This was asked awhile back and caused hoopla. Wagler is the best of the bunch, but Vaaks & Coleman are undoubtedly a better offensive duo than Wagler & Boswell. On paper we are a better shooting team than last year, which is a scary prospect for opponents. If Cam Crocker earns his paycheck this year, watch out
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Quite small? Not that easy to replace a consensus All American whose jersey will be in the rafters. It's these same unrealistic opinions that come out with the sky is falling posts after we lose games (i.e. Nebraska).
For example, I think Andrej had a very good year. Yes there were ups and downs, part of it were the injuries. For 80% of the year, you would've thought he was a bust reading this board, including posts calling to remove his minutes entirely. That's because folks just assumed to transfer his 17.9 points/game from Cal onto Illinois. It just doesn't work that way.
Do I think Vaaks and Coleman will be good? Absolutely. But the expectations need to be in context. And if they exceed them, great.
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I definitely think the statistical output of Vaaks-Coleman can outperform them, though I don’t think I’ll be shocked either way if they do or don’t. Both look very strong offensively and it wouldn’t be crazy to see them achieve a greater output. Defense I think has only been the biggest question mark, but I feel better about teaching someone defense than teaching them how to hit a contested shot. I also think there’s more to a being a great player than just what translates to the stat sheet; so don’t take this all to mean I believe the two will pass or eclipse two of our more memorable players in recent years. If they do? Excellent! We will truly be spoiled then to go back to back with stellar lottery pick freshmen.
Might be pretty close on the points and assists numbers but I dont think the rebounds will be close. Keaton and Kylan were both very good rebounding guards
Talking about numbers, last year's team had multiple players end up in the program's record books with top-10 single season numbers:
Wagler - #3 for points in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game with his 46 against Purdue)
Mirk - #7 for rebounds in a season
Big Z - #3 for blocks in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game, and he's only 30 blocks away from getting into the top-10 Illini all time)
Just something I thought was cool. Carry on.
Wagler - #3 for points in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game with his 46 against Purdue)
Mirk - #7 for rebounds in a season
Big Z - #3 for blocks in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game, and he's only 30 blocks away from getting into the top-10 Illini all time)
Just something I thought was cool. Carry on.
Watching Big Z swat people was so much fun, and he turned into a heck of a lob asset. Hoping they can work this offseason on having a unit of him, Tomi and Mirk for some minutes, especially with how much zone we ended up playing.
You're definitely not thinking that through. Sure it COULD happen, but we're referring to likelihood.
The number was 30.2 points. So we're saying each gets 15? Or... Vaaks 18 and Coleman 12?
Absolutely those guys are capable, but the question becomes whose points are you taking down? Mirk? Stoj? Tomi?
There's one ball. Only so many baskets to go around.
It's what happens every off-season when we bring in quality newcomers. People quickly rush to the shiny new toy, but forget about the most important part, which are the returners. Looking at our scoring rates from last year, the two obvious scoring alphas are Stojakovic are Mirkovic (especially Stojakovic). Vaaks could work himself into that, since he'll play a ton.
I personally, would be pleasantly surprised if Stojakovic isn't the leading scorer. He's pretty clearly the most proven guy amongst the group -- just natural scoring talent. Mirk will likely be that 14/10/4 guy who's impact on the team is significantly more than the points.
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True, but it is hard to compare numbers/season when teams play differing number of games from season to season. This team played 37 games - a number that very few previous teams have met. Teams before Henson rarely played more than 25. Still, these are impressive numbers.
Rebounding will be the toughest thing for the new guards to replicate.
I assume Vaaks' rebound total will go up, simply based on our offensive rebounding philosophy, but who knows? Keaton got about 38% of his rebounds last year on offense. Vaaks, about 20%. Providence was a good defensive rebounding team (top 50), but an average offensive rebounding team.
Coleman averaged 6.1 Rebounds last year. Keaton averaged 6.6 his senior year. Q is a couple inches shorter, but quicker and a better jumper. Hard to say how it will ultimately translate, but it suggests he could be a plus there.
Hopefully more minutes in the TWIN Tower formation will lead to fewer opportunities for guards...
I assume Andrej will get more than 9 shots a game, and Vaaks will get fewer than 16, but he should get better looks. (he definitely likes to shoot...) Neither guy will likely be a 40% 3 point shooter like Keaton, but they should both be better than the 30% Boswell made.
