I never quite understood Cook’s transferring nor Verplancken’s, especially Cook’s. His transferring made less sense to me when he left Gonzaga for Georgia. He got a European pro contract so I guess it worked out for him. Verplancken leaving in my opinion was a major loss for last year. He could have given the Salukis the consistent outside shot they often needed.
I feel no ill will towards the others who have left. I will admit I hope Banks plays terribly when he plays the Salukis. Other than that, I do not care what he does.
I don't remember all this hate directed towards Aaron Cook when he left in 2020. He could have made a big difference here for two more years having him on the team with Jones and Domask in 21 and 22 might have put us in the NCAA tournament. But nobody seems to talk about him leaving.... like it was no big deal or something. But when Domask and Jones each give us 4 years, graduate, and transfer as graduate transfers, seems too many of you guys have something against them doing what's best for themselves for some reason. I don't get it.Your post was sincerely well written and I applaud you for that (no sarcasm). That being said, just because you wouldn't say it doesn't make it untrue. If I may ask, albeit a moot point, how do you "KNOW" he struggled with the decision? Regardless, the FACTS are that he is NOT a Saluki and didn't want to be here more than he wanted to leave. I admit that I am salty over his departure as I believe it "borke the seal" / opened the door for all future really talented players to just up and leave when they found some success and display no loyalty. I guess I'm showing my age as I've been with the same company since I graduated and have been with the same girl since 1991 (met at SIU). All that being said, I am NOT rooting against him, but I AM rooting against the Illini and will admittedly, and unashamedly, smile if/when they fail to make the NCAA tournament, especially if that MIGHT somehow dissuade future players for leaving for "greener pastures". Again, all just my opinion. i promise it's all about my passion and LOVE for my alma mater, which changed my life.
Marcus and Lance are both great kids and I wish them well for many of the reasons that already have been articulated well in this thread. I do think staying four years and graduating counts for a lot. But to answer the question of why their transfers have been more of a hot-button/divisive issue than others in the past, such as Cook:
1). Domask and Jones were the faces of the program in a way that Cook wasn’t. It’s hard to see potential Saluki hall of famers transfer
2). In Domask’s case, transferring in-state to a program many of us dislike is just a different dynamic than transferring to Gonzaga
I am happy with Domask and Lance transferring. SIU is a better team in my opinion, it could have been awful but so far quite the opposite. The second leading scorer in the nation along with the 3rd best 3 pt % shooter in the country thanks to being able to play team ball again. Every game is a solid team effort. No half court threes all day and no watching Marcus back a guy down for ten minutes until the clock expires. Seems like it worked best for all parties. Plenty of weapons on this team that are able to showcase their abilities. If I watch Purdue or Illinois this year, it will probably be when a Valley team plays/beats them.
I wish Marcus and Lance well. They played 4 years, were players on and off the court to be proud of and graduated. However I won't be watching Purdue or Illinois play unless it's in the post season against SIU or maybe some other Valley team. Also, I do think this team is better than last year's team. They will lose some games they shouldn't lose when the shots don't fall but they could also beat some teams that are very good. On off nights they may be hard to watch but I expect them to also be an exciting team to watch on most nights. I look forward to the valley season.I am happy with Domask and Lance transferring. SIU is a better team in my opinion, it could have been awful but so far quite the opposite. The second leading scorer in the nation along with the 3rd best 3 pt % shooter in the country thanks to being able to play team ball again. Every game is a solid team effort. No half court threes all day and no watching Marcus back a guy down for ten minutes until the clock expires. Seems like it worked best for all parties. Plenty of weapons on this team that are able to showcase their abilities. If I watch Purdue or Illinois this year, it will probably be when a Valley team plays/beats them.
I don't remember all this hate directed towards Aaron Cook when he left in 2020. He could have made a big difference here for two more years having him on the team with Jones and Domask in 21 and 22 might have put us in the NCAA tournament. But nobody seems to talk about him leaving.... like it was no big deal or something. But when Domask and Jones each give us 4 years, graduate, and transfer as graduate transfers, seems too many of you guys have something against them doing what's best for themselves for some reason. I don't get it.Your post was sincerely well written and I applaud you for that (no sarcasm). That being said, just because you wouldn't say it doesn't make it untrue. If I may ask, albeit a moot point, how do you "KNOW" he struggled with the decision? Regardless, the FACTS are that he is NOT a Saluki and didn't want to be here more than he wanted to leave. I admit that I am salty over his departure as I believe it "borke the seal" / opened the door for all future really talented players to just up and leave when they found some success and display no loyalty. I guess I'm showing my age as I've been with the same company since I graduated and have been with the same girl since 1991 (met at SIU). All that being said, I am NOT rooting against him, but I AM rooting against the Illini and will admittedly, and unashamedly, smile if/when they fail to make the NCAA tournament, especially if that MIGHT somehow dissuade future players for leaving for "greener pastures". Again, all just my opinion. i promise it's all about my passion and LOVE for my alma mater, which changed my life.
You are 120% correct that many on here slobbered over Cook after he left. Makes no sense to me that people hold it against two 4-year loyal players that graduated. And yet no one but me has ripped Banks for becoming a REDTURD! Disgusting!! LOL
Cook was an average D1 guard who never sniffed all-MVC actually(other than academic). I seriously doubt Cook would have helped us into the NCAA.
