Illini Basketball 2025-2026

[WyattEarp]

This should be pinned imo.

Why?

Because most people on here aren’t complete ingrates who have ridiculously short memories; that need to be reminded, shamed, and scolded every 5 seconds.

Did we used to stink? Because nobody ever talks about that. lol
VERY VERY often someone says the slightest thing critical in the present…and all we ever hear about is the past.

Pretty sure you’re supposed to keep moving forward and do your consummate best in life. No?

I honestly don’t know what some posters on here would post about if they weren’t sanctimoniously lecturing people over half the time?

My other problem with it is the original poster is making generalizations about how people supposedly think…

Which is exactly what the other extreme does. It’s all so stupid.

 

[BoiseBaller]

Why?

Because most people on here aren’t complete ingrates who have ridiculously short memories; that need to be reminded, shamed, and scolded every 5 seconds.

Did we used to stink? Because nobody ever talks about that. lol
VERY VERY often someone says the slightest thing critical in the present…and all we ever hear about is the past.

Pretty sure you’re supposed to keep moving forward and do your consummate best in life. No?

I honestly don’t know what some posters on here would post about if they weren’t sanctimoniously lecturing people over half the time?

My other problem with it is the original poster is making generalizations about how people supposedly think…

Which is exactly what the other extreme does. It’s all so stupid.

Great post. Went more into the weeds than I have, but I've had very similar thoughts.

Not sure how many listen to the post game call-in show, but it's the exact same vibe. They've gone through many hosts over the years and the current one is exactly as you described the posters here.

History tends to repeat itself I suppose. Feels a bit like 2007 in here lately.

 

[Illinicpa14]

Can I get an honest take from our long time Illini fans. What era of Illini basketball got you more excited? This era from 2019-present era or 1999-2006 era? I was a teenager during the early 00s era but genuinely, that era excited me more b/c it just felt like those teams were more dominant and more consistent than some of our current era teams have been. I think that upset loss to Loyola as a 1 seed still stings and until Brad gets this team to a Final Four, it will not feel like this era of Illini basketball was better than that era from 25 yrs ago

With that being said, I am very grateful that Underwood got us out of the gutter that John Groce/Mike Thomas got us in and think he is a good recruiter and solid coach but not sure he is in the upper echelon of coaches in the country(I think that's an opinion that many of us share)

1999-2005 - all top 5 seeds that had a combo of big success in regular and post-season. Even when they lost, it was in big time battles against other top teams.

But I’ll say I grew up during this era so there’s so much more nostalgia of living/dieing by the team and not understanding that my team isn’t guaranteed to be top 15 every year. I still go crazy watching every game, but then I turn it off and put my toddler to bed…it’s different.

I will say that the last 2 years now I’m past the “I’m glad to be relevant stage”; more so because the teams seem to now have the same issues. Im also at the point that I’d trade one year of consistency in a 3-4 year cycle for a deeper run. It’s not like last years team or the 9 seed were “fun to watch” despite making the tournament. They were frustrating as hell to root for every week.

For as crappy as the last month has been, we’re still a 3 seed so everything is in front of us to change that.

 

[OrangeBlue98]

He might not publicly but I'm sure a front page headline like that is embarrassing on some level. If it gives him some more ammo to motivate this team that's a good thing.

Or to maybe realize that he needs to recruit more athletes and hire a good X-O assistant?

 

[FloridaMan]

Why?

Because most people on here aren’t complete ingrates who have ridiculously short memories; that need to be reminded, shamed, and scolded every 5 seconds.

Did we used to stink? Because nobody ever talks about that. lol
VERY VERY often someone says the slightest thing critical in the present…and all we ever hear about is the past.

Pretty sure you’re supposed to keep moving forward and do your consummate best in life. No?

I honestly don’t know what some posters on here would post about if they weren’t sanctimoniously lecturing people over half the time?

My other problem with it is the original poster is making generalizations about how people supposedly think…

Which is exactly what the other extreme does. It’s all so stupid.

I'm beginning to think there are more posters connected to the staff than just Tyler posting on the board.

 

[STLini25]

Can I get an honest take from our long time Illini fans. What era of Illini basketball got you more excited? This era from 2019-present era or 1999-2006 era? I was a teenager during the early 00s era but genuinely, that era excited me more b/c it just felt like those teams were more dominant and more consistent than some of our current era teams have been. I think that upset loss to Loyola as a 1 seed still stings and until Brad gets this team to a Final Four, it will not feel like this era of Illini basketball was better than that era from 25 yrs ago

With that being said, I am very grateful that Underwood got us out of the gutter that John Groce/Mike Thomas got us in and think he is a good recruiter and solid coach but not sure he is in the upper echelon of coaches in the country(I think that's an opinion that many of us share)

Definitely 1999-2005

5 Conference regular season championships (Underwood: 1)

2 S16, E8 and NC game (Underwood 1 E8)

Underwood would have to go to 2 S16 and a national championship game and win 3 conference championships in the next three years for it even to get close.