I have to believe getting the ball to Mirk will be a bigger part of our gameplan too.
The new guys won't necessarily have to replicate the production of our backcourt last year for the Illini to be as good or better than the 25-26 version. The guys around them should all be better, and have a better feel for playing together out of the gate.
My concern with the team is depth. Nothing more, nothing less.
I think defensively we have a formula to be “good enough” to complement our elite offense.
I think defensively we have a formula to be “good enough” to complement our elite offense.
Just like Wagler was our shooting guard this past year
been hearing so much about vaaks, coleman, andrej...
Kind of feel like mirk and jake are going to be the two most important pieces this year.
With jake, he took such a big step up last year in terms of confidence and leadership. He also started to add a little relocate move to his offensive game, if he can created 2 or 3 shots with some simple perimeter moves/actions, thats probably going to bump his scoring 2 or 3 pts a game. Plus just all the tip-outs, rebounds, toughness, somebody to carry the EDG/Battle award mantle.
And every time I here someone refer to Andrej as Illinois' "best player", I do a little Tim Robinson in my head. If i had to bet on on guy to end up with AA/B10POY type potential, it would be Mirk. Andrej is obviously very good at a couple of things, but Mirk is the whole package. If he improves 10% over last year in all the areas he contributes, Mirk is going to have a special year.
Kind of feel like mirk and jake are going to be the two most important pieces this year.
With jake, he took such a big step up last year in terms of confidence and leadership. He also started to add a little relocate move to his offensive game, if he can created 2 or 3 shots with some simple perimeter moves/actions, thats probably going to bump his scoring 2 or 3 pts a game. Plus just all the tip-outs, rebounds, toughness, somebody to carry the EDG/Battle award mantle.
And every time I here someone refer to Andrej as Illinois' "best player", I do a little Tim Robinson in my head. If i had to bet on on guy to end up with AA/B10POY type potential, it would be Mirk. Andrej is obviously very good at a couple of things, but Mirk is the whole package. If he improves 10% over last year in all the areas he contributes, Mirk is going to have a special year.
This tells a lot. Great pieces that probably mean we'll be in every game. But no superstar probably makes a longer tourney run more of a challenge. I don't have evidence to back that up but my gut tells me that there's going to be a game or two where you just need an unstoppable guy. I just don't think AS gets to that level. Mirk actually might.
Going to be a great season.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As bona fide Final Four contenders after actually making it last year, I wanted to see how rare making it in back-to-back years. I was thinking it would be super rare historically, but it’s happened a surprising number of times since 2000! I’m on my phone, so I even could have missed one or two examples, lol.
UConn - 2023 & 2024
North Carolina - 2016 & 2017
Wisconsin - 2014 & 2015
Kentucky - 2014 & 2015
Louisville - 2012 & 2013
Kentucky - 2011 & 2012
Butler - 2010 & 2011
Michigan State - 2009 & 2010
North Carolina - 2008 & 2009
UCLA - 2006, 2007 & 2008
Florida - 2006 & 2007
Kansas - 2002 & 2003
Maryland - 2001 & 2002
Michigan State - 2000 & 2001
I’d guess those teams had super good retention … let’s go get the job done this time!
UConn - 2023 & 2024
North Carolina - 2016 & 2017
Wisconsin - 2014 & 2015
Kentucky - 2014 & 2015
Louisville - 2012 & 2013
Kentucky - 2011 & 2012
Butler - 2010 & 2011
Michigan State - 2009 & 2010
North Carolina - 2008 & 2009
UCLA - 2006, 2007 & 2008
Florida - 2006 & 2007
Kansas - 2002 & 2003
Maryland - 2001 & 2002
Michigan State - 2000 & 2001
I’d guess those teams had super good retention … let’s go get the job done this time!
Actually one of the biggest reasons I wanted Blackwell - good rebounder.
You hit the nail on the head with Coleman and here’s to hoping Vaaks is better on the boards than last year. Because physically, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be much better
So with Dre back, is are we done adding players?
top 5 pre season should be locked in now. let's goooo!
Great work. I just spot checked Duke. The last time they returned was 1992. Nothing easy about repeating.
Pretty notable given the ridiculous level of talent they've had over that period.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I think that’s why it’s difficult for them to return to the Final Four the following year — those great teams lose players to the NBA draft.
Some of these teams ended up winning it all the follow year excluding Florida and UConn who ended up as repeat champs.