Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[BrownTown]

Best comparison for Mirk by far is Jokovic. Obviously a poor man's Jokovic.

Tomi as a FR looked like a poor man's Tim Duncan. Last year, not sure.

Most underrated story line for me next year is Tomi playing more like freshmen Tomi OR even better with the physical transition.

It’s almost like we are all looking for the next Wagler in Coleman or expecting Andrej/Mirk to make that AA leap while we sleep on Tomi who can take us to the next level.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Funny, who would have thought Ben and defense would be used in the same sentence a year ago. Also, I would pick Andre over Ben.

Andrej is going to take Kylan's role defensively, as the top point of attack guy (not Ben's).

 

[CoalCity]

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)

Go back to sleep

 

[CoalCity]

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...

My view is that there's always people that would beyotch even if you hung em with a new rope.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Most underrated story line for me next year is Tomi playing more like freshmen Tomi OR even better with the physical transition.

He won't have the usage and/or shots he did his freshman year. It's a much more talented roster with Vaaks / Coleman / Stoj / Mirk around him.

Tomislav 2025 | 2026 shot volume:

4.8 3pt attempts/game | 4.7 3pt attempts/game

5.1 2pt attempts/game | 3.3 2pt attempts/game

2.0 FT attempts/game | 1.6 FT attempts/game

9.9 FGA/game | 8.0 FGA/game

You can't expect a guy to have the same production, if he doesn't have the same role and isn't as much of a focal point.

Now, can he shoot 33-34% from 3 instead of 31%? Absolutely, and I think that would help a lot.

Honestly, I'd just like to see him rebound better. There were too many 1-3 rebound games from him last year.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Most underrated story line for me next year is Tomi playing more like freshmen Tomi OR even better with the physical transition.

It’s almost like we are all looking for the next Wagler in Coleman or expecting Andrej/Mirk to make that AA leap while we sleep on Tomi who can take us to the next level.

Certainly, Tomi can play better than he did last year. If he gets stronger and stays healthy, he will.

As far as "leap" expectations, we have typically seen them with guys in their second year in the program, which may explain why Mirk and Stoj tend to be the favorites to make one. Certainly, if Z has added the muscle reports suggest, he can affect the game in new ways, too.

Tomi's results last year may be explained by nagging injuries, which I suspect were an issue. He has a ton of talent. I do think there is more there that can be unlocked. Same with his brother.

Personally, I think Mirk just has the "it" factor... Great raw tools & wildly competitive.

 

[Illwinsagain]

My view is that there's always people that would beyotch even if you hung em with a new rope.

My Dad (RIP) used to say this all the time. Thanks for the reminder.

Oh, I would tell him "Yes, yes I would".

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

He won't have the usage and/or shots he did his freshman year. It's a much more talented roster with Vaaks / Coleman / Stoj / Mirk around him.

Tomislav 2025 | 2026 shot volume:

4.8 3pt attempts/game | 4.7 3pt attempts/game

5.1 2pt attempts/game | 3.3 2pt attempts/game

2.0 FT attempts/game | 1.6 FT attempts/game

9.9 FGA/game | 8.0 FGA/game

You can't expect a guy to have the same production, if he doesn't have the same role and isn't as much of a focal point.

Now, can he shoot 33-34% from 3 instead of 31%? Absolutely, and I think that would help a lot.

Honestly, I'd just like to see him rebound better. There were too many 1-3 rebound games from him last year.

I agree that his improvement likely won't show up with massive number increases, likely no one's will. Fewer mistakes, capitalizing on more opportunities, and staying fresher to defend and rebound, though added strength and conditioning will be more indicative of what I would look for.

We've got a lot of hungry mouths to feed regarding counting stats.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

I agree that his improvement likely won't show up with massive number increases, likely no one's will. Fewer mistakes, capitalizing on more opportunities, and staying fresher to defend and rebound, though added strength and conditioning will be more indicative of what I would look for.

We've got a lot of hungry mouths to feed regarding counting stats.

Agreed

 

[ptgrd23]

Strength of the elite 8 and final four team is everybody worked for the best shot the team could get.

We did not have any people going 1 of 5 (Mathew Mayer, Tre White) wanted to get their points. Andrej could have but was willing to defer to when the team needed him.

I am confident that brad will enforce passing and working the shot clock. Vaaks will have to learn to be facilitator. Coleman and Morillo looked like unselfish players on TV,

I am in SoCal and we are still waiting for Luka to take the step and make players around him better as opposed to scoring 40 points per game going 1 of 5 and not playing defense.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

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

This one was me. I have to own that take as potentially a poor one.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

We did not have any people going 1 of 5 (Mathew Mayer, Tre White) wanted to get their points. Andrej could have but was willing to defer to when the team needed him.

Don't think Tre White was like that. Sure he might've left for some of those reasons, but on the court in his one season, I don't recall it.

He played primarily off the ball, was really good on those corner threes, and crashed the glass. Brad used to talk about his ability to find the "easy" points without having to run much for him.

