then I don’t see Weber coming back.  Many things can happen, but I’m telling you now, if Leonard doesn’t progress this year, Weber is done.

It’s unfortunate that guys like Davis and McCamey didn’t get drafted, because they are solid players, and could serve good roles as back ups in the NBA.  McCamey is a lights out shooter, and Davis can electrify fans with his hard dunks.  It will be unfortunate if neither player ever plays in the NBA, but it’s a real possibility since they were coached by Bruce Weber.

[NCarmean18Participant]

I’m a loyal Illinois fan, living 45 minutes away from the U of I campus.  I have been watching Illinois since the 04-05 Championship team.  Weber has been a decent coach, not terrible, but not great.  The number one thing that hurts this team is indeed his inability to develope players.  He’s developed 2 players that have ever really made it, and they were both from the Bill Self recruiting class.  Sure, Dee Brown and James Augustine has been there, but neither of them were there very long at all.  Luther Head made a little noise as a rookie, but has since been ineffective and has hardly played.  Deron Williams is the only player that has really made it, but we all know he made it big. 

Illinois has a ton of talent when it comes to high school basketball, and if Weber can’t recruit them, then what help is he to our university.  I’m looking forward to this year, even though I think Illinois will fail to make it to the tournament, I want to see if he can actually develope these young players we have, like he says he can.  If he can, he might get a second look.  If he can’t, he will not be our coach the following year.

Jereme Richmond was going to be the best player on our roster next year, but his arrogance sent him on his way.  Now, we have a center, a 7-Footer named Meyers Leonard who appears to be a top prospect, who was a freshman last year.  He is playing on Team-USA.  So if Leonard has a bad year, then I don’t see Weber coming back.  Many things can happen, but I’m telling you now, if Leonard doesn’t progress this year, Weber is done.

It’s unfortunate that guys like Davis and McCamey didn’t get drafted, because they are solid players, and could serve good roles as back ups in the NBA.  McCamey is a lights out shooter, and Davis can electrify fans with his hard dunks.  It will be unfortunate if neither player ever plays in the NBA, but it’s a real possibility since they were coached by Bruce Weber.

[jonus grumbyParticipant]

The caller stated that he believed that if Richmond,McCamey & Davis had went to a school like Arizona or Kentucky.. They would’ve been lottery picks this year…

They would not have been lottery picks because they would not have seen the court.  They might have physical ability but they are dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to basketball IQ.  Webbers mistake was playing them just because he believed that seniors win.

[jonus grumbyParticipant]

The caller stated that he believed that if Richmond,McCamey & Davis had went to a school like Arizona or Kentucky.. They would’ve been lottery picks this year…

They would not have been lottery picks because they would not have seen the court.  They might have physical ability but they are dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to basketball IQ.  Webbers mistake was playing them just because he believed that seniors win.

[Da1potParticipant]

 He may not be the greatest coach in the country, but these guys were overrated as NBA prospects to begin with and its not up to the coach to develop his guys in to NBA players…. Mike Davis was a no name recruit who went to T.C. Williams(remember the Titans, and I watched him in high school) and developed into an NBA prospect at Illinois. McCamey is a fat point guard kinda like Levance Fields who did good in college but would not be as effective as an NBA player. Tisale is not an NBA player at all- plain and simple. Richmond was a guy who had intrigue simply because he was a high level recruit out of high school. That means absolutely nothing if you have a mediocre first year in college like he did and then declare anyways….

[Da1potParticipant]

 He may not be the greatest coach in the country, but these guys were overrated as NBA prospects to begin with and its not up to the coach to develop his guys in to NBA players…. Mike Davis was a no name recruit who went to T.C. Williams(remember the Titans, and I watched him in high school) and developed into an NBA prospect at Illinois. McCamey is a fat point guard kinda like Levance Fields who did good in college but would not be as effective as an NBA player. Tisale is not an NBA player at all- plain and simple. Richmond was a guy who had intrigue simply because he was a high level recruit out of high school. That means absolutely nothing if you have a mediocre first year in college like he did and then declare anyways….

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