Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[Curbelo Fanboy]

I think both are true. I've played this back a lot.

After the FF game there was a bit of commentary about how UConn just outplayed Illinois. I don't agree with that. UConn went on one 7 minute-ish run and outside of that run, Illinois actually outscored them. They outplayed us for 7 minutes out of 40.

But they also didn't have a 7 minute lapse like we did. And I do think part of that could be because they've been there before and they were a little more prepared for the moment mentally. And I can see where that can be described as taking it to "another level". But I don't think it was an issue of effort necessarily. More like focus or concentration... the mental toughness stuff that affects the outcomes in the margins. They were a little bit better than us in that regard.

Just my take on it.

This is correct. UConn had the game luck that day. We did not. We got plenty of good open shots that just didn't fall. UConn played well & got a few luck plays to go their way. IMO, we were the better team. We just didn't do the one thing that matters the most. Put the ball in the hole. I suspect we were a little "spooked" especially early in the game and were kind of in catch up mode the rest of the day. Never could hit enough shots in a row to sustain anything.

 

[NarrowJ]

This is correct. UConn had the game luck that day. We did not. We got plenty of good open shots that just didn't fall. UConn played well & got a few luck plays to go their way. IMO, we were the better team. We just didn't do the one thing that matters the most. Put the ball in the hole. I suspect we were a little "spooked" especially early in the game and were kind of in catch up mode the rest of the day. Never could hit enough shots in a row to sustain anything.

I will say by no means do I think we were the better team, they beat us twice by an average of 11 points

However, the difference between the teams was closer than both scores indicate, imo, and I don’t believe them beating us in past matchups should automatically mean they’re ranked higher going into next year (again, going back to original point that was made)

 

[nichi]

Why not? Perhaps not quite 64, but almost certainly over 60.

Jake and Andrej will be on the floor together pretty often. I don't think you accounted for that possibility.

Vaaks averaged 31 mpg last season.

A sampling of 5 star freshman guards last year, suggests 30 minutes from Coleman is not crazy.

Mikel Brown (29 mpg)
Brayden Burries (29 mpg)
Kingston Flemings (31 mpg)
Darrius Acuff (35 mpg)
Darryn Peterson (29 mpg)

MPG is always a noisy stat anyway, because you don't get penalized for games in which you don't appear.

There will be minutes for the other freshmen, but they are likely to be hard to earn. I think Morillo will have a role, but I'd be surprised to see 15 mpg.

All good points.

I am hoping Lucas Morillo is good enough we won't need Vaaks and Coleman to combine for 60+.

Andrej and Jake together could be with Andrej at the 2. Or with one in / four out 'small ball'.

Nobody knows exactly how the freshmen will fit in. I think we are asking the right questions. The answers have yet to be determined.

 

[Combo]

This is correct. UConn had the game luck that day. We did not. We got plenty of good open shots that just didn't fall. UConn played well & got a few luck plays to go their way. IMO, we were the better team. We just didn't do the one thing that matters the most. Put the ball in the hole. I suspect we were a little "spooked" especially early in the game and were kind of in catch up mode the rest of the day. Never could hit enough shots in a row to sustain anything.

They were the better team. They beat us twice by a decent margin. Putting the ball in the hold isn't about luck.

 

[RollChief]

@Insiders

 

[NarrowJ]

They were the better team. They beat us twice by a decent margin.

Agreed.

Putting the ball in the hold isn't about luck.

Illinois was the best team in the entire nation at doing that for about 95% of the season, though in a 1 game vacuum there's most certainly a luck element involved.

 

[Chief Piasa]

I'll validate your opinion but we saw it differently:

Personally was proud of our effort in the F4 game, we shot 34% overall and 6-26 from three while UConn had all sorts of shots bounce around the rim and fall in

I was there and left feeling the same. Our defense was solid and the margin of victory was UConn’s lucky bank shots/ shots bouncing 3 feet up off the rim and falling in.

Having said that, it’s the very definition of juju, and UConn has it with us.

 

[NarrowJ]

Having said that, it’s the very definition of juju, and UConn has it with us.

I don’t think the other 2 games played out like that with a lot of lucky bounces as that F4 game did

I also just don’t believe in juju, hexes, curses or sorcery, etc

 

[ejam21]

They were the better team. They beat us twice by a decent margin. Putting the ball in the hold isn't about luck.

They banked in two 3s and solo ball had two back iron bricks that bounced up 4-5 ft and somehow went in, 11 lucky !!! points by my count as one of the ball shots was a 3

Meanwhile there were IG reels about stojakovics missed layup that went in/out and around only to stick on the back rim for 1-2 seconds and fall out that had fans of all teams baffled