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Illinois Basketball: Breakdown of Tim Finke’s top 5 list

By Rees Woodcock

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: A basketball hoop, net and backboard are shown before the championship game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament between the Arizona Wildcats and the Oregon Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona won 83-80. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: A basketball hoop, net and backboard are shown before the championship game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament between the Arizona Wildcats and the Oregon Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona won 83-80. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 16: Head coach Bryce Drew of the Vanderbilt Commodores gestures in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 16: Head coach Bryce Drew of the Vanderbilt Commodores gestures in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Vanderbilt Commodores

Pros

Vanderbilt is an interesting choice for Finke. He kept them on the list and I think they could be a dark horse in the race for his commitment. The Commodores have a few pros that could draw Finke in.

The first pro is their coach and coaching staff. I am a huge fan of Bryce Drew as a head coach and he has done a great job since becoming the leader of Valparaiso back in 2011. He took the Crusaders to at least 22 wins in four of the five seasons he was the head coach. Last season with Vanderbilt, Drew led the team back to the NCAA tournament as well. He is a great coach who will be with the team for years. The team also has former Illini great, Roger Powell, as an assistant coach as well.

Playing time should be there for Finke. There is only one player, Joe Toye, who plays the same game that Finke does but that is it for players ahead of him. He will have a chance to get a lot of playing time early on in his career.

Cons

Vanderbilt is over a five-hour haul and that is too far for a weeknight game for family and friends. He won’t have a chance to play in front of those loved ones very often.

The Commodores also won’t have a great team around Finke when he arrives in 2018. Their roster will have a lot of holes and they don’t have anyone committed for the class of 2018. If Finke wants to win in a big way, Vanderbilt might not be the way to go.

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