Illinois Kids in the Tournament

[7th Cir. Cat]

The Chicago Tribune listed all the players who went to high school in Illinois and are now playing in the Tourney. It's interesting to click through and see if we missed on anyone. Honestly, I don't think so.

Not sure we ever had a chance with Charles Matthews from Michigan (St. Rita), but he comes to mind. Also, there is a walk-on from Latin School who is at Duke (Brennan Besser). Wonder if he could have played for us as academics don't seem to be an issue.

Did we ever recruit Jalen Brunson from Villanova (Stevenson)

Thoughts from the board?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...om-illinois-photos-20180313-photogallery.html

 

[Sec.112]

If I remember correctly, I think NU tried to recruit Brunson, but they didn't get very far.

If Law and Matthews stay in touch, I'd be surprised if Matthews didn't visit NU after transferring.

From the list of local players, the guy that always bothered me that NU never seemed to be anywhere in the ballpark was Zach Norvell. But as I remember correctly, Gonzaga was all over him, and he committed early while Norvell wasn't getting much attention.

Like Nojel Eastern, I wonder if Norvell turns out to be the same player if they go to NU. NU was/is not in the same position to develop players as Purdue and Gonzaga. Both Eastern and Norvell are able to ease their way into becoming productive players. If they come to NU, they have more pressure to produce without relying on an experienced rotation to cover them.

One other local player with a tie to the tournament - Charlie Moore, sitting out out his transfer year at Kansas.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Norvell is a good one. But I think he may have been looking for something entirely different from the college experience if he chose to go to Gonzaga. Seems like he really wanted to get out of the midwest. Eastern hurts, but we gave it our best shot.

 

[willycat]

If I remember correctly, I think NU tried to recruit Brunson, but they didn't get very far.

If Law and Matthews stay in touch, I'd be surprised if Matthews didn't visit NU after transferring.

From the list of local players, the guy that always bothered me that NU never seemed to be anywhere in the ballpark was Zach Norvell. But as I remember correctly, Gonzaga was all over him, and he committed early while Norvell wasn't getting much attention.

Like Nojel Eastern, I wonder if Norvell turns out to be the same player if they go to NU. NU was/is not in the same position to develop players as Purdue and Gonzaga. Both Eastern and Norvell are able to ease their way into becoming productive players. If they come to NU, they have more pressure to produce without relying on an experienced rotation to cover them.

One other local player with a tie to the tournament - Charlie Moore, sitting out out his transfer year at Kansas.

Think Mathews was mentioned quite a few times on his board. Probably because he played at St.Rita with law. Also think he came to some games at W-R but don't know if he ever actually visited.

 

[NJCat]

Eastern hurts, but we gave it our best shot.

Gaines wasn't a bad consolation prize....

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

Gaines wasn't a bad consolation prize....

Fair enough, but watching a kid from Evanston score 11 points in 18 minutes in the Big 10 championship game still makes me wonder what if . . .

But losing him was not about lack of effort

 

[Sec.112]

... But losing him was not about lack of effort

From the rumor mill on Eastern, it also didn't sound like losing him was from a lack of production (for lack of a better word) from the coaching staff. It was just another casualty to NU academic standards.