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Walker retained by UoI; reported benefits to their recruiting

scru

scru

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Sep 4, 2005
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As predicted by some on this board, Jamal Walker has been retained by Underwood and AD at UoI. They viewed this as key due to his role in the recruitment of Jeremiah Tilmon and Mark Smith. He was sniffing an opportunity at Missouri, apparently, which could have been a major blow had JT and / or Smith followed him there. I hate it, but things looking somewhat bright for Illini right now.

http://www.thechampaignroom.com/201...brad-underwood-coaching-staff-jeremiah-tilmon
 
scru said:
As predicted by some on this board, Jamal Walker has been retained by Underwood and AD at UoI. They viewed this as key due to his role in the recruitment of Jeremiah Tilmon and Mark Smith. He was sniffing an opportunity at Missouri, apparently, which could have been a major blow had JT and / or Smith followed him there. I hate it, but things looking somewhat bright for Illini right now.

http://www.thechampaignroom.com/201...brad-underwood-coaching-staff-jeremiah-tilmon
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They lost an NBA player two SIXTH-year players, and a coach this year. Short-term, they are a dumpster fire.
 
Underwood is walking into about as good a situation as you can ask for: low immediate expectations, a top 10 recruiting class, an assistant coach with a good relationship with those recruits, and a reputation for playing uptempo style, which kids love. Don't sleep on the Illini.
 
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IdahoAlum said:
Underwood is walking into about as good a situation as you can ask for: low immediate expectations, a top 10 recruiting class, an assistant coach with a good relationship with those recruits, and a reputation for playing uptempo style, which kids love. Don't sleep on the Illini.
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They lose their top THREE scorers and 60% of their scoring off a mediocre team. Unless they recruited the Fab Five, and retain all of them with the new coach (a rarity), I'll sleep on them, at least for next year,
 
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mikewebb68 said:
They lose their top THREE scorers and 60% of their scoring off a mediocre team. Unless they recruited the Fab Five, and retain all of them with the new coach (a rarity), I'll sleep on them, at least for next year,
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Again, no immediate expectations. I suspect by keeping Walker as an assistant they will keep the majority, if not all of their commitments and I'd put them back in the lead for Mark Smith. I think Underwood fell into as good a situation as you can get when you're replacing a coach who got fired.
 
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IdahoAlum said:
Again, no immediate expectations. I suspect by keeping Walker as an assistant they will keep the majority, if not all of their commitments and I'd put them back in the lead for Mark Smith. I think Underwood fell into as good a situation as you can get when you're replacing a coach who got fired.
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Oh, I believe that Underwood is the best coach for which they could have hoped, and they will be fine long-term, but next year they'll be terrible, imo.
 
I would have to agree with scru and catsunderstars. While Illini Whittman pulled two tricks out of his ass to get the fellow from OSU and the Wash.U coach for the girls, I still think NU's future bodes better than the Illini. I think Underwood will have the Illini on a better course than Groce did. They'll probably be in the top five/(with multiple ncaa tourneys) in the BIG for his tenure there. The girls' coach has an impressive history from Whitt's former job too. He probably had his eye on her for quite some time. Lovie will make the football team better too. I just hope we can win some games against the Illini in the years to come. My older sister and several buddies from high school went there. They all think NU has no chance against them now. I think Fitz and CC will make NU even better in the years to come. I am very optimistic about our two most prominent teams. The Illini have a good AD and some good coaches now. But I would take ours over them any day. Will we win in games against the Illini? I hope so.
 
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Illini basketball is a threat, football not nearly as much. I'm not sold on Lovie Smith as a college coach.
 
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mickbula said:
I would have to agree with scru and catsunderstars. While Illini Whittman pulled two tricks out of his ass to get the fellow from OSU and the Wash.U coach for the girls, I still think NU's future bodes better than the Illini. I think Underwood will have the Illini on a better course than Groce did. They'll probably be in the top five/(with multiple ncaa tourneys) in the BIG for his tenure there. The girls' coach has an impressive history from Whitt's former job too. He probably had his eye on her for quite some time. Lovie will make the football team better too. I just hope we can win some games against the Illini in the years to come. My older sister and several buddies from high school went there. They all think NU has no chance against them now. I think Fitz and CC will make NU even better in the years to come. I am very optimistic about our two most prominent teams. The Illini have a good AD and some good coaches now. But I would take ours over them any day. Will we win in games against the Illini? I hope so.
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Your thinking that Underwood makes Illinois a top 5 conference team is a real stretch, as is your assertion that a Div. 3 AD is a genius. NU is in much better position to meet your goals of top 5 and NCAA Tourney's then Illinois and Lovie has shown nothing regarding an improvement in their football fortunes. Now take off the orange and think PURPLE dominance.
 
