Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#426      
jamarvelous31
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Semi-OT but semi-relevant ... I actually think I might disagree! I have been to a lot of Illini games over the years at three very specific locations - (A) Iowa City, (B) Evanston/the UC and (C) Braggin' Rights. And I think I have actually noticed (admittedly anecdotally) that so many fans seem to actually be from those areas and utilize it as their one chance to see the Illini every year. I noticed so many more Southern-Illinois-ish accents at Braggin' Rights than I ever have in Champaign (not saying Metro East people have accents but rather that a lot of Southern Illinoisans drive up for this one game), I have talked to a disproportionate number of Illini fans in Iowa City who are from Eastern Iowa or especially the Quad Cities, almost zero of the fans I have met at Chicago Area games came up from Central Illinois and were instead local, etc.

Given the timing so close to Christmas every year of Braggin' Rights, I would bet good money that a lot of the fans who attend live in the St. Louis Area itself. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the Monday game decision, necessarily ... I am just sharing an interesting observation of mine, and I think people (especially broadcasters) always overestimate how many fans of a school are traveling from the main fan base centers to these locations.
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Sorry, I whole haleartedly agree that Illini should play throughout their footprint and look to expand and find new fans in the Midwest and beyond.

In this specific case and this specific opponent it seems like we're ceding a fan advantage, even if our fan base is amazing and shows up well... it's the equivalent of playing IU in Indianapolis and calling it a neutral site game.
 
#429      
OrangeBlue98
jamarvelous31 said:
Sorry, I whole haleartedly agree that Illini should play throughout their footprint and look to expand and find new fans in the Midwest and beyond.

In this specific case and this specific opponent it seems like we're ceding a fan advantage, even if our fan base is amazing and shows up well... it's the equivalent of playing IU in Indianapolis and calling it a neutral site game.
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But in the years I've attended this game, even in some of the leaner years Illinois is generally no worse than basically equal with fans in the building.

If the teams are equal, Illinois generally outdraws Mizzou.
 
#430      
IndyIllini2
jamarvelous31 said:
For real. How much of the fanbase live in Chicago or Indy...why kneecap yourself
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I have been a season ticket holder and travelled to Champaign for several years. Trust me, I am willing to travel. But I would argue that if there is one game that the attendance is less local, it would be Braggin’ Rights. Alumni from all over come in for this game and having it on a Monday definitely won’t help that.
 
#431      
WyattEarp
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
A little late but I’m interested to see what our new AC does with the defense. Maybe an attitude change to be tougher on that side of the court is what’s needed.

Schematically I do struggle do see what our roster is physically capable of doing differently.

Raise your hand if you are comfortable seeing T or Z hard hedge, blitz or switch Braden Smith
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Raise your hand if you are even more uncomfortable seeing T AND Z operating defensively at the same time. (I’m thinking we won’t see it too much.)

I gotta say though. Offensively that could be SO interesting! …watching those two screen & roll/pop for each other…out of say, a horns set or whatever. I think it’ll just be cool seeing them volleyball it around to each other inside and out…with what I imagine prolly borders on a familial 6th sense.
 
#432      
blackdog
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
A little late but I’m interested to see what our new AC does with the defense. Maybe an attitude change to be tougher on that side of the court is what’s needed.

Schematically I do struggle do see what our roster is physically capable of doing differently.

Raise your hand if you are comfortable seeing T or Z hard hedge, blitz or switch Braden Smith
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I think we will see defensive improvement solely based on the players. As much as I love Will and KJ they weren't staying in front of anyone and had almost no defensive impact. Simply replacing them with Stojakovic and Petrovic will be an upgrade.
 
#434      
Fighter of the Nightman
OrangeBlue98 said:
But in the years I've attended this game, even in some of the leaner years Illinois is generally no worse than basically equal with fans in the building.