If he hadn't gotten hurt his junior year, he would have gotten his 1000th career point as a saluki that year, and still had two years left. I'd say he was pretty good. Plus, he was the point guard that would have allowed Jones to play the two, and it would have made the team a lot better.I don't remember all this hate directed towards Aaron Cook when he left in 2020. He could have made a big difference here for two more years having him on the team with Jones and Domask in 21 and 22 might have put us in the NCAA tournament. But nobody seems to talk about him leaving.... like it was no big deal or something. But when Domask and Jones each give us 4 years, graduate, and transfer as graduate transfers, seems too many of you guys have something against them doing what's best for themselves for some reason. I don't get it.Your post was sincerely well written and I applaud you for that (no sarcasm). That being said, just because you wouldn't say it doesn't make it untrue. If I may ask, albeit a moot point, how do you "KNOW" he struggled with the decision? Regardless, the FACTS are that he is NOT a Saluki and didn't want to be here more than he wanted to leave. I admit that I am salty over his departure as I believe it "borke the seal" / opened the door for all future really talented players to just up and leave when they found some success and display no loyalty. I guess I'm showing my age as I've been with the same company since I graduated and have been with the same girl since 1991 (met at SIU). All that being said, I am NOT rooting against him, but I AM rooting against the Illini and will admittedly, and unashamedly, smile if/when they fail to make the NCAA tournament, especially if that MIGHT somehow dissuade future players for leaving for "greener pastures". Again, all just my opinion. i promise it's all about my passion and LOVE for my alma mater, which changed my life.
You are 120% correct that many on here slobbered over Cook after he left. Makes no sense to me that people hold it against two 4-year loyal players that graduated. And yet no one but me has ripped Banks for becoming a REDTURD! Disgusting!! LOL
Cook was an average D1 guard who never sniffed all-MVC actually(other than academic). I seriously doubt Cook would have helped us into the NCAA.
Verplancken is the one transfer in the Mullins era that still makes me salty. I think he would have helped a bunch these last two years. The rest either gave their time here or they left over playing time.
I was salty over the lack of Wonders usage the last two years but he’s not really proving anyone wrong so far this year. Although we’ll see how he looks the next few years.
better may not be the best word, but harder for other valley teams to prepare for. Marcus and lance gave us great things that eventually were all too predictableI wish Marcus and Lance well. They played 4 years, were players on and off the court to be proud of and graduated. However I won't be watching Purdue or Illinois play unless it's in the post season against SIU or maybe some other Valley team. Also, I do think this team is better than last year's team. They will lose some games they shouldn't lose when the shots don't fall but they could also beat some teams that are very good. On off nights they may be hard to watch but I expect them to also be an exciting team to watch on most nights. I look forward to the valley season.I am happy with Domask and Lance transferring. SIU is a better team in my opinion, it could have been awful but so far quite the opposite. The second leading scorer in the nation along with the 3rd best 3 pt % shooter in the country thanks to being able to play team ball again. Every game is a solid team effort. No half court threes all day and no watching Marcus back a guy down for ten minutes until the clock expires. Seems like it worked best for all parties. Plenty of weapons on this team that are able to showcase their abilities. If I watch Purdue or Illinois this year, it will probably be when a Valley team plays/beats them.
I know what you mean re: Banks. I just don't like transfers within the conference in general and a transfer to ISU in particular. (My hatred of all things ISU is exceeded only by barkeep's hatred of Bradley.)
It's also painful that (so far) we're stuck with no legit backup for XJ at the point, a role Banks would have been suited for.
But maybe he did us a favor, in that now Sharp might get a chance to develop quicker?
And maybe ISU was the best offer he got; I don't know: does anyone know what other offers he got?
Also, he might have seen some sort of writing on the wall for his PT here with the recruitment of Davis. I don't want to fault a 20-year-old kid for a decision to increase his likelihood of PT, even if it does mean that he's playing for ISU.
I guess I hope he has a great career there while also hoping his team sucks! 😆
(Inflammatory political snark)
I know what you mean re: Banks. I just don't like transfers within the conference in general and a transfer to ISU in particular. (My hatred of all things ISU is exceeded only by barkeep's hatred of Bradley.)
It's also painful that (so far) we're stuck with no legit backup for XJ at the point, a role Banks would have been suited for.
But maybe he did us a favor, in that now Sharp might get a chance to develop quicker?
And maybe ISU was the best offer he got; I don't know: does anyone know what other offers he got?
Also, he might have seen some sort of writing on the wall for his PT here with the recruitment of Davis. I don't want to fault a 20-year-old kid for a decision to increase his likelihood of PT, even if it does mean that he's playing for ISU.
I guess I hope he has a great career there while also hoping his team sucks! 😆
I think ISU was Banks’ “best” offer. Seems like he mostly had Horizon/MAC interest in the portal.
I wonder if he would have played 10-15 minutes at point if he had stayed with X playing some 2. But X surely wasn’t coming off the floor much this season.
Should be a spicy head-to-head a week from today in Normal.
@salukiworld I am totally with you about Verplancken. I think his departure was a major setback for the program. He would have been a big help both last year and this year. I have not figured out what he was upset about that led to his leaving. He was a starter and a contributor and seemed to fit in well.
Domask had 32 tonight (and 6 assists) in a blowout of Northwestern, who beat Illinois in Evanston. Only took two threes too. Without Shannon.