willycat said:
Your thinking that Underwood makes Illinois a top 5 conference team is a real stretch, as is your assertion that a Div. 3 AD is a genius. NU is in much better position to meet your goals of top 5 and NCAA Tourney's then Illinois and Lovie has shown nothing regarding an improvement in their football fortunes. Now take off the orange and think PURPLE dominance.
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Willy, I hope you are correct! I just thought that I would try some reverse psychology to play with the Illini invasive species that might read our boards. I want to win over the Illini just as much as anybody else on our team. I just thought it was a little disconcerting to get swept in basketball against them this year. We did beat them a few times the past couple seasons before this year though- wasn't CC's first BIG win over the Illini? I was elated to beat them in football this year. The loss to Beckmann's team a few years ago with Oliver as our QB just gives me nightmares as it knocked us out of a bowl that year. Go Cats!!
 
mickbula said:
Willy, I hope you are correct! I just thought that I would try some reverse psychology to play with the Illini invasive species that might read our boards. I want to win over the Illini just as much as anybody else on our team. I just thought it was a little disconcerting to get swept in basketball against them this year. We did beat them a few times the past couple seasons before this year though- wasn't CC's first BIG win over the Illini? I was elated to beat them in football this year. The loss to Beckmann's team a few years ago with Oliver as our QB just gives me nightmares as it knocked us out of a bowl that year. Go Cats!!
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Hope I am as well. Think the 2 loses in BB this season was an aberration and NU will continue to in then their share on the FB side.
 
mickbula said:
I would have to agree with scru and catsunderstars. While Illini Whittman pulled two tricks out of his ass to get the fellow from OSU and the Wash.U coach for the girls, I still think NU's future bodes better than the Illini. I think Underwood will have the Illini on a better course than Groce did. They'll probably be in the top five/(with multiple ncaa tourneys) in the BIG for his tenure there. The girls' coach has an impressive history from Whitt's former job too. He probably had his eye on her for quite some time. Lovie will make the football team better too. I just hope we can win some games against the Illini in the years to come. My older sister and several buddies from high school went there. They all think NU has no chance against them now. I think Fitz and CC will make NU even better in the years to come. I am very optimistic about our two most prominent teams. The Illini have a good AD and some good coaches now. But I would take ours over them any day. Will we win in games against the Illini? I hope so.
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"They all think NU has no chance against them now".

Most of these fans are living in the days of their undergrad time in the 70's. Yep owed us in the dark days. Yep, have consistently had better talent and teams in B Ball up until now. Both of these coaches are upgrades, how could they not be. Ask your older sister, who is the better coach for their University, Collins or Underwood? Fitz or Lovie? Anyone not drinking the spiked orange koolaid can come up with the right conclusion. The times have changed for Central Illinois Team.

They beat us twice this year. That is the highlight of their year! How the mighty have fallen. Reminds me of when we got excited with poor seasons but an upset of Rantouls team. Many of their fans show so much arrogance they just dismiss us in all sports. Earth to the Fighting Lovie's, you are 4-10 against NU in the last 14 seasons. Sorry, but the best the entitled Illini can come up with now, is references to history over a quarter of a century old, jokes about venue size, and arguments on fan support. Yep, they undoubtedly upgraded, and now seem to have unbridled hope. Good for them, I would have hope too, but the continued attitude of NU has no chance now is ludicrous. Hope can not be a strategy.
 
scru said:
As predicted by some on this board, Jamal Walker has been retained by Underwood and AD at UoI. They viewed this as key due to his role in the recruitment of Jeremiah Tilmon and Mark Smith. He was sniffing an opportunity at Missouri, apparently, which could have been a major blow had JT and / or Smith followed him there. I hate it, but things looking somewhat bright for Illini right now.

http://www.thechampaignroom.com/201...brad-underwood-coaching-staff-jeremiah-tilmon
Click to expand...

You can't expect the Illini to be down in basketball forever. They are a big state university in a state that consistently produces top basketball talent. They've really been in a mediocre trend since reaching the title game in 2005. They've been getting coaches who know their Xs and Os, but can't recruit (Weber) or ones who can recruit but can't game coach (Groce). If they ever get someone who can do both, they should be strong. It's really unbelievable they've never had a national title (should have won in '89).
 