If the teams are equal, Illinois generally outdraws Mizzou.
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Exactly. I would go as far as to say I’ve NEVER seen a Braggin’ Rights year where there are more Mizzou fans. Not to mention, this is not analogous to playing IU in Indy … there aren’t 800,000 Illinoisans who are a part of suburban Indianapolis like is the case for St. Louis. There’s just frankly no serious argument that this incredibly unique event should ever leave St. Louis, and we’ve never faced an actual disadvantage of any kind playing there.
 
#435      
MDchicago
JDL70 said:
Wonder where we are on adding Petrovic to the team. We should have a good team even without him, but with him we could be really good.
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Probably not, but was hoping this post by a Serbian scouting service on X yesterday meant there had been some progress on that front. Paging all insiders...

Gotta love his positivity about our NCAA title chances with him and the rest of the Balkan gang!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1938666637445771286
 
#436      
OrangeBlue98
"An attack on the throne . . ."

I think I only used that term after ingesting late night La Bamba too quickly following a night on Green Street. :D
 
#438      
hodgesonfire
Those clips make Petrovic look like he has a really quick first step. Will be interesting to see how well that translates to the Big 10. His game reminds me of Chris Paul a bit, not sure he has the same midrange game though.

Side note watched a lot of old 90s videos on different teams and realize that Purdue runs almost the same offense as Utah with Stockton and Malone.
 
#439      
DeeIL89
What's this rumor of David Mirkovic leaving? Lol. Greg Waddell from Sleepers Media brought it up in one of their videos where he and Carter were discussing Brad's comment about playing the Twins together.
 
#440      
One Man Fast Break
Illinois did not win a big ten championship the season Podz played at Santa Clara. 2022-23.

I was quite literally quoting someone talking about a prospect that wildly outshines their recruiting rank. It was directly on topic. Not a random top rope comment.
 
#441      
Point-Illinois
DeeIL89 said:
What's this rumor of David Mirkovic leaving? Lol. Greg Waddell from Sleepers Media brought it up in one of their videos where he and Carter were discussing Brad's comment about playing the Twins together.
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Wasn’t he just posting pictures of his locker and # yesterday on instagram? (Per a post about 20 up from this one)

Would be odd to then leave. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
#443      
illini0440
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
A little late but I’m interested to see what our new AC does with the defense. Maybe an attitude change to be tougher on that side of the court is what’s needed.

Schematically I do struggle do see what our roster is physically capable of doing differently.

Raise your hand if you are comfortable seeing T or Z hard hedge, blitz or switch Braden Smith
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My hand is down fwiw 🤣🤣
 
#444      
PepeSilvia
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
A little late but I’m interested to see what our new AC does with the defense. Maybe an attitude change to be tougher on that side of the court is what’s needed.

Schematically I do struggle do see what our roster is physically capable of doing differently.

Raise your hand if you are comfortable seeing T or Z hard hedge, blitz or switch Braden Smith
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I don't think you want to switch either of them into Smith but I think you're underrating how well Z moves.

I know they are twins but Z is way more fluid. He's not a big that you have to force into drop coverage because of his lack of mobility.
 
#445      
21ChampaignSt
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
A little late but I’m interested to see what our new AC does with the defense. Maybe an attitude change to be tougher on that side of the court is what’s needed.

Schematically I do struggle do see what our roster is physically capable of doing differently.

Raise your hand if you are comfortable seeing T or Z hard hedge, blitz or switch Braden Smith
Click to expand...
I think Brad has said he wants us to get better at forcing turnovers (have been one of the worst teams in the country in that regard the last few years) but beyond that, yeah, I can't imagine we'll see a huge schematic shift.
 
#449      
pruman91
Noblesville Illini said:
Ironically the playing scheme from the coach from Mcleansboro IL. Go foxes!
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Being a Mcleansboro native myself I remember Coach David Lee using it and later Coach Curt Reed using a version called voodoo basketball to successful seasons...

1984 was especially great with Jerry Sloan's son Brian playing and achieving an undefeated state championship season....

Yes, go Fighting Foxes...
 
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