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Post by gurnee50 on Sept 8, 2023 11:50:08 GMT -5
The transfer portal is the key to winning in college athletics, IMO. Look what Illini coach Shauna Green did last year in women's basketball. Three of the five starters were transfers. Our men's basketball team undergoes even bigger changes every year. The Illini track team has been totally remade this year due to the transfer portal. Doesn't matter what the sports is, you have to recruit college players as well as high school players. Do we know they haven't tried to find players in the portal? Thank you, I stand corrected. You have to successfully recruit college players as well as high school players.
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Post by vbplaya on Sept 8, 2023 11:52:31 GMT -5
Also is it just me or is the FightingIllini.com website messed up? Any time I click on schedule or roster I get nothing to load... Anyone else having the same issues? I do have the same problem and it is annoying. I end up holding down on the link when I select and open in a new tab. Then I can move over to the new tab and read the story or look at whatever I was trying to open.
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Post by exit237a on Sept 8, 2023 11:55:21 GMT -5
Also is it just me or is the FightingIllini.com website messed up? Any time I click on schedule or roster I get nothing to load... Anyone else having the same issues? Yup, they changed formatting/functionality/layout (I'm guessing for mobile platforms). Whoever designed brought more content to the home/primary page of each sport so scrolling scrolling scrolling. Since I'm griping...each story box is too darn large. My biggest gripe is that their season stats aren't currently sortable by column (at least on Chrome). I've even considered reaching out to the university about it.
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Post by exit237a on Sept 8, 2023 13:15:34 GMT -5
Giving the benefit of the doubt, let's see how Oklahoma goes. Illinois has been known to blow a match that should have been a gimme and then turn around and surprise with a more challenging match (see: Illinois State - L/Marquette - W 2019). We can potentially chalk it up to an off night, but it sounds like many of the pain points were emphasized during this match. I do think we need to rip the band aid off and start pushing the Nunge-OH/Burbage-OPP line-up and potentially give Barnes the Lib jersey back, however. Bingham has done an admirable job mostly, but her lack of comfort on the OPP pin is just so apparent. Tamas' seat has never been hotter... I'm truly not convinced that the recruiting concerns (facilities, Huff, etc) that have been brought up are true barriers. This program is a sleeping giant in a state with some of the best youth volleyball in the country. Every coach before has worked around it and netted a mostly positive recruiting effort. Every coach before....difference is Illinois is working with exactly what Hambly and predecessors worked with years ago compared to other schools who have made improvements to their facilities, weight rooms, etc. Huff has charm but that only gets you so far. I don't understand why moving to the basketball arena isn't considered. Would eliminate several of issues - A/C, better seating, sight lines, parking, more bathrooms I've come to like your idea to move to State Farm Center- you've brought it up on VT before. Huff only provides the big competitive advantage when it's loud and full of fans. It hasn't been consistently full like that in at least the past few seasons. With the Huff Hall parking situation getting worse this year (even my Main Library go-to lot is no longer a free option) it's likely going to make it harder to fill the gym. Might as well consider playing in some AC with universally unobstructed sightlines and everything else you described. The privileged who have nice seats in Huff, myself included, wouldn't have as close of a look at the action but I'd gladly make that trade if the venue change converted our desired program impacts into reality. But whatever they do, please don't move us into a downtown Champaign hockey arena. I know there's no sign that that's anywhere being discussed and some say it's totally kaput, but my recollection is that Whitman himself said something to the effect that he still wants a D1 hockey team. My theory is that that desire is what's still holding up the allocation of donations being put toward a new volleyball arena. You can't tell me that these donors are that much more excited about track and field, wrestling, soccer, baseball, and softball all over volleyball. I realize I'm biased but come on, let's be real here.
