https://x.com/DrewSteffe/status/1902038521969357000
Steffe officially coming back. I would expect that Sykes will also as they are close friends. Good news, hope there's more to come.
They are friends, but Sykes’ playing time was very different than Steffe’s, and I’d imagine Sykes will want to talk through how Nagy sees his role going forward. Wouldn’t be too surprised either way with Sykes.
Sykes certainly had moments last year where he was a factor, but could also disappear a lot in games. Seemed to get lost on defense often too, which I think contributed to his lack of playing time in the middle of the season. He desperately needs to develop a mid-range game or three point shot with some level of consistency. I'd like to have him back, but if he leaves I'm not too torn up about it either.
I thought Bey was going to be the stretch four this year, but redshirted. Sounds like he'll be gone soon too. Really curious what happened there b/c during the preseason, Nagy talked a lot about his ability to score...I guess maybe defense was the issue, maybe a bit of an attitude problem.
https://x.com/DrewSteffe/status/1902038521969357000
Steffe officially coming back. I would expect that Sykes will also as they are close friends. Good news, hope there's more to come.
Happy to hear that Steffe is returning. He developed nicely over the second half of the season, and I see quite a bit of upside there.
As for Sharp, I'll always appreciate him for sticking with SIU while everyone else was bailing out last spring, and he gave it his all after Elliott was lost and he was thrown into the rotation. But it wasn't enough, and it was pretty clear he wasn't the short-term or long-term solution at point guard.
If Bey stayed he would play the 3, not the 4. He's way too skinny for PF. Pretty sure he's leaving though.https://x.com/DrewSteffe/status/1902038521969357000
Steffe officially coming back. I would expect that Sykes will also as they are close friends. Good news, hope there's more to come.
They are friends, but Sykes’ playing time was very different than Steffe’s, and I’d imagine Sykes will want to talk through how Nagy sees his role going forward. Wouldn’t be too surprised either way with Sykes.
Sykes certainly had moments last year where he was a factor, but could also disappear a lot in games. Seemed to get lost on defense often too, which I think contributed to his lack of playing time in the middle of the season. He desperately needs to develop a mid-range game or three point shot with some level of consistency. I'd like to have him back, but if he leaves I'm not too torn up about it either.
I thought Bey was going to be the stretch four this year, but redshirted. Sounds like he'll be gone soon too. Really curious what happened there b/c during the preseason, Nagy talked a lot about his ability to score...I guess maybe defense was the issue, maybe a bit of an attitude problem.
Steffe was the most improved player next to Mayo last year when you go back to the Charleston game. Really interested in how he looks in year 2. You can tell he gained a ton of confidence as the season went on. We’re gonna need Mayo and Steffe to keep improving if we want a chance at contending next year without Kennard.
Steffe was the most improved player next to Mayo last year when you go back to the Charleston game. Really interested in how he looks in year 2. You can tell he gained a ton of confidence as the season went on. We’re gonna need Mayo and Steffe to keep improving if we want a chance at contending next year without Kennard.
I expect Steffe to take another step. I do think it is important for either Dibba or a major portal scorer to be on the team so Steffe is not drawing the other team’s top perimeter defender.
This portal shit is crazy and really terrible for college athletics.
I hate this era of college basketball.
I doubt there's a single coach that likes it. Complete chaos - practically a total rebuild every year.
Two Illinois portal losses last season - Luke Goode and Coleman Hawkins - are sitting home while Illinois goes to the dance. Hawkins has said he regrets it (K State, who lost to Drake btw).
When Sykes got more minutes end of the year, he was valuable for the Dawgs. Good rebounder and could score around the basket. Hope he's back.
Loved the Steffe towards the late season that could shoot and play D.
Dibba, Aligbe, Moreno, Mayo, Elliott - gotta have em. Would like to see what Bey and Webber can do.
https://x.com/DrewSteffe/status/1902038521969357000
Steffe officially coming back. I would expect that Sykes will also as they are close friends. Good news, hope there's more to come.
They are friends, but Sykes’ playing time was very different than Steffe’s, and I’d imagine Sykes will want to talk through how Nagy sees his role going forward. Wouldn’t be too surprised either way with Sykes.
Sykes certainly had moments last year where he was a factor, but could also disappear a lot in games. Seemed to get lost on defense often too, which I think contributed to his lack of playing time in the middle of the season. He desperately needs to develop a mid-range game or three point shot with some level of consistency. I'd like to have him back, but if he leaves I'm not too torn up about it either.
I thought Bey was going to be the stretch four this year, but redshirted. Sounds like he'll be gone soon too. Really curious what happened there b/c during the preseason, Nagy talked a lot about his ability to score...I guess maybe defense was the issue, maybe a bit of an attitude problem.
Bey’s natural talent is CLEAR, but from day 1 through the final day there was never a single moment that the team actually planned for him to be a part of the plan. Promise. I wanted to see his talent come to fruition but there’s nothing juicy about why he didn’t play or figure it out. Just kind of a disappointing reality.
Chase Walker is returning to Illinois State. Redbirds will be a top Valley contender next year
https://twitter.com/redbird_mbb/status/1902098199138930978?s=46
Chase Walker is returning to Illinois State. Redbirds will be a top Valley contender next year
https://twitter.com/redbird_mbb/status/1902098199138930978?s=46
Wow, some of the best news for ISU basketball in a long time. They clearly are on their NIL game in Bloomington-Normal these days.
As of the afternoon of March 18, 2025, the Deadbirds are the very early 2025-2026 preseason favorites.
@siudawgs He posed on Twitter with a new 2025 GMC Sierra last week. I don’t think that is a coincidence with his decision to stay.
I'd venture to guess that Ben McCollum is not in Des Moines much longer.
DeVries gets Indiana
@obd Was McCollum at Northwest Missouri the same time West Virginia’s AD was there? If so, there is a connection to that job also.
