Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#251      
Illwinsagain
Fan Since '70 said:
Wagler is not the leader. That would be Boswell and then Davis (Brad said that). Wagler is the go to guy/scorer. Glad to see Tomislav step up his coring too of late. Illini have multiple scoring threats and are very deep and well balanced with almost anyone capable of going off inluding: Wagler, T Ivisic, Stojakovic, Boswell, Mirkovic, Davis, V Ivisic and Humrichous. The team appears connected and unselfish. Their ceiling is high and still unreached, though attainable, hopefully in finals of NCAA.
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This is the most unique thing that I see with this team.
 
#252      
AirNeazy
Calvin said:
That's gonna change soon.

When's the last time we had 2 freshmen come in like this?
6'6 Wagler 16 / 5 / 4
6'9 Mirkovic 12 / 8 / 3
Both are above 80% from the FT line, and both are tough.
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For a freshman duo , closest in my time as a fan gotta be Dee and Auggie's freshman year. Dee was avg 12/5ast and Auggie was 7/6reb with both starting the majority of the season.
 
#253      
GrayGhost77
AirNeazy said:
For a freshman duo , closest in my time as a fan gotta be Dee and Auggie's freshman year. Dee was avg 12/5ast and Auggie was 7/6reb with both starting the majority of the season.
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Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson were a pretty good freshman duo, as well. Of course Ayo and Giorgio both averaged double figures as freshman, too (and decent rebounding numbers).
 
#254      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
oldmanindian said:
Very big Wagler fan here but he is not the leader of this team! I think some of his success can be attributed to the encouragement and unselfishness of the leader of the team.
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Fan Since '70 said:
Wagler is not the leader. That would be Boswell and then Davis (Brad said that). Wagler is the go to guy/scorer. Glad to see Tomislav step up his coring too of late. Illini have multiple scoring threats and are very deep and well balanced with almost anyone capable of going off inluding: Wagler, T Ivisic, Stojakovic, Boswell, Mirkovic, Davis, V Ivisic and Humrichous. The team appears connected and unselfish. Their ceiling is high and still unreached, though attainable, hopefully in finals of NCAA.
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sort of see where this is coming from…. but what’s exactly the definition of “the leader?” To me personally, it’s always meant the best player on the team.
 
#255      
Fly Illini Fly!
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
sort of see where this is coming from…. but what’s exactly the definition of “the leader?” To me personally, it’s always meant the best player on the team.
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It’s a meaningless talking point. It’s no one person’s team. They’re all leaders. All of the guys who play significant minutes come in with the sole purpose to play for each other, have no bad ego, and do their job every second they’re on that court.
 
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#256      
Toews
Actual "captain" by who meets with ref pregame is actually AJ Redd (Kylan would join him probably but if you ever see him pregame he's a little too locked in for pleasantries) but that's more because of seniority I'd guess.
 
#258      
ChiefGritty
#259      
Illinisnake
the leader of the team is the vocal leader, Jake Davis seems to be that guy, regardless of minutes. That's why Ayo was the leader too. Hold people to a standard.

I think Jake Davis would go head to head with anyone that wants to disrespect this team. Big fan of what he attributes to this team.
 
#260      
Illiniguy13
Illinisnake said:
the leader of the team is the vocal leader, Jake Davis seems to be that guy, regardless of minutes. That's why Ayo was the leader too. Hold people to a standard.

I think Jake Davis would go head to head with anyone that wants to disrespect this team. Big fan of what he attributes to this team.
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space office GIF
 
#263      
Germanboxers
Bucktown said:
With those numbers Keaton is the best Illini true freshman ever.

Deon is close, but was a redshirt due to prop 48, as was Nick Anderson. Kiwane Garris just behind Keaton at 16/3.5/3.8. I don't believe Kiwane was prop 48. Crazy that Mirk's scoring and rebounding are similar to Kofi's, but Kofi didn't have 3 assists.

In the days were freshman couldn't play varsity there are some first year guys that arguably have better numbers--Nick Witherspoon, Dave Sholtz and Dave Downey--all had more scoring double digit rebounds.

Having them both is nuts. Mirk would be getting more attention if not for Keaton. Let's hope we can build a team around him for next year.
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Deon wasn’t prop 48…he was put in a box his freshmen year by the NCAA and Bruce Pearl.
 