Newsflash:
1. Malcom Hill is not a NBA player. He is a NBDL player;
2. UofI had no starter taller than 6'6" in 1989. UM had 5 NBA players and beat UofI in the semifinals because Sean Higgins at 6'9" outjumped 6'5" Nick Anderson for a rebound. UofI had 2 NBA starters in Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill and a end of the bench guy in Marcus Liberty. UM had Glenn Rice, Loy Vaught and Terry Mills who played in the NBA 10 plus years. The reasons for UofI's success in those years was in large plus to The Chevy Blazer Years (see Deon Thomas scandal). Then they had a HOF coach Bill Self who recruited Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head and made it to the Finals. The Illini belief that they are a top 20 program is great exaggerated;
3. Mark Smith is 6'5" and the Illini have a ton of guys between 6'3"-6'5". NU has one Scottie Lindsey
 
^ Whether you think this is fair or not is a valid argument, I guess, but the reason we think we're a top 20 all-time program is that we rank in the top 20 (and usually top 15) in most conceivable stats that you would judge a program on. If WWII doesn't interrupt our 1942 run, the (injured) Flyin' Illini beat a Michigan team they'd pounded twice that year or Luther Head sinks a 3 vs. a likely ineligible UNC team in 2005, we aren't even having this debate.
 
chitownUofI05 said:
^ Whether you think this is fair or not is a valid argument, I guess, but the reason we think we're a top 20 all-time program is that we rank in the top 20 (and usually top 15) in most conceivable stats that you would judge a program on. If WWII doesn't interrupt our 1942 run, the (injured) Flyin' Illini beat a Michigan team they'd pounded twice that year or Luther Head sinks a 3 vs. a likely ineligible UNC team in 2005, we aren't even having this debate.
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Also if WW II didn't happen Hitler might have been Prime Minister of England and the Hawaiian Islands could have been a Japanese resort area. Now get real and into current times.
 
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willycat said:
Also if WW II didn't happen Hitler might have been Prime Minister of England and the Hawaiian Islands could have been a Japanese resort area. Now get real and into current times.
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Does "current times" mean just this year? Okay, I guess you were a better program than us this year, for the first year in any of our lifetimes. You all seem supremely confident, after one 8 seed, that you're destined for great and sustained success and Illinois, a program that has actually demonstrated under several coaches that it can sustain success, is destined for continued mediocrity. We'll see.
 
chitownUofI05 said:
^ Whether you think this is fair or not is a valid argument, I guess, but the reason we think we're a top 20 all-time program is that we rank in the top 20 (and usually top 15) in most conceivable stats that you would judge a program on. If WWII doesn't interrupt our 1942 run, the (injured) Flyin' Illini beat a Michigan team they'd pounded twice that year or Luther Head sinks a 3 vs. a likely ineligible UNC team in 2005, we aren't even having this debate.
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Ah, the "what if" game -- a favorite of loser programs everywhere. If it weren't for Hitler, the Illini might have a championship! I suppose Illinois was the only school to lose players to the war, right?

The 2005 reference is also a good one. You think maybe Arizona is playing the “what if” game about Illinois' ref-aided miracle comeback against them in the Sweet 16?

NU used to play what if – but this year we overcame bad luck (losing a starter and another expected rotation player to season-long injuries). Maybe someday Illinois will get to the point where it doesn't have to make excuses for its results.
 
chitownUofI05 said:
Does "current times" mean just this year? Okay, I guess you were a better program than us this year, for the first year in any of our lifetimes. You all seem supremely confident, after one 8 seed, that you're destined for great and sustained success and Illinois, a program that has actually demonstrated under several coaches that it can sustain success, is destined for continued mediocrity. We'll see.
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iLL underperforms and has for many years. I look at all the data and I like our trend. I think our growth will be an issue for iLL and will impact their "success", game on. And the fact it is driven by an iLL alum makes it sweeter.
 
mikewebb68 said:
They lost an NBA player two SIXTH-year players, and a coach this year. Short-term, they are a dumpster fire.
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Illinois has the best recruiting class in the BT and some good returning players. One of those two 6th year players, Thorne, hardly played. Abrams was not the same as he was before his two major injuries. Hill is the major loss, but Tilmon, Frazier, Pickett, Damonte Williams and probably Mark Smith are a nice start. Plus Underwood will likely bring in a fifth year big. Lucas, Finke, Black, Coleman-Lands, Nichols are a good core to add to.

