Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Weber's best Illini recruiting class

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Like most college coaches on signing days, Illinois' Bruce Weber said he likes his players. This year, so do a lot of other people. Weber signed the best class of his six years in Champaign on Wednesday, and it comes as he's trying to wipe out the memories of the school missing the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since 1999. Weber's four-man class is ranked eighth nationally by rivals.com, behind only No. 6 Indiana in the Big Ten. The Illinois class includes three guards who committed within hours of one another last October. Peoria native D.J. Richardson, who is attending Findlay (Nev.) Prep for his senior year; Sterling's Joseph Bertrand and Warren's Brandon Paul. The only big man is 6-foot-8-inch forward Tyler Griffey of Ballwin (Mo.) Lafayette High.

Chicago Tribune

Bruce Weber, Getty Images Bruce Weber, Getty Images
November 13, 2008  09:52 AM ET

Good recruiter but he cant coach to save his life.

November 13, 2008  11:10 AM ET

Good to see my alma mater get things going again. Uh Keith, I will agree he's no Roy Williams, but he certainly isn't a bad coach. Besides let's be honest, the days of the Bobby Knight and Dean Smith are over. Kids today don't listen to their coaches and are only at school for a year or two tops. Guess they figure the streetball skills they've learned is enough to get them to the bigs.

November 13, 2008  12:00 PM ET

He is clearly telling them to go for a 9-pointer in that picture.

November 13, 2008  12:25 PM ET

better than Dee Brown and and Deron Williams and Luther Head??? We'll see.

Also, the 9-pointer comment was great!!!

November 13, 2008  12:26 PM ET

and... please delete the second "and" when reading the above comment...ha ha And and and thank you!!!

November 13, 2008  12:41 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Good recruiter but he cant coach to save his life.

I disagree, and I think it is entirely the opposite. His inability to recruit has been his downfall at Illinois. Look at the SIU teams he took to the Sweet 16......he did wonders there with marginal talent. Then, his first Illinois teams were loaded with the players Bill Self recruited, but Weber did a masterful job getting the 2005 team to play together and make the Final Four run. That team played more cohesively under Weber than they had under Self. Weber's a tremendous coach, but hasn't been able to recruit the high-level talent to Illinois that Lon Kruger and Self did.

November 13, 2008  03:52 PM ET

There is no reason that Illinois doesnt have a top ten recruiting class every year. They got Chicago, East St. Louis and Peoria(Im sure there are other great bball areas too). If they can keep their instate kids, they should be amazing every year

November 13, 2008  04:53 PM ET

Is Illinois finished or is Chris Colvin still a possible addition to this recruiting class.

November 13, 2008  04:55 PM ET

Is Illinois finished or is Chris Colvin still a possible addition to this recruiting class?

November 13, 2008  07:17 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Good recruiter but he cant coach to save his life.

Wow complete opposite..I can tell your not an Illini fan...

November 13, 2008  10:03 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

There is no reason that Illinois doesnt have a top ten recruiting class every year. They got Chicago, East St. Louis and Peoria(Im sure there are other great bball areas too). If they can keep their instate kids, they should be amazing every year

There was some bad blood with the Chicago schools and Bill Self. They thought another coach should have gotten the job. So, Weber is starting to make inroads and has tried to schedule more games in Chicago each year. I've hear Weber on the post game show and he is the greatest guy. Humble as can be and always compliments the opposing teams. He also has a pretty good knowledge of other players. But, being a nice guy doesn't always get it done. Glad he has a good class, hope they take it onto the court and have fun.

November 14, 2008  11:49 PM ET

I only hope the worst for this guy.I don't care what kind of coach or recruiter this guy is,as a person he is a horses behind.I see he once again trails Indiana.I bet that just eats at him.LOL!

November 15, 2008  01:03 AM ET
QUOTE(#12):

I only hope the worst for this guy.I don't care what kind of coach or recruiter this guy is,as a person he is a horses behind.I see he once again trails Indiana.I bet that just eats at him.LOL!

Thank god we live in a country where even the retarded have access to the internet.

November 15, 2008  09:18 AM ET

Weber is a great coach. What he does really well is help players develop their skills. Give him a great class with players that stay 3-4 years and you will see that. Look how the big 3 guards have been really successful in the NBA. Now that he has 2 great classes back to back coming, everyone around the country will eventually see how great a coach he is. Smart players that want to work and improve themselves to get into the NBA will not find a better program to go to or coach to play for.

November 15, 2008  11:26 AM ET
QUOTE(#13):

Thank god we live in a country where even the retarded have access to the internet.

I second that, MrMiyagi

November 16, 2008  07:54 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

Thank god we live in a country where even the retarded have access to the internet.

Otherwise you wouldn't be on-line,would you?

November 16, 2008  07:58 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

I second that, MrMiyagi

Cant think of your own quote genius?

November 17, 2008  09:36 AM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Cant think of your own quote genius?

Not when it is as well said as what Miyagi said. He pegged you perfectly. I can't improve on that.

You're earlier comment ripped on a standup guy like Weber, and you're the fan of a university that hired a **** like Kelvin Sampson, and your screen name apparently is a tribute to a little integrity-bankrupt turncoat like Eric Gordon, whose word and sense of honor means NOTHING.

November 17, 2008  09:36 AM ET

I didn't know that Sc*mbag would get sensored.....but that was my word for Sampson.

 
November 17, 2008  01:07 PM ET

QUOTE(#15):Originally posted 11:26 AM ET 11.15 by TenRingsSTL I second that, MrMiyagi

Cant think of your own quote genius?

Gentlemen, you must be politically correct. Retarded is so out dated. This person is "mentally challenged."

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