Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Well… let’s just land Luigi next year.

This has been my thought all along. It's like Z the year he went to Arkansas. Or when Boswell went to AZ.

"If he were to hypothetically transfer from this school, where's he most likely to end up?" At no point is it too early to ask the question (especially if we have that kind of ties to him).

Guys transfer left and right now. NEVER is it a good idea to burn bridges.

.....

Luigi reminds me of Mara, who wasn't anywhere near as good playing for Cronin.

 

[Combo]

Jakstys 6'10' 220 is significantly stronger than Lieb so he can help out of somebody is beating up Tomas or Big Z in the paint and David is in foul trouble.
Landon Davis is 6'9" 220 lbs but does not look as strong.

in 2027 we run the risk of Tomas, Big Z graduating and David to NBA. Depending on what bigs we can bring in Jakstys and Landon Davis might be playing significant 4 or 5 roles.

I don't buy that Jakstys (pending a full recovery) is the same as Lieb. In the brief time we've seem him, he looked like he put on quality weight. He's also much more athletic than Lieb.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2068003665839796717

 

[BWBW]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2068003665839796717

We are "grandfathered" in given it is a long standing agreement?

 

[travelin' man]

I think we need some standards on "can jump out of the gym". I propose the standard be that they can consistently place a penny on top of the backboard, or remove it.

Place a penney and then make change!

 

[PepeSilvia]

Worth noting that the game has changed.

Our 125.5 rating in 2024 was good for 3rd for that year, but would be 10th in 2026.

Alabama finished with the #3 offense last year at 129.7.

To be a top 3 offense next year, we’re probably gonna have to be pushing 130.

Please keep in mind that Kenpom is compared to the mean of that season. It's not useful to compare an o-rating from season to season.

I would venture a guess that a lot of the inflation in orating is simply a result of their being a worse mean as NIL has continued to expand and a lot of the best players on mid majors transfer up to power conference programs(even in bench roles).

Basically NIL and the instant transfer are just allowing talent to consolidate at the top moreso than it did 5 or even 10 years ago.

 

[HouTexIllini]

We are "grandfathered" in given it is a long standing agreement?

I don’t think “grandfathered” is a thing in this scenario.

Texas Tech football didn’t seem interested in keeping scheduling agreements when they allegedly bought out their scheduled first game of the year and Texas’ first game this season.

If the conference does make a unified ban, I’m sure Illinois would be persuaded to follow suit. Many ADs and coaches in the coaching fraternity did not appreciate Texas Tech athletic dept, President, and admin pressing hard and far against NCAA rules to enable a person who gambled on his own team to gain eligibility.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

This has been my thought all along. It's like Z the year he went to Arkansas. Or when Boswell went to AZ.

"If he were to hypothetically transfer from this school, where's he most likely to end up?" At no point is it too early to ask the question (especially if we have that kind of ties to him).

Guys transfer left and right now. NEVER is it a good idea to burn bridges.

.....

Luigi reminds me of Mara, who wasn't anywhere near as good playing for Cronin.

Most likely a 1 & done.

 

[rmlsr]

Already hearing some stuff.....will post something by the end of the weekend after the first week is done.

I will add one nugget already: Stefan Vaaks has exceeded expectations so far.

 

[fuggles]

Please keep in mind that Kenpom is compared to the mean of that season. It's not useful to compare an o-rating from season to season.

I would venture a guess that a lot of the inflation in orating is simply a result of their being a worse mean as NIL has continued to expand and a lot of the best players on mid majors transfer up to power conference programs(even in bench roles).

Basically NIL and the instant transfer are just allowing talent to consolidate at the top moreso than it did 5 or even 10 years ago.

No. O-rating is points per 100 possession adjusted for opponent. Not mean.

 

[Double Secret Probation]

I believe Anthony Welch played point for Lou in early 80s. He was 6'9". Welch was not a point guard. Derek Harper was the point guard for the early 80s teams..

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

No. O-rating is points per 100 possession adjusted for opponent. Not mean.

 

[Battle89]

I share your anticipation / pain but I think @LvilleILL1 chose his words purposefully... 'end of the weekend'.

 

[wc_illini]

No. O-rating is points per 100 possession adjusted for opponent. Not mean.

I'd say yes and no.

From KenPom's methodology page (my bad if this has been changed; there isn't an easy way to know if this is his latest post about it):

"AdjEM is the difference between a team’s offensive and defensive efficiency...It represents the number of points the team would be expected to outscore the average D-I team over 100 possessions"

By extension, AdjO is Pts/100 against an average defense.

However, shifting players from mid-majors to power conferences changes the median moreso than the mean, so it isn't ridiculous to compare across seasons. But it isn't perfect either, since what we really care about is how we perform against other top teams.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Already hearing some stuff.....will post something by the end of the weekend after the first week is done.

I will add one nugget already: Stefan Vaaks has exceeded expectations so far.

Keaton Wagler level exceeding expectations or Alex Legion level exceeding expectations?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

 

[fuggles]

I'd say yes and no.

From KenPom's methodology page (my bad if this has been changed; there isn't an easy way to know if this is his latest post about it):

"AdjEM is the difference between a team’s offensive and defensive efficiency...It represents the number of points the team would be expected to outscore the average D-I team over 100 possessions"

By extension, AdjO is Pts/100 against an average defense.

However, shifting players from mid-majors to power conferences changes the median moreso than the mean, so it isn't ridiculous to compare across seasons. But it isn't perfect either, since what we really care about is how we perform against other top teams.

Yea. I should have added I do agree that comparing ortg numbers between seasons is not valid because no matter the methodology defenses are not the same year to year. Even if we use unadjusted numbers such as sports reference comparison would not be meaningful. Interesting tho, last years unadjusting offensive numbers and ranking was 125 ppp and #1 in the country. fwiw.