Long term, Illinois still has major advantages over NU.
 
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combes said:
Illinois has the best recruiting class in the BT and some good returning players. One of those two 6th year players, Thorne, hardly played. Abrams was not the same as he was before his two major injuries. Hill is the major loss, but Tilmon, Frazier, Pickett, Damonte Williams and probably Mark Smith are a nice start. Plus Underwood will likely bring in a fifth year big. Lucas, Finke, Black, Coleman-Lands, Nichols are a good core to add to.

Long term, Illinois still has major advantages over NU.
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Combs where have you been hiding, all these outstanding non NCAA years.? It's doubtful that Smith is coming your way and wonder if the kid from East St. Louis has visited Missouri yet. A they say don't count your chickens before... or when the Texas guy finds his next "dream job".
 
I'm assuming most of the posters on here haven't been accepted at NU. The sheer stupidity on here is priceless. You make the tourney for the first time ever and now you are an established program? You let Groce beat you twice. You also used up about 10 years of luck this year. There is still a big gap from Illini basketball to yours. Underwood's record speaks for itself. You also have a great young coach who really wanted the Illinois job and his dad really campaigned for him when Groce was hired. But the flag station school has and always will have advantages and history on its side. Illinois will be better next year as will NU. I like where we stand and you like where you stand. Let's see what happens. This is the best NU has ever been and Illinois has gone through a down period. I like our chances going forward. Please stop the nonsense.
 
Update... Tilmon staying with Illinois and Smith could be announcing soon. Stay tuned. This mediocre Illinois program just might get a little better.
 
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illini39 said:
I'm assuming most of the posters on here haven't been accepted at NU. The sheer stupidity on here is priceless. You make the tourney for the first time ever and now you are an established program? You let Groce beat you twice. You also used up about 10 years of luck this year. There is still a big gap from Illini basketball to yours. Underwood's record speaks for itself. You also have a great young coach who really wanted the Illinois job and his dad really campaigned for him when Groce was hired. But the flag station school has and always will have advantages and history on its side. Illinois will be better next year as will NU. I like where we stand and you like where you stand. Let's see what happens. This is the best NU has ever been and Illinois has gone through a down period. I like our chances going forward. Please stop the nonsense.
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Right on cue. 1) we beat you twice, 2) you were lucky, 3) we got a great established coach, 4) history reference 5) obligatory put down of NU 6) entitled attitude. The only thing you missed was our stadium is great and you play in a HS gym.

Our great young coach really wanted the Illini job. Crack me up. If he wanted it, he surely would have it the second time around right. Maybe you are saying Whitman is as dumb as Thomas then.

With all those great advantages the "flagship" has its a wonder we are even allowed in the same state let alone stadium.

So now that you enlighted us about bBall, I will concede the next 10 years worth of games and focus back on football, since we have owned you this century.
 
chitownUofI05 said:
Does "current times" mean just this year? Okay, I guess you were a better program than us this year, for the first year in any of our lifetimes. You all seem supremely confident, after one 8 seed, that you're destined for great and sustained success and Illinois, a program that has actually demonstrated under several coaches that it can sustain success, is destined for continued mediocrity. We'll see.
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The reality chi chi is that going forward presents a whole different dynamic than when the Illini were really good.

Your hoops history is irrelevant to what the Illini can be under their new coach. One with no proven track record of recruiting at a high level. Look to the west and you will now see Martin working his recruiting magic in East St. Louis for Mizzou. Look east and you see the new and much more powerful combination of IU and Miller...the hottest young coach in the business. Go north and Collins is now recruiting with state of the art facilities, the Duke pedigree and the "cool" factor of his recent success. South? Forget about recruiting regional prospects against the Cats and the Cards. When have the Illini ever recruited well outside their own turf? In short, where do you see the future players coming from? Your always geographically limited recruiting pool is now thinner than ever, as a practical matter, with all the new and improved anglers fishing the same pond.

The Illinois 2017 recruiting class is impressive. But it won't be together for long. Just how is Illinois going to distinguish itself against its neighborhood competition going forward? Relying on a guy who made his name at SF Austin? On ancient history? Good luck with that.

You should have pressed harder for Archie Miller. Given him the full 7 year ... 35 million deal your AD was boasting about. Now that would have signaled that Illinois was serious about competing against the reality of what they face in today's upper echelon college hoops scene.