#267      
chiefini
Dan said:
East Circle Drive of State Farm Center to be Renamed George Shapland Family Drive

fightingillini.com

Shapland Family Makes Million Dollar Gift to UI Athletics - University of Illinois Athletics

The family of George Shapland, a former University of Illinois basketball player and highly influential local businessman, is making a $1 million gift in support
fightingillini.com fightingillini.com
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George Shapland was a wonderful, generous man. We got to know him well because our football season tickets were in the front row of the west balcony right next to his family’s for many years before the first renovation. Although a little younger, he played on the basketball team with my husband's dad and told us many stories of their experiences. This is a well-deserved honor for a true loyal Illini.
 
#268      
Calvin
Lotta tough games yet to play. Remaining games against teams above .500 in conference play:

(5) @Purdue
(8) @NB
(12) @MSU
Wiscy
@UCLA
(4) Mich
 
#269      
Username
Calvin said:
Lotta tough games yet to play. Remaining games against teams above .500 in conference play:

(5) @Purdue
(8) @NB
(12) @MSU
Wiscy
@UCLA
(4) Mich
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I know it doesn't meet your .500 win percentage, but I think IU could be a tough game even though it's at home, and @USC as well.

If you add those two games to your list of 6, that's the list of games where a loss wouldn't shock me. If we can go at least 5-3 through that stretch and win all the rest then we have a chance at a 1-2 seed. If we do that, we end 25-6 and 16-4 in the B1G. I looked at the regular season records for 2 seeds in the last 5 years and OSU in 2021 had the worst record at 20-9, and that same year Baylor was also a 2 seed and was 26-4. If we do what I think is possible, I think that's where we land.
 
#270      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Username said:
I know it doesn't meet your .500 win percentage, but I think IU could be a tough game even though it's at home, and @USC as well.

If you add those two games to your list of 6, that's the list of games where a loss wouldn't shock me. If we can go at least 5-3 through that stretch and win all the rest then we have a chance at a 1-2 seed. If we do that, we end 25-6 and 16-4 in the B1G. I looked at the regular season records for 2 seeds in the last 5 years and OSU in 2021 had the worst record at 20-9, and that same year Baylor was also a 2 seed and was 26-4. If we do what I think is possible, I think that's where we land.
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Have you watched Indiana recently? For me it’s a list of 7. No to IU, yes to USC.

If we go at least 3-4, should be good enough for a 3 seed.
 
#271      
Username
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
Have you watched Indiana recently? For me it’s a list of 7. No to IU, yes to USC.

If we go at least 3-4, should be good enough for a 3 seed.
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I have not watched IU recently so I'll have to take your word for it. I was just looking at record, and they didn't look that bad on paper at 12-6 overall 3-4 in B1G w/losses to @MN, #6 Louisville, @UK, NE, @MSU, and vs IA, but I do see some of the losses are by a large margin. I also see their "best win" would be @MD so you're probably right.
 
#272      
Battle89
chiefini said:
George Shapland was a wonderful, generous man. We got to know him well because our football season tickets were in the front row of the west balcony right next to his family’s for many years before the first renovation. Although a little younger, he played on the basketball team with my husband's dad and told us many stories of their experiences. This is a well-deserved honor for a true loyal Illini.
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Read the press release so I understand that there is a lot more to this than money. Love the personal anecdotes also.

Plus I’m guessing the athletic department is hoping for a (continued?) long-term relationship with the family. Good all around.

All that to say my first impression was thinking it would take a lot more than a $1M donation to get a street named after someone.
 
#274      
Bucktown
Calvin said:
Lotta tough games yet to play. Remaining games against teams above .500 in conference play:

(5) @Purdue
(8) @NB
(12) @MSU
Wiscy
@UCLA
(4) Mich
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These are in a two week span also. Finally a win at Purdue would be enormous, but not super optimistic. I do think we'll win at Nebraska.
 
#275      
Fly Illini Fly!
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
Have you watched Indiana recently? For me it’s a list of 7. No to IU, yes to USC.

If we go at least 3-4, should be good enough for a 3 seed.
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Username said:
I have not watched IU recently so I'll have to take your word for it. I was just looking at record, and they didn't look that bad on paper at 12-6 overall 3-4 in B1G w/losses to @MN, #6 Louisville, @UK, NE, @MSU, and vs IA, but I do see some of the losses are by a large margin. I also see their "best win" would be @MD so you're probably right.
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We’ve played very well. All things considered, my unbiased record prediction for this year would still be 24-7. Which is a great season (seriously, if you’re mad about that I’m not sure what to tell you).

My question is would that lend a 2seed or a 3seed. I’d imagine (hope) it should be above the 4 line.
 
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