 

[Cary67]

1999-2005 - all top 5 seeds that had a combo of big success in regular and post-season. Even when they lost, it was in big time battles against other top teams.

But I’ll say I grew up during this era so there’s so much more nostalgia of living/dieing by the team and not understanding that my team isn’t guaranteed to be top 15 every year. I still go crazy watching every game, but then I turn it off and put my toddler to bed…it’s different.

I will say that the last 2 years now I’m past the “I’m glad to be relevant stage”; more so because the teams seem to now have the same issues. Im also at the point that I’d trade one year of consistency in a 3-4 year cycle for a deeper run. It’s not like last years team or the 9 seed were “fun to watch” despite making the tournament. They were frustrating as hell to root for every week.

For as crappy as the last month has been, we’re still a 3 seed so everything is in front of us to change that.

Only tournament loss that was disappointing was a second round loss to Notre Dame I believe

 

[illini510]

1999-2005 - all top 5 seeds that had a combo of big success in regular and post-season. Even when they lost, it was in big time battles against other top teams.

But I’ll say I grew up during this era so there’s so much more nostalgia of living/dieing by the team and not understanding that my team isn’t guaranteed to be top 15 every year. I still go crazy watching every game, but then I turn it off and put my toddler to bed…it’s different.

I will say that the last 2 years now I’m past the “I’m glad to be relevant stage”; more so because the teams seem to now have the same issues. Im also at the point that I’d trade one year of consistency in a 3-4 year cycle for a deeper run. It’s not like last years team or the 9 seed were “fun to watch” despite making the tournament. They were frustrating as hell to root for every week.

For as crappy as the last month has been, we’re still a 3 seed so everything is in front of us to change that.

Agree with everything you said. It felt like the teams from the early 00s were better than the current teams and certainly won more of the bigger non-conference games and made big statements in the NCAA tournament with multiple Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final 4 runs. I remember those teams being tougher, more physical, and better rebounders.

But yes, the sky isn't falling and we will be a high seed but they can't seem to close out the close games. BU said they have closed out close games this season and he could only name Purdue. You can add Texas Tech into the bunch but other than that, most of the other games they won were fairly convincing or closed the games out against lesser opponents.

 

[illini510]

Definitely 1999-2005

5 Conference regular season championships (Underwood: 1)

2 S16, E8 and NC game (Underwood 1 E8)

Underwood would have to go to 2 S16 and a national championship game and win 3 conference championships in the next three years for it even to get close.

100% agree. I feel the same way. Those teams were just more dominant and consistent in big time games and also in March. That's why I think a lot of the fanbase is left scratching their heads sometimes. Outside of Trent Frazier who was originally a Groce recruit, Ayo, Kofi, Feliz, TSJ, Domask, Boswell, and maybe Mirk can be put into that category within a year but otherwise, there's been a lot of soft/finesse type of players that the Illini have recruited over Underwood's nearly decade long run and I think it shows in the results in March outside of 2024. That and a poorly seeded matchup vs Loyola in 2021

 

[NarrowJ]

Agree with everything you said. It felt like the teams from the early 00s were better than the current teams and certainly won more of the bigger non-conference games and made big statements in the NCAA tournament with multiple Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final 4 runs. I remember those teams being tougher, more physical, and better rebounders.

But yes, the sky isn't falling and we will be a high seed but they can't seem to close out the close games. BU said they have closed out close games this season and he could only name Purdue. You can add Texas Tech into the bunch but other than that, most of the other games they won were fairly convincing or closed the games out against lesser opponents.