BTW ... Collins is going to have to score big with his 2018 class to sustain his success at NU. And we have never seen him, or anybody else, armed with what he now has to sell at NU. So these are interesting/anxious recruiting times at NU. The next 6 months will tell us a lot about the future of NU hoops beyond the 2017-18 season.

GOUNUII
 
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chitownUofI05 said:
Does "current times" mean just this year? Okay, I guess you were a better program than us this year, for the first year in any of our lifetimes. You all seem supremely confident, after one 8 seed, that you're destined for great and sustained success and Illinois, a program that has actually demonstrated under several coaches that it can sustain success, is destined for continued mediocrity. We'll see.
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Well, if we believe it, it's because the Illini program more recently has demonstrated under several coaches that it can sustain mediocrity. Army and the University of Chicago used to be great at football, for instance. It doesn't mean much now.
 
illini39 said:
Not worried... You guys need to hope you aren't a 1 year wonder. Now looking at 2018 class... Precious. Good luck with that. Oh.. Lovie's teams will only get better. Then life will suck again at Evanston's B1G team!
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Boy you are so right and we are terrified. The iLL tradition of an inept athletic department should really be a concern. We are only a few more football wins for leading in all time wins. Can you believe that? We sucked for such a long time and still we are so close in the w/l column. Oh and the fact that an iLL alum is serving this to you is classic.
 
illini39 said:
Update... Tilmon staying with Illinois and Smith could be announcing soon. Stay tuned. This mediocre Illinois program just might get a little better.
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For a very brief period of time. The 2017 class will not be together for long. Then it's a SF Austin guy recruiting against Martin to the west, Collins to the north, Miller to the east and Pitino and Cal to the south. Since the Illini have never recruited well outside their own region, I say good luck with that.

GOUNUII
 
You also used up about 10 years of luck this year.

We lost a returning starter and our top-ranked Freshman for the entire year. We lost two additional starters for multiple weeks during the season. We lost at least as many coin flip games (IU, Butler, ND) as we won. That doesn't seem like really good luck. On the other hand, this is NU basketball. Any time we get through a season without a UFO crashing into the arena, it is a comparatively lucky season.
 
Not worried. Love where our B-ball program sits. Great hire with Underwood. Great class coming in and will be added to. NU already hoping for a good 2018 class... Precious. I'd be more worried about sustaining your best stretch ever. New territory. Collins is good and gives you a chance until K retires. Good rivalry for now. Also, Lovie teams will only get better. Talk all the nonsense you want but you know how this will end. I also find it hard to believe with all these so called rabid fans and great FB coach that sellouts are nonexistent at your great stadium. Sorry... Couldn't resist.
 
PURPLECAT88 said:
You also used up about 10 years of luck this year.

We lost a returning starter and our top-ranked Freshman for the entire year. We lost two additional starters for multiple weeks during the season. We lost at least as many coin flip games (IU, Butler, ND) as we won. That doesn't seem like really good luck. On the other hand, this is NU basketball. Any time we get through a season without a UFO crashing into the arena, it is a comparatively lucky season.
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Yep. Even if we DID use up 10 years worth of luck this year, we'd still have about a 70 year pool built up to draw from
 
We will get only better in bball and for football most football players are not interested in cow tipping as the most exciting event on weekends.
 
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Are there NU fans on Illini boards shitting on YOUR program lately? I can understand taking jabs at the Cats on your own site, but coming here to do it? Are you expecting us to "come to our senses" based on your highly enlightening posts? Don't get it.

On paper, the UoI recruiting class looks pretty good. No arguments here. I'd be worried about JT academically qualifying, and then how long he'll stay if he's as good as you think he is. One and done?

I'd rather have NU's current roster than UoI's. More experience, better leadership on the team, more heart.
 
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illini39 said:
I'm assuming most of the posters on here haven't been accepted at NU. The sheer stupidity on here is priceless. You make the tourney for the first time ever and now you are an established program? You let Groce beat you twice. You also used up about 10 years of luck this year. There is still a big gap from Illini basketball to yours. Underwood's record speaks for itself. You also have a great young coach who really wanted the Illinois job and his dad really campaigned for him when Groce was hired. But the flag station school has and always will have advantages and history on its side. Illinois will be better next year as will NU. I like where we stand and you like where you stand. Let's see what happens. This is the best NU has ever been and Illinois has gone through a down period. I like our chances going forward. Please stop the nonsense.
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Hehe
 
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