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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 17, 2023 18:18:13 GMT -5
One ugly loss in a game that doesn't count and suddenly this is a bad hire? Five years later? It's more like - one of the ~10 highest paid coaches in the game hasn't made the tourney in 2 of the past 4 years (and won 2 tourney matches in that span), and just lost to a mid-OVC team making it seem like it will be 3-of-5.
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trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 30,223
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Post by trojansc on Aug 17, 2023 18:56:44 GMT -5
One ugly loss in a game that doesn't count and suddenly this is a bad hire? Five years later? It's more like - one of the ~10 highest paid coaches in the game hasn't made the tourney in 2 of the past 4 years (and won 2 tourney matches in that span), and just lost to a mid-OVC team making it seem like it will be 3-of-5. Don’t forget they lost to another 200-RPI Illinois state team just last year, in a game that DID matter and contributed to them not making the tournament.
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Post by Dancing in the Flames on Aug 17, 2023 19:00:23 GMT -5
It seems like most programs would have a good recruiter lead their program than a great teacher of the game as a head coach. For example, imagine if Dave Shoji had the expense and resources to land every top 20 recruits every single freaking year.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 17, 2023 21:51:38 GMT -5
It's more like - one of the ~10 highest paid coaches in the game hasn't made the tourney in 2 of the past 4 years (and won 2 tourney matches in that span), and just lost to a mid-OVC team making it seem like it will be 3-of-5. Don’t forget they lost to another 200-RPI Illinois state team just last year, in a game that DID matter and contributed to them not making the tournament. Thant loss to ISU didn’t mean anything. We finished in a losing streak and ended up 15-15. No way we were making the tourney.
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Post by bops68 on Aug 18, 2023 9:27:07 GMT -5
Before we canonize Hambly and assert he was able to recruit despite Huff we should recall his record. 2009 Illinois 26–6 16–4 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2010 Illinois 24–9 14–6 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2011 Illinois 32–5 16–4 2nd NCAA Runner-up 2012 Illinois 14–16 8–12 8th 2013 Illinois 18–15 12–8 4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2014 Illinois 26–8 16–4 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2015 Illinois 21–13 10–10 7th NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2016 Illinois 17–14 10–10 8th Hambly's first three years he played players recruited under his predecessor's watch. After his runner-up year his record is not that different from Tamas's. When you criticize Tamas for recruiting you need to recognize there are complex reasons for the lack of top level recruits. I understand Hambly was the assistant and participated in recruiting the players for his first three years. That also means there was a continuation of recruitments as he was recruiting the same players as before he became head coach. Tamas bears some responsibility but it is not solely on the head coach. Krista was hired as a recruiter, hopefully her recruiting will begin to improve. Indications are the next two classes are a step up, we will see. At least they have appeared to have learned one lesson by recruiting a scholarship DS three years in a row, starting with Barry. Regardless, hiring a new coach would set the program back. There is a good chance the recruits we have would de-commit. There is a several year lag time in recruiting freshmen. I am puzzled by the inability to do better in the portal, although Fleming was terrific and I would love to have Nunge for another year. I agree hiring his wife as the third coach is bad optics. Given her credentials we would all agree she is a great hire if she wasn't his wife. On balance I believe it would be a big mistake to replace Tamas. Should we hire a new coach let's make certain we hire someone who recruits players who won't medically retire or contract some rare auto-immune disease. Sorry I feel recruiting does fall on the head coach. He hires the assistants and is the CEO of the team. If he doesn't want to recruit he better get people that can. The head coach is the closer also or should be anyway and if recruiting is falling behind then they need to step up. Sorry just my opinion. So if we finish 7th again and miss the tournament again then Tamas shouldn't be on the hot seat? We shouldn't be worried about losing recruits. With what Whitman pays Tamas he should be shooting for the next Shauna Green for the volleyball team. Who would have ever thought someone would be able to revitalize a horrendous basketball program and recruit like she has done in this short of a time. It is just amazing. Whitman seems to get it so I don't feel he can't do the same thing for volleyball. I will add what he did for football also. Heck he has hired all kinds of coaches and such for the track team also. We will see how that pans out. My biggest issue with Tamas is roster management. We have zero depth and questionable players on our bench. The injuries, medical redshirts are hard but we should have the depth on the bench. As I mentioned before look at the benches of the top teams. Their coaches seem to get it. Nunge was the hugest loss last year but the middles, all three were seniors and all three had multiple starts over their 4 years so that is not an excuse in my opinion. Our 6'0" backup setter was a better option than our 6'2" scholarship outside last year? I will add and she was the better option! I worry if we have another injury this year our 5'6" DS might be the best option at pin after watching the EIU game and that is concerning. People say Tamas is this great coach. Is he? He had Poulter who is considered one of the best if not best setters in the world, enough said. His roster management and construction has been questionable at best. Moser should have jumped Brown last year but she didn't. Our passing and defense have been sub par and that is generous and he came from Nebraska of all places where they are known for their amazing passing and defense!! I don't think he is a bad coach by any means and I will say this the players seem to love him but people anointing him the next coming of Karch is not accurate. My gut tells me he has gotten "comfortable". We used to be up there with the Wisconsin's and Penn States now we seem to just keep falling and falling. I don't want to drop below the Michigan (Virtue) and Michigan States and we may already have. I have watched some great volleyball teams over the years and feel we shouldn't settle for dropping towards the bottom of the BT.
