Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Every freshman we get that's outside the top 100, will be said to have been "underrated" because of Keaton. That doesn't automatically mean they'll be ready their first year.
We have one spot available between Zens / Brown / Williams to play realistic minutes (our much-coveted #9thMan position).
Could it be Brown who wins those minutes? Yes.
Could it be one of the other two? Yes as well.
QC has such a nose for the ball.
Ffffft, we've been saying that since before Keaton was born.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
I've watched this 53 times
Boricua Illini
- Puerto Rico
Mirk dunking in traffic at the 19 sec mark... I don't remember him doing this last year...
Is that Landon at the .34 second mark dunking? Is that Ethan with a sweet shot at .39? Reminded me of Bennett Stiritz.
Sure, but now it's 100x expedited.
I think it has to be Z. he'll be the first one off the bench to spell Tomi after the first under 16. and could stay in to spell mirk. he has the ability to impact on defense, an easy lob threat (which needs to be incorporated more in the offense this year) and if he gets his shot back from 3 then that's enough to be very impactful in a way no one else can mimic
Coleman will earn his M-Fer badge quite quickly.
What is this recent trend of pedantic contrarian concern trolling? This seemed to begin right as the season ended and has gotten progressively worse with the same few folks ixnaying any positive developments and is one of the weirdest things I've seen on a team sports forum, probably ever:
- Illinois at #1 in multiple early rankings = rankings are crap because Duke/Florida isn't ahead of us
- Keaton Wagler story = not really a story, everyone always knew he was a star
- Illinois' middle-of-the-pack 3 point shooting = they were a horrid 3 point shooting team
- Positive thing said about Illinois in article = well Duke/Florida/UConn/Louisville/USC have better rosters
- Every fringe 100 recruit that rec's positive summer report = way overhyped, coin it "Keaton Wagler effect"
- Guys at the end of the rotation look really promising = does Lucas Morillo even play basketball? Justin Harmon was better
- Morez Johnson publicly trashes Illinois program/staff = what a great kid he is, and him and Dusty are gonna win 'ships
- Article mentions Mirkovic as NPOY candidate = there's virtually no way he can average more points or rebs this year
- Mirkovic mocked in lottery = too slow and can't jump
- Recruit re-classes = they're not nearly as good as they were yesterday
I probably missed a few, but y'all are exhausting LOL
- Illinois at #1 in multiple early rankings = rankings are crap because Duke/Florida isn't ahead of us
- Keaton Wagler story = not really a story, everyone always knew he was a star
- Illinois' middle-of-the-pack 3 point shooting = they were a horrid 3 point shooting team
- Positive thing said about Illinois in article = well Duke/Florida/UConn/Louisville/USC have better rosters
- Every fringe 100 recruit that rec's positive summer report = way overhyped, coin it "Keaton Wagler effect"
- Guys at the end of the rotation look really promising = does Lucas Morillo even play basketball? Justin Harmon was better
- Morez Johnson publicly trashes Illinois program/staff = what a great kid he is, and him and Dusty are gonna win 'ships
- Article mentions Mirkovic as NPOY candidate = there's virtually no way he can average more points or rebs this year
- Mirkovic mocked in lottery = too slow and can't jump
- Recruit re-classes = they're not nearly as good as they were yesterday
I probably missed a few, but y'all are exhausting LOL
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
An amazing concept. Gotta love it
Wait, did I miss Morez trashing us recently? I thought despite typical banter when we played them, there was still a bit of respect between our staff and him. I mean, I hate that he left and am glad he is off to the pros, but ultimately he’s a kid and just gonna hype himself and team up jut like we did (Jake Davis interview, etc)
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Thanks for that comment. I wondered why mine said "no NJ players". My VPN is linked to NJ today. Wouldn't have bothered to figure out the why of "no NJ". Because really, who cares? lol
It seems like it's a little bit of a "Real Housewives of the Illinois Loyalty Board" effect for some. I haven't watched the show really but I kind of get the gist. Comparing it to this board, still 4 months away from what is definitely going to be an awesome season:
You're a group of ultra-rich housewives (sports fans with their team ranked preseason in the top 5 out of 365 teams) who, despite having everything they need, are bored because they don't have much of a role in the generation of the wealth (are 4 months out from the season, have limited access to new information, and nothing better to do really) so, instead of having a great time drinking champagne and being happy about how much you have as a collective, most interactions devolve into bickering and throwing glasses at each other (find ways to pick apart positives, new information, and look to make arguments based on very granular semantics and hypotheticals)
I'm still forming this analogy haha but that's my best shot at explaining it...
That was the first thing I noticed, as well
FightinIllini30
Future insider
I would think Jake and Morillo would both be over Z but maybe I’m a hater