Need to look at more than the final score… Illinois has had several very close games where they just ran away at the end.

vs Texas Tech, as you pointed out
vs Tennessee was a 6 pt game with 4:21 left
at Ohio State was a 3 pt game with 1:19 left
at Iowa was a 4 pt game with 1:53 left
at Northwestern was a 6 pt game with 4:13 left
at Purdue was a 2 pt game with 45 seconds left
at Maryland shouldn’t have been close but was

We’ve lost a few overtime games by one possession, and the closer you get to the score being even the more luck factors in (unless you just believe certain teams are preordained to win the final possession)

 

[illini510]

Need to look at more than the final score… Illinois has had several very close games where they just ran away at the end.

vs Texas Tech, as you pointed out
vs Tennessee was a 6 pt game with 4:21 left
at Ohio State was a 3 pt game with 1:19 left
at Iowa was a 4 pt game with 1:53 left
at Northwestern was a 6 pt game with 4:13 left
at Purdue was a 2 pt game with 45 seconds left
at Maryland shouldn’t have been close but was

We’ve lost a few overtime games by one possession, and the closer you get to the score being even the more luck factors in (unless you just believe certain teams are preordained to win the final possession)

I agree, they were in close battles with Tennessee, Ohio St, and Iowa as well but they found a way to close those games out before the final closing seconds of the game. I don't count Northwestern and Maryland b/c those were lesser opponents

I was moreso talking about late game situations within the last 30 seconds to a minute left.

 

[NarrowJ]

I agree, they were in close battles with Tennessee, Ohio St, and Iowa as well but they found a way to close those games out before the final closing seconds of the game. I don't count Northwestern and Maryland b/c those were lesser opponents.

Don’t count those? lol ok.. they were close games that we won

I was moreso talking about late game situations within the last 30 seconds to a minute left.

Which are just luck games, single possession games are coin flips

 

[TheodoreRex]

Don’t count those? lol ok.. they were close games that we won



Which are just luck games, single possession games are coin flips

I'm sorry, but single possession games are not just pure luck... Can luck be involved, sure... But to just wholesale say single possession games are luck- that's just not true.

So in your opinion, the reason we've lost so many OT games is that we are just unlucky? I see a team that doesn't have senior leadership at key moments and doesn't value possessions enough defensively.. Many of those games we've been the one's not getting the loose balls, not getting the key rebound, not getting the key stop. That ain't luck my friend

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Which are just luck games, single possession games are coin flips

IN THE FINAL 5 MINUTES of those coin flip games... we've always gotten a terrible call (or multiple). In every one of those close losses.

And we've benefited from none.

Sounds like a generalized statement, but it's true. Out of the Nebraska/MSU/Wisconsin/UCLA/Wisconsin games... how many bad calls have gone against us in the final 5 minutes? And how many have we been the beneficiary?

 

[NarrowJ]

I'm sorry, but single possession games are not just pure luck... Can luck be involved, sure... But to just wholesale say single possession games are luck- that's just not true.

So in your opinion, the reason we've lost so many OT games is that we are just unlucky? I see a team that doesn't have senior leadership at key moments and doesn't value possessions enough defensively.. Many of those games we've been the one's not getting the loose balls, not getting the key rebound, not getting the key stop. That ain't luck my friend

One single possession

It’s a lot of luck

Here’s the explain it like I’m five version:

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game of shooting hoops, but you are both equally good. If you play for a whole hour, the person who is actually better at shooting will probably win by a lot (like 20 to 10).
But, if you only play for 30 seconds, it’s just one or two shots, right? If you happen to slip, or the ball hits the rim and bounces weirdly—BOOM!Your friend wins 2-0.
Here is why that happens in basketball when the score is very close:

• The "One Lucky Bounce" Problem: In a close game (like 100 to 99), the whole thing can come down to one single shot in the last second. If the ball hits the rim, bounces high, and drops in, the team is happy. If it bounces out, they lose. That bounce isn't because they are better; it's just luck.
• Errors Matter More: When teams are closely matched, one tiny mistake—like stepping out of bounds or a bad pass—is enough to lose the game. In a game where one team is much better, they can make mistakes and still win by 10 points.
• The "Two-Point" Difference: If the score is far apart, a few missed shots don't change who wins. If the score is very close, a single lucky shot or a "bad call" by the referee can change the winner.

 

[Illini2010-11]

IN THE FINAL 5 MINUTES of those coin flip games... we've always gotten a terrible call (or multiple). In every one of those close losses.

And we've benefited from none.

Now that the B1G season is over, we will be done with that officiating. The tourney will be a whole different animal. We will learn very quickly if the team is broken.

All can be true for our ot woes: horrendous officiating, self inflicted wounds, injuries, etc.

I actually think we have a more mentally strong team than some think. They have the chance to prove it beginning Thurs/Fri.

