Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#476      
ImGonnaBeILL
Petro
Bos
Peja Jr
Z
T

If rebounding is issue, I could see Mirk replacing Z. I thought Ty would start at 4 before his injury given his defense, rebounding and ability to guard several positions. Thought he was the X factor on this team as this team has several duplicative type players in frontcourt

Wagler and/or Lee gonna be needed to play key minutes this season. Any injury 1-3, one of these 2 looking at starting.
 
#477      
GoodePodzMelendez
Combo said:
That wouldn't shock me at all. The PF spot is up for grabs. I could see any of Z, Ben, or Mirk starting there. But all three will play a fair amount (with Z playing a lot of C also).
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I think Ben could start. 2nd year here, knows what is expected and Z. Can play both PF and C. It’s good to have options in the front court
 
#478      
PasadenaIllini
GoodePodzMelendez said:
I think Ben could start. 2nd year here, knows what is expected and Z. Can play both PF and C. It’s good to have options in the front court
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Will Smith No GIF
 
#479      
IlliniKat91
GoodePodzMelendez said:
I think Ben could start. 2nd year here, knows what is expected and Z. Can play both PF and C. It’s good to have options in the front court
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As long as those options don't have a green light to shoot when they're ice cold, I could live with him seeing the court, but he's not a starter in my opinion.

I liked the hustle I saw from Ben once he got comfortable, but the insistence on treating him like a lights-out scoring threat when it was clear he was streaky at best always baffled me. He's a great role player, but he can't be eating up 25+ minutes a night. If he is, I'm worried about the direction of our season.
 
#481      
Rebounding Dog
ImGonnaBeILL said:
Petro
Bos
Peja Jr
Z
T

If rebounding is issue, I could see Mirk replacing Z. I thought Ty would start at 4 before his injury given his defense, rebounding and ability to guard several positions. Thought he was the X factor on this team as this team has several duplicative type players in frontcourt

Wagler and/or Lee gonna be needed to play key minutes this season. Any injury 1-3, one of these 2 looking at starting.
Click to expand...
I dont think Ty was going to see many minutes at the 4 spot. Even though he could play in that rotation.
His minutes I expect would have been at the 3 spot and adding some minutes at either guard position…. maybe sometimes at the 4 spot. He would have been a plug in guy where ever he was needed. Very versitile.
 
#485      
hoopsfan47
There is some trepidation in replacing some very good players that were lost. But replacing them with 2 excellent Euro newcomers, two very good to elite transfers, and two good frosh hungry to contribute while at the same time returning 4 solid to elite guys we know and love should pique the interest if not the confidence of every Illini fan for the coming season.

Fitting it all together is yet another significant challenge for Coach Underwood and staff, but not something he has not done before. This will be another season of high hopes and who knows what ending. Sure, on paper there is much to question about how this team will defend, but they will defend and score enough to provide a season of great basketball entertainment and may surprise many skeptics.

My main interest is watching them grow together and seeing how long it takes for them to rip up another outstanding team...while hoping they don't suffer a ripping of themselves.

And, for the record, it is my personal opinion the Keegan Bradley should pick himself for the Ryder Cup Team. No one is playing and putting with more confidence than he is now and his experience at doing that in Ryder Cup competition is unmatched. We will need him as beating this Euro team is a formidable challenge even on US turf.
 
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#488      
Perry Range's Van
Brosky said:
My starting lineup for '25-'26:
1. Petrovic
2. Kylan
3. Stoyakovic (sp?)
4. Mirkovic
5. Tomi

Major minutes off the bench: Big Z, Ben, Jake and one of the 2 freshman guards, whichever one is mentally tougher and more confident
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I expect that this year will (in true BU form) be all about the matchups. We’ll see that most at the 4. It could be Ben or Z or Mir starting depending on how they are playing and who the opposing 4 is….
 
#490      
Brosky
It would also be a headache for play-by-play guys. I would like that!
 
#491      
Brosky
I am guessing you are right; a couple of BIG games slipped in before Dec. 30
 
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