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Post by illinifan21 on Sept 8, 2023 14:21:49 GMT -5
i am a die-hard illinois fan, have been since I can remember. it pains me to watch our big programs (football, basketball M/W, softball, baseball, etc) getting so much love, success, and financial attention while our volleyball team dwindles. I don't usually post anything that may bring down the athletes or staff, but I really hope that the results of the last few seasons have fell flat due to the injury bug and not a lack of focus from our staff. the way i see it, we win over defending champs Kentucky then COVID strikes cooney, collins is injured the following season, nunge is injured, we lose two more players in the meantime through medical retirement, and in the present year deBoer is out and Barnes starts the year in concussion protocol. it makes it hard to judge what our success could actually be when so many players over the years are unsure of their position due to the constant misfortune the program is enduring! i stand by the opinion that as the BIG 10 grows, illinois cannot stand by with their current facilities. two of my friends played against illinois this non-conf season and both were so disappointed and disgusted by the locker rooms. it went viral on tiktok last conference season for how bad it was. that should not be what our program goes viral about! if the university doesn't start investing in this sport, the rest of the big 10 will take over and bury us. and about recruiting, look at the closest proximity universities like Illinois State, NW, Purdue, and Indiana. they will grow stronger due to their better facilities. athletes all follow the same paths from travel systems across our state. and yes, it is aggravating watching so many top illinois prospects choose other universities... but really, who can blame them? anyway, sorry for the vent, hopefully we can show some promise tonight against Oklahoma.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 8, 2023 15:06:11 GMT -5
This will in large part repeat what I and others have said, for which I apologize.
While some issues will be solved by moving to the State Farm Center, for example improving the terrible seats for everyone other than those blessed to have season tickets, improving parking, air conditioning, and so on, it does not solve the more basic facility problems, locker rooms and training areas. I believe locker rooms and training facilities are the biggest impediment to recruiting. When my daughter was being recruited (not the same level, she played D3) we looked at practice facilities, not arenas, as that was where she would spend most of her time. I reject the notion Hambly's recruits and results were markedly better than Tamas. Hambly's record after Hebert's players left was about the same as Tamas' record has been. Plus, Hambly was not recruiting against new and/or improved facilities at tOSU, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern. Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin and Minnesota's training facilities are not in the same universe as the facilities at Illinois.
I agree moving volleyball to a hockey facility would be a terrible idea and would finish off the demise of the program. If Whitman is waiting for hockey before doing something about volleyball he might as well fire Tamas, hire someone at 1/3 the salary, and use the money to fix the locker rooms and training facilities.
Tamas has a lot to answer for. I appreciate creating a positive culture. That doesn't mean he doesn't have to hold players accountable. Barry simply isn't ready to play D1 libero and he is doing her a disservice by keeping her there before she is ready. She is out of position virtually every play. Watch how often Terry, Burbage and Bingham are dug cross court. Then recall how often opposing hitters balls are on the floor while our libero is lined up behind the block. Collins led the team in digs last night because she read the play across the net, went to her spot, got down and moved her feet to get to the ball. Watch our other defenders, particularly Barry and Terry. They are going down as the ball is being hit or later. They don't move their feet. It is simply lazy play and the coaching staff should not tolerate it. There is no way our defenders are following some sort of game plan based upon scouting reports. Even without a scouting report when defenders line up behind the block, which is where Barry lines up, she is covering an area of the court already covered by the block. That is a problem fixed in practice, not during matches.
Eli Sharping may be a good guy, and Tamas' loyalty is admirable, but the passing and defense for which he is responsible is simply an embarrassment. Either the players pay no attention or his message is not effective. Look at his coaching profile. The "accomplishments" cited are a joke. He's had his chance and needs to go.
I've been following Illinois volleyball since Tina Rogers and Mary Eggers. I have never been this aggravated. Something drastic has to be done. For a time I thought firing Tamas would disrupt the current recruiting and would, on balance, be a negative. After WSU and ND I've changed my opinion.
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Post by exit237a on Sept 8, 2023 18:48:08 GMT -5
Did Foss and Pita12 have insider information when predicting the 2023 Illini season record? Who are Foss and Pita12? Illinois pointillinois Illinois 19-11 UofIlliniVBfan Illinois 18-12 Ilalum92 ILL 15-15 PostPrime Illinois 18-12 pita12 Illinois 13-17 Del Bocavista Illinois 18-12 badgerbyproxy Illinois 17-13 Oldmanvb. Illinois. 20-10 Illini88. Illinois 20-10 kylewise1983 Illinois 16-14 greatlakesvballer Illinois 19-11 foss Illinois 10-20 B1gvbfan Illinois 15-15 Maybe Foss is short for Fosstradamus. I'll see myself out.