 

[TheodoreRex]

One single possession

It’s a lot of luck

Here’s the explain it like I’m five version:

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game of shooting hoops, but you are both equally good. If you play for a whole hour, the person who is actually better at shooting will probably win by a lot (like 20 to 10).
But, if you only play for 30 seconds, it’s just one or two shots, right? If you happen to slip, or the ball hits the rim and bounces weirdly—BOOM!Your friend wins 2-0.
Here is why that happens in basketball when the score is very close:

• The "One Lucky Bounce" Problem: In a close game (like 100 to 99), the whole thing can come down to one single shot in the last second. If the ball hits the rim, bounces high, and drops in, the team is happy. If it bounces out, they lose. That bounce isn't because they are better; it's just luck.
• Errors Matter More: When teams are closely matched, one tiny mistake—like stepping out of bounds or a bad pass—is enough to lose the game. In a game where one team is much better, they can make mistakes and still win by 10 points.
• The "Two-Point" Difference: If the score is far apart, a few missed shots don't change who wins. If the score is very close, a single lucky shot or a "bad call" by the referee can change the winner.

Sure, you lose a close over time game one time because of a bad bounce.. I'll concede, unlucky. How many OT losses do we have? When there is a consistent theme of losing OT games- it's not a matter of luck. We didn't lose to Wisconsin because we were unlucky. We lost because they made the plays when it mattered and we didn't. They made free throws, we didn't. They got rebounds when the game was on the line, we didn't. That's on the players and coaches.. not being unlucky.

And as the saying goes- you create your own luck. When another team is far more aggressive and playing with more fire- they often get the 50/50 balls, they often get the calls. Consistently losing close games is a trend that is related to actual lack of execution.

For his time at Illinois, Underwood is currently 8-12 in OT games.. That sure isn't 50/50

 

[Illinicpa14]

Sure, you lose a close over time game one time because of a bad bounce.. I'll concede, unlucky. How many OT losses do we have? When there is a consistent theme of losing OT games- it's not a matter of luck. We didn't lose to Wisconsin because we were unlucky. We lost because they made the plays when it mattered and we didn't. They made free throws, we didn't. They got rebounds when the game was on the line, we didn't. That's on the players and coaches.. not being unlucky.

And as the saying goes- you create your own luck. When another team is far more aggressive and playing with more fire- they often get the 50/50 balls, they often get the calls. Consistently losing close games is a trend that is related to actual lack of execution.

This!

There’s even been small mathematical misses or choices that impact outcome that are execution related.

We have the ball off a FT with 52 seconds left tie game, could have probably gone 2 for 1; instead we run a long set and give them final shot.

 

[NarrowJ]

Sure, you lose a close over time game one time because of a bad bounce.. I'll concede, unlucky. How many OT losses do we have? When there is a consistent theme of losing OT games- it's not a matter of luck. We didn't lose to Wisconsin because we were unlucky. We lost because they made the plays when it mattered and we didn't. They made free throws, we didn't. They got rebounds when the game was on the line, we didn't. That's on the players and coaches.. not being unlucky.

And as the saying goes- you create your own luck. When another team is far more aggressive and playing with more fire- they often get the 50/50 balls, they often get the calls. Consistently losing close games is a trend that is related to actual lack of execution.

This is a reasonable take imo, of course its not all luck-related, we have not gotten stops or rebounds or missed free throws and we've lost, but we've also had some bad breaks (ie, nobody is thinking we'd have won all of these games or anything crazy like that)

 

[ThePortalMadeMeDoIt]

Keaton is good but damn watching Acuff, he is on another level

 

[TheodoreRex]

This is a reasonable take imo, of course its not all luck-related, we have not gotten stops or rebounds or missed free throws and we've lost, but we've also had some bad breaks (ie, nobody is thinking we'd have won all of these games or anything crazy like that)

I agree we've had some bad breaks and I also agree I have no naive illusion that we should've won all of them.. But I think reasonably expecting to be 50% in OT games isn't too much to ask?

I could be wrong in my assessment during games but very few of them have I really felt like we got unlucky (maybe the Nebraska game where the guy just made an insane game winner). Most of them I just thought- man, the other team wanted that more.. And I personally hate that.

I'll give an example I suppose: I watched the Arizona-ISU game and Arizona won with a last second shot. If I were an ISU fan- I wouldn't have been mad at all. There team played their freaking tails off and I'm not sure you could objectively say either team played harder or wanted it more. The eye test showed two incredibly tough teams both executing at a high level and at the end of the game- one team just happened to have the ball and make an insane shot.

I just haven't felt the same way in most of our games.

 

[Illinicpa14]

This is a reasonable take imo, of course its not all luck-related, we have not gotten stops or rebounds or missed free throws and we've lost, but we've also had some bad breaks (ie, nobody is thinking we'd have won all of these games or anything crazy like that)

That’s what’s frustrating - is that we know this group is so close to being able to achieve a historic season if they can figure it out.

