Former Illini in College Basketball '25-26
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Hansberry...hands down.
Plus, some of the players moved to lower-level teams where they match up against lower-level opponent defenders (shorter, weaker, ...). I'm happy for them that their 3-pt shooting improved, but I am not surprised.
Agree. I can’t see Booth, as one example, making that percent from 3 against the schedule Illinois has had and will have in the B1G. It’s apples and oranges.
TBH, I’d prefer guys stick around until graduation or the Draft, rather than the annual roster churn that has developed here under Brad.
Welcome to the portal era. Most schools have this much churn more. I too miss the days of guys sticking around for 4 years but those days are over with a few small exceptions.
Big Jack
- Decatur
I am taking the guy that wants to wear Orange and Blue every day. The rest can kiss my backside and never be mentioned again
I would like to see someone do a survey of the top 50 college basketball schools....ask every scholarship player on these 50 teams to list the top 5 reasons why they are playing college hoops.....I think the answers and total tabulated results would be interesting
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
I’m sure you mean in all of college basketball - it’s not Illinois specific. More than 2,000 Div. 1 players entered the portal in 2024.
Big Jack
- Decatur
I would say IMHO that overwhelming the answer to that question would be to ply pro ball and earn a lot of money.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Assuming 13 players per team, that is 650 players being surveyed. I think the results would look like
Votes Reason
1 Obtain an education
649 Get drafted to the NBA
Yea...I agree....and probably close to "Obtain an Education".....would be playing for your dream school or Loyalty to a certain University or school.....$$$ have changed the landscape of college hoops forever
All these "ics" have dreamed all their lives of playing for Illinois. I heard that Underwood is going to honor kids who didn't quit mid-season the last home game. Senior night is no longer practical. /s-ish
Not a Brad Underwood development. An NCAA basketball development.
Other B1G Ten programs with stable coaching staffs (ex. Purdue, MSU, Northwestern) haven’t had anywhere close to the portal departures that Brad has had.
Since the unlimited, no-sit transfer rule came into effect four years ago, 20 Illinois players have left through the portal. That’s more than any B1G Ten program except Maryland (and more than teams that have had head coach changes). I don’t like it, and I think it’s a problem.
I’m somewhat torn on this… in general I hate the unlimited portal madness
But Northwestern wouldn’t really be a program I’d use as an example of a template we should follow, and the Michigan juggernaut’s top 5 minute getters are all portal additions
Barring a few exceptions.... if you're completely not using the portal, you're also likely not upgrading your talent pool. The secondary of our football team is a prime example of this. I've seen numerous posts over the past three months asserting "we should've gone after another corner."
MLT on Illiniinquirer talked about how Jayden Epps would just take himself out of the huddle... sometimes there's just guys you need to upgrade.
Now of course there's a limit, and you'd like to have the right balance. There's absolutely a couple guys I personally wish never left - Coleman, Morez.
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I have no doubt that continuity has a benefit. But more importantly MSU and Purdue are recruiting and portaling to their culture. I don't think we really have one.
Not sure I want to open a 17 page discussion re: team culture in the NIL era, but I see where you’re coming from
We apparently have Serbian night club dance parties on our team bus, dunno if that counts lol
How would this team fare in the B10 this year?:
1. Skyy Clark
2. Keaton Wagler
3. Tre White
4. David Mirkovic
5. Morez Johnson
Jayden Epps
Amani Hansberry
Carey Booth
Sencire Harris
DGL
1. Skyy Clark
2. Keaton Wagler
3. Tre White
4. David Mirkovic
5. Morez Johnson
Jayden Epps
Amani Hansberry
Carey Booth
Sencire Harris
DGL
Probably undefeated National Champs if it weren’t for Keaton and Mirk holding them back
I'd keep Tre and probably start him here over Andrej. He can score at all three levels, which Andrej isn't currently a threat to do.Probably undefeated National Champs if it weren’t for Keaton and Mirk holding them back
I like Morez because he has a skill set we have absolutely zero other players with, but he doesn't fit in our offense. Mirk has his struggles, but has a much higher ceiling in our system.
The only exception to your statement is DGL. He deserved a bigger role elsewhere and my belief is he went elsewhere for a bigger role b/c he can take that on. He is showing that at UNLV, albeit, on a worse team. I could see him transferring to a higher major team again next year now that he has a bigger spotlight on him and proving that he is more than just a bit player
DGL doing well at UNLV, glad for him. Still will take Andrej over Tre. Don't recall being the driver Andrej is.
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