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Post by foss on Sept 8, 2023 18:53:26 GMT -5
Did Foss and Pita12 have insider information when predicting the 2023 Illini season record? Who are Foss and Pita12? Illinois pointillinois Illinois 19-11 UofIlliniVBfan Illinois 18-12 Ilalum92 ILL 15-15 PostPrime Illinois 18-12 pita12 Illinois 13-17 Del Bocavista Illinois 18-12 badgerbyproxy Illinois 17-13 Oldmanvb. Illinois. 20-10 Illini88. Illinois 20-10 kylewise1983 Illinois 16-14 greatlakesvballer Illinois 19-11 foss Illinois 10-20 B1gvbfan Illinois 15-15 No insider info.
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Post by killvballer4life on Sept 8, 2023 18:56:32 GMT -5
Gooooodbyeeee Chris Tamas 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2023 20:50:24 GMT -5
Did Foss and Pita12 have insider information when predicting the 2023 Illini season record? Who are Foss and Pita12? Illinois pointillinois Illinois 19-11 UofIlliniVBfan Illinois 18-12 Ilalum92 ILL 15-15 PostPrime Illinois 18-12 pita12 Illinois 13-17 Del Bocavista Illinois 18-12 badgerbyproxy Illinois 17-13 Oldmanvb. Illinois. 20-10 Illini88. Illinois 20-10 kylewise1983 Illinois 16-14 greatlakesvballer Illinois 19-11 foss Illinois 10-20 B1gvbfan Illinois 15-15
Hello! I just figured this season could be a struggle with our pin situation and overall depth issues, especially after learning that de Boer would be out.
Adding on to what others have said about our defensive woes, I also think part of our struggles stem from the fact that we aren't serving very tough. The past few years our passing and defense have not been good to say the least lol, but our serving was able to keep us competitive and in games. This season and last season, it appears that our serving doesn't get teams oos as much, which exacerbates our issues in other areas.
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Post by ilalum92 on Sept 9, 2023 0:36:37 GMT -5
And a disaster of a season is only going to make recruiting even harder. Really bad and maybe we have a few 2025’s de-commit.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 9, 2023 8:48:55 GMT -5
Each of Whitman’s recent coaching hires has inherited new, upgraded facilities, whether men’s or women’s basketball (Ubben) football (Smith) track and field, wrestling, and so on. If you were a quality up and coming young volleyball coach would you take the Illinois job without the promise of a new facility? Does anyone think Green could have had the recruiting and transfer success without the women’s side of Ubben? The new track coach with his enormous success with recruits and transfers has a new facility to recruit to. Bielema or Underwood with the old facilities? Without new locker rooms and training facilities that are not going to be the subject of instagram ridicule no coach who could improve on the current situation will take the job. We can reminisce about the old days all we want, and Tamas may not be up to it, but without better resources get used to the new reality.
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Post by liberovb10 on Sept 9, 2023 11:09:31 GMT -5
So we have Bradley, USC, UCF before B1G play against IU, MSU, PSU.
I can definitely see us going 1-5 over the next 6 matches….and after that. what is the conversation between the coaches, the players, Josh/Chris?
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Post by badgerbyproxy on Sept 9, 2023 13:11:46 GMT -5
Can’t afford to lose either of these. RPI’s for Oklahoma & ND respectively: 88 & 141 What's the Illinois RPI? Too high I assume. They got slapped around. According to the RPI futures post, they were at 93 entering this week (70 after the first week)
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Post by northwoods on Sept 9, 2023 13:53:26 GMT -5
Each of Whitman’s recent coaching hires has inherited new, upgraded facilities, whether men’s or women’s basketball (Ubben) football (Smith) track and field, wrestling, and so on. If you were a quality up and coming young volleyball coach would you take the Illinois job without the promise of a new facility? Does anyone think Green could have had the recruiting and transfer success without the women’s side of Ubben? The new track coach with his enormous success with recruits and transfers has a new facility to recruit to. Bielema or Underwood with the old facilities? Without new locker rooms and training facilities that are not going to be the subject of instagram ridicule no coach who could improve on the current situation will take the job. We can reminisce about the old days all we want, and Tamas may not be up to it, but without better resources get used to the new reality. This is the conundrum & 100% correct. No quality coach will come to Illinois without a solid commitment from the administration on facilities. There is so much $$ coming soon from the new BTN TV deal that donors are not needed to make it happen, only a commitment from the administration to prioritize volleyball. How long would MBH need as an assistant before she could take over? The Ohio State model of building a new facility & then dumping your goofball coach might be a good template.
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