Beyond maybe those top 3 teams we are good enough to be in 1 possession games with the other 64 teams that make it.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

I agree we've had some bad breaks and I also agree I have no naive illusion that we should've won all of them.. But I think reasonably expecting to be 50% in OT games isn't too much to ask?

I could be wrong in my assessment during games but very few of them have I really felt like we got unlucky (maybe the Nebraska game where the guy just made an insane game winner). Most of them I just thought- man, the other team wanted that more.. And I personally hate that.

I'll give an example I suppose: I watched the Arizona-ISU game and Arizona won with a last second shot. If I were an ISU fan- I wouldn't have been mad at all. There team played their freaking tails off and I'm not sure you could objectively say either team played harder or wanted it more. The eye test showed two incredibly tough teams both executing at a high level and at the end of the game- one team just happened to have the ball and make an insane shot.

I just haven't felt the same way in most of our games.

Overtime is kinda crazy when you think about it - like 5 minutes to decide it? How little do you think of the first 5 minutes of a game? Obviously, there is outliers there, you can have truly a disaster of a first few minutes. But put it like this, if someone came to you with the option of what is more likely? "Queens beats Arizona" or "Queens beats Arizona in a 5-minutes stretch"? You know which one you'd take...

I think your previous point is the main one for me. I'm frustrated these games, outside of maybe MSU, even got to OT. Brad is flipping right, those stretches against Wisconsin when we were up 13-16 and Wisconsin (!!!) would get 3+ opps on offensive rebounding is where we truly lost those games. And for UCLA it was that totally ridiculous first half stretch befor halftime where they hit 11 straight.

Also, with our slow pace, our style probably isnt best for OT as is, and our pace is also something I worry about against a very low seed. When you're the better team, I want more possessions so the math plays out for me.

 

[Illinicpa14]

I agree we've had some bad breaks and I also agree I have no naive illusion that we should've won all of them.. But I think reasonably expecting to be 50% in OT games isn't too much to ask?

I could be wrong in my assessment during games but very few of them have I really felt like we got unlucky (maybe the Nebraska game where the guy just made an insane game winner). Most of them I just thought- man, the other team wanted that more.. And I personally hate that.

I'll give an example I suppose: I watched the Arizona-ISU game and Arizona won with a last second shot. If I were an ISU fan- I wouldn't have been mad at all. There team played their freaking tails off and I'm not sure you could objectively say either team played harder or wanted it more. The eye test showed two incredibly tough teams both executing at a high level and at the end of the game- one team just happened to have the ball and make an insane shot.

I just haven't felt the same way in most of our games.

Playing more to your statement, in theory we should be >50% in most OT games because:
1. Analytics says unless we’re playing Michigan we’re the better team
2. We don’t foul a lot which means shouldn’t have guys fouled out

 

[NarrowJ]

I agree we've had some bad breaks and I also agree I have no naive illusion that we should've won all of them.. But I think reasonably expecting to be 50% in OT games isn't too much to ask?

I could be wrong in my assessment during games but very few of them have I really felt like we got unlucky (maybe the Nebraska game where the guy just made an insane game winner). Most of them I just thought- man, the other team wanted that more.. And I personally hate that.

I'll give an example I suppose: I watched the Arizona-ISU game and Arizona won with a last second shot. If I were an ISU fan- I wouldn't have been mad at all. There team played their freaking tails off and I'm not sure you could objectively say either team played harder or wanted it more. The eye test showed two incredibly tough teams both executing at a high level and at the end of the game- one team just happened to have the ball and make an insane shot.

I just haven't felt the same way in most of our games.

Alabama game was without Tomi - the end of that game was really back and forth, Boswell made like 3 layups in a row and Andrej had a tip in, needed a stop at the end and Philon got the whistle on a drive and made 1/2 free throws to give them a 3 point lead... they fouled with 6 seconds left so we couldn't get off a 3 pointer

Nebraska was the Lawrence step back buzzer beater... a shot that doesn't go in 65% of the time

Michigan State was without KB and was the Jaxon Kohler travel that didn't get called... we'd have had the ball with a 1 point lead with 8 seconds left

First Wisconsin game was without AS & KB and was an Austin Rapp 3 to force overtime... again a shot that doesn't go in 65% of the time

UCLA was just a massive failure, I think that game and the most recent game are coloring a lot of people's opinions

Feels odd I have listed only a handful of games here