Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#301      
Combo
Illiniguy13 said:
I’m saying this as objectively as I can without the orange-colored glasses, but if you look at this years transfer portal and teams with openings, it’d be tough to find a better fit than Vaaks in the Illini offense. It’s a picture-perfect marriage.
Click to expand...
I agree. Offensively, he might be the perfect PG for what we run. Defensively is what worries me.
 
#305      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Fly Illini Fly! said:
This would be my best guess at our scoring (keep in mind it's pre decimals):

Andrej - 17
Mirk - 14
Vaaks - 13
Tomi - 12
Coleman - 10
Z - 7
Jake - 5
Morillo - 4
#9thMan (my bet would be Zens) - 2
Click to expand...
My slight tweak would be David at 15 and Tomi at 11 (there's only so many pts to go around, so probably gotta be a 1 for 1).
 
#306      
Fly Illini Fly!
So, our assist leader is always our minutes leader:

2026 - Wagler (led team in both)
2025 - KJ (led team in both)
2024 - Domask (led team in both)
2023 - Coleman (led team in both)
2022 - Trent (led team in both)
2021 - Ayo (led team in both)
2020 - Ayo (led team in both)
2019 - Ayo (led team in both)
2018 - Trent led team in minutes but had 3.1 assists; 0.1 shy of TeJohn Lucas who had 3.2

Stefan Vaaks your table is ready.
 
#308      
bavanga3
Fly Illini Fly! said:
This would be my best guess at our scoring (keep in mind it's pre decimals):

Andrej - 17
Mirk - 14
Vaaks - 13
Tomi - 12
Coleman - 10
Z - 7
Jake - 5
Morillo - 4
#9thMan (my bet would be Zens) - 2
Click to expand...
Not sure Andrej will have the ball in his hands enough for 17/game. I wouldnt be surprised if Coleman outscored him based on his position and aggressiveness.
 
#309      
Fly Illini Fly!
bavanga3 said:
Coleman is the PG, not Vaaks.
Click to expand...
Nope, Vaaks is PG.
bavanga3 said:
Not sure Andrej will have the ball in his hands enough for 17/game. I wouldnt be surprised if Coleman outscored him based on his position and aggressiveness.
Click to expand...
Did he have the ball in his hands this year? Again, taking his exact ppp rate from this past season, we end up at 17/game (just by upping our pace and his minutes):
Fly Illini Fly! said:
A little more on this:

So, Andrej last season averaged 0.312 points per possession (second on the team; Keaton was 0.322).

Illinois averaged 65.7 possessions per 40 minutes and Andrej played 26.3 minutes per game.

How we mathematically get to his season average of 13.5 points per game:

0.312 x 65.7 =20.498 points per 40

(20.498 / 40) x 26.3 =13.477 points per game

However, I think it’s reasonable to think that both our pace and Andrej’s minutes will increase from this year to next.

Our poss per 40 of 65.7 ranked in the 300s this past season. Just as a guess, let’s say it increases to 68.0 next season (which would rank around 200 nationally).

Now, let’s say Andrej’s minutes increase to 32.0 per game.

Taking the exact ppp rate he had last year (0.312), here’s his projected point per game in that circumstance:

0.312 x 68.0 =21.216

(21.216 / 40) x 32 =

16.973 (would be shown as 17.0 on all the stats sites since they round to tenth)

Really think he’s the sleeper B10 POY candidate no one’s talking about.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
#314      
Fly Illini Fly!
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
Just curious... what would be Mirk's points with that same criteria?
Click to expand...
Mirk averaged 0.276 in 29.5 minutes per game. At 68 team possessions (per 40) and 32 minutes per game:

0.276 x 68 = 18.768 per 40

(18.768 / 40) x 32 = 15.01 points per game

I will say that it's generally unlikely for bigs to play 32min/game (~30 would be more realistic). If Mirk averages 17/game, it likely has to do with significant improvement to his game, rather than just increased volume.

With Andrej, the scoring talent is so readymade. Plus, there's lots of room for that 3pt shot to improve. He just needs to stay healthy (and preferably not have two leg injuries in a season's span).
 
#318      
From the cheap seats
I may have misunderstood it, but one story I read about the NCAA vote in June about age and pro league restrictions said that players for the 2026-27 season could choose to play under current rules and that every player would fall under the new rules the following season.
 
#319      
Ga65
SkyysNotFalling said:
Yep. This’ll be year 4 in a row of having a 6”6+ lead guard. Third straight with one that is a shooting threat. Brad has a type.

EDIT: And if you want to argue that TJ was our lead guard in 2024- go ahead.
Click to expand...
I would argue it was Domask and Vaaks could be a cross between him and Wagler. Dre is TSJ and Quentin is Ayo with my orange colored glasses. Although Quentin might be a better shooter than Frosh Ayo.
 
#320      
Ga65
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
My slight tweak would be David at 15 and Tomi at 11 (there's only so many pts to go around, so probably gotta be a 1 for 1).
Click to expand...
Think any of the starters could be the leading scorer in any particular game. If Tomi is healthy and improves his post game he will be difficult to stop. If a team does a Purdue defense on Vaaks he will light it up. Opposing teams will pick on the current high scorer and another will pick up the slack. All five a score and problem will be defense. Maybe the guy who got the huge raise needs to help the defense.
 
#321      
Ga65
If I were the defensive coach I would tell the offensive coach to get by with four shooters because I need a rim protector. I.e. enter 2027 Uvwo with a 7’ 6”” wingspan and quick feet.
 
#322      
the juiceman cometh
pvaughn8 said:
Really? Nobody has any feedback on this?
Click to expand...
Givony is right.

This is basically a retread of the same pre-NIL standard that kept Enes Kanter out of NCAA basketball because he received like $30k worth of benefits playing in Turkey which was deemed on excess of "actual and necessary" expenses.

Those disagreeing with him are assuming a lot about intent which the actual wording from the NCAA contradicts.
 
Back