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Post by Kearney Kingston on Aug 18, 2023 17:53:10 GMT -5
How much better is EIU? That result from the other night is really unbelievable.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 18, 2023 22:18:00 GMT -5
Final Predictions are Due by August 24th at 11:59pm CT. volleytalk.proboards.com/thread/94933/predict-teams-regular-season-recordIllinois pointillinois Illinois 19-11 UofIlliniVBfan Illinois 18-12 ilalum92 ILLINOIS 20-10 PostPrime Illinois 18-12 pita12 Illinois 18-12 Del Bocavista Illinois 18-12 badgerbyproxy Illinois 20-10 Oldmanvb. Illinois. 20-10 Illini88. Illinois 20-10 kylewise1983 Illinois 16-14 greatlakesvballer Illinois 19-11 Illinois State kylewise1983 Illinois State 24-6 My prediction was with TDB starting at OH2. Now, I’m gonna say a generous 15-15 and we miss the tourney.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 18, 2023 22:20:19 GMT -5
I was at the game on Wednesday and while not their best I believe this was an exhibition game so didn’t leave that concerned. Yes we need to figure out some combinations and intangible connections between players. But isn’t that what pre- season is for? With regard to hiring Tamas’s wife as an assistant Coach I do believe that she adds value and her experience and accolades give her credibility. If you amortize her volunteer hours to her now paid hours I think Illinois volleyball is doing ok. Now she’s paid it’s an issue? I really had and have high hopes for TDB and I was encouraged to see her in Huff cheering her team with enthusiasm. I’d be cautious blaming Tamas for injuries or least of all a freshman developing an autoimmune disease. That seems to cross the line in my opinion. My husband and sister both suffer from complex autoimmune diseases and I can’t fathom a young freshman going through this and quite a distance from home. Blessing TDB and sending prayers to her and I hope she feels our support versus any level of criticism on this thread. That should be off limits and crosses the line. Terry is a stud but can’t do this alone and needs more support or she’s a sitting duck when we get into regular season. There is time to see this come together. Depth in recruiting may be an issue but related to results so let’s fix the results and recruiting will follow. I’m willing to be patient this year and see how things unfold. I don’t think anyone is blaming Tamas for injuries or retirements. But recruiting and a lack of Big 10 capable bodies falls squarely on his shoulders.
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Post by oldmanvb on Aug 18, 2023 23:16:19 GMT -5
How is Barnes doing?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2023 12:19:58 GMT -5
Sounds like she's expected to be back for the first match based off this tweet from Scott Richey.
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Post by badgerbyproxy on Aug 19, 2023 12:29:48 GMT -5
Final Predictions are Due by August 24th at 11:59pm CT. volleytalk.proboards.com/thread/94933/predict-teams-regular-season-recordIllinois pointillinois Illinois 19-11 UofIlliniVBfan Illinois 18-12 ilalum92 ILLINOIS 20-10 PostPrime Illinois 18-12 pita12 Illinois 18-12 Del Bocavista Illinois 18-12 badgerbyproxy Illinois 20-10 Oldmanvb. Illinois. 20-10 Illini88. Illinois 20-10 kylewise1983 Illinois 16-14 greatlakesvballer Illinois 19-11 foss Illinois 10-20 Illinois State kylewise1983 Illinois State 24-6 I’ll be re-evaluating my prediction, but I do think that Illinois will at least be over a .500 winning mark. This EIU result is disappointing, but it’s good that it happened in an exhibition rather than in a full match. Hopefully the coaching staff will figure out what will work best for this team and put them in a decent position come conference play.
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Post by Pasquale on Aug 19, 2023 19:55:21 GMT -5
Did anyone attend Fan Day?
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Post by oldmanvb on Aug 20, 2023 8:03:22 GMT -5
As disappointing and aggravating was the loss to EIU, I don’t think there was a single time when we had our strongest lineup on the floor, even assuming Barnes wasn’t playing.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 20, 2023 12:03:09 GMT -5
So lineup predictions for the season S: Mosher OH: Raina , Sophie MB: Collins, OPP: Burbage L: Barnes DS: Barry/Pan With TdB out until we are vulnerable. She played great when she was playing with team Canada earlier in the spring. Hopefully someone steps up into the MB2 spot and Burbage returns to her early season form from last season. She started out strong and then just fizzled out. Might have to play a 3 middle lineup if we have a second MB who can run an effective slide.
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Post by pointillinois on Aug 20, 2023 14:41:30 GMT -5
So lineup predictions for the season S: Mosher OH: Raina , Sophie MB: Collins, OPP: Burbage L: Barnes DS: Barry/Pan With TdB out until we are vulnerable. She played great when she was playing with team Canada earlier in the spring. Hopefully someone steps up into the MB2 spot and Burbage returns to her early season form from last season. She started out strong and then just fizzled out. Might have to play a 3 middle lineup if we have a second MB who can run an effective slide. I'm doing my best to forget about the exhibition match. I'll listen to the NIU match in the radio and hope for the best. The scariest part of your lineup is the pins. I'm very concerned that we do not have a Big Ten level player outside of Raina. The inability to accumulate any sort of depth for such a key position is really mind boggling. I'd love to hear some of the dirt on what those conversations looked like.
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