Mayer's FG% was 40.7% while Tre White was 50.7%.

I am in SoCal and we are still waiting for Luka to take the step and make players around him better as opposed to scoring 40 points per game going 1 of 5 and not playing defense.

Luka was 3rd in the NBA in assists/game.

 

[3 point girl]

Strength of the elite 8 and final four team is everybody worked for the best shot the team could get.

We did not have any people going 1 of 5 (Mathew Mayer, Tre White) wanted to get their points. Andrej could have but was willing to defer to when the team needed him.

I am confident that brad will enforce passing and working the shot clock. Vaaks will have to learn to be facilitator. Coleman and Morillo looked like unselfish players on TV,

I am in SoCal and we are still waiting for Luka to take the step and make players around him better as opposed to scoring 40 points per game going 1 of 5 and not playing defense.

Good luck with Luka. He never did in Dallas that's for sure. Still was a horrible trade though that us fans have not forgotten.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

Sad I can only like this once.

Folks don't seem to remember what summer was like to only have reports that Sherron Collins was really silently committed to being the next Dee Brown or Alex Legion looking like a star in summer practice or how we were a shoo-in for Tim Finke as the next big thing as the future of Illini basketball.

Folks are just... spoiled and SUPER bored.

As a fanbase, we're passionate, which is great, but the pendulum swings way too far in both directions. If we win, there's 250 posts and happiness. If we lose, there are 800 posts and everyone should be fired.

This off-season.....there's nothing to complain about. We're coming off of a FF and an E8 two years prior. No coaching debates whatsoever.

With regards to recruiting/NIL, we retained everyone targeted, we brought in a big time transfer and the #1 rated recruits in IL, MO and WI. Nothing to be negative about there.

So, what's left? Well, we settled on the 9th man debate and why Petrovic didn't succeed here, which I believe initially led to the 9th man debate.

Our fanbase is therapist's dream.

 

[jimbo72]

QC has such a nose for the ball.

Our entire freshman class is Loaded imo.. I hope they stick together and play 2 and or 3 years before moving on. Size, athleticism, skill, and MOJO! Amazing job identifying these men and getting them on board. Time for raises all around. Our program and Illini Nation is in a position I haven't seen since 80's, to probation. Kudos to all involved. I just compare to the stability of Brad and Lou Henson. Kruger, Self, and Weber won a ton, just so much turnover and off court craziness.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

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

1) Everyone is allowed to have opinions

2) It is your right to decide whether or not you'd like to engage with them

 

[RollChief]

Our entire freshman class is Loaded imo.. I hope they stick together and play 2 and or 3 years before moving on. Size, athleticism, skill, and MOJO! Amazing job identifying these men and getting them on board. Time for raises all around. Our program and Illini Nation is in a position I haven't seen since 80's, to probation. Kudos to all involved. I just compare to the stability of Brad and Lou Henson. Kruger, Self, and Weber won a ton, just so much turnover and off court craziness.

We have the #6 ranked HS recruiting class according to 247, and the fun thing about this season is that it's the first season in a while where our recruiting primarily came from one measurable source. The last few seasons, we've had a few HS recruits, a few good transfers, and then a very strong Euro pipeline, which doesn't really have a definitive ranking system. It feels a bit more tangible when you can actually put a ranking next to it, instead of "well these guys are Euros, but if you did include them in our recruiting class, we would be ranked x."

It's cool to see the pivot over time based on where the opportunity is, it feels like we've been 2 steps ahead the last few seasons.

 

[JKR]

Our entire freshman class is Loaded imo.. I hope they stick together and play 2 and or 3 years before moving on. Size, athleticism, skill, and MOJO! Amazing job identifying these men and getting them on board. Time for raises all around. Our program and Illini Nation is in a position I haven't seen since 80's, to probation. Kudos to all involved. I just compare to the stability of Brad and Lou Henson. Kruger, Self, and Weber won a ton, just so much turnover and off court craziness.

I think that we just had 'raises all around'.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Certainly, Tomi can play better than he did last year. If he gets stronger and stays healthy, he will.

As far as "leap" expectations, we have typically seen them with guys in their second year in the program, which may explain why Mirk and Stoj tend to be the favorites to make one. Certainly, if Z has added the muscle reports suggest, he can affect the game in new ways, too.

Tomi's results last year may be explained by nagging injuries, which I suspect were an issue. He has a ton of talent. I do think there is more there that can be unlocked. Same with his brother.

Personally, I think Mirk just has the "it" factor... Great raw tools & wildly competitive.

exactly. don't let the goofy persona fool ya...he's ultra competitive

and, FWLIW, I prefer sMirk

 

[HensonHall71]

Is that Landon at the .34 second mark dunking? Is that Ethan with a sweet shot at .39? Reminded me of Bennett Stiritz.

I believe that is Landon in both - yes, he looks like he has a sweet stroke from three and showed some hops on the dunk. In the spirit of over-projecting based on a 49 second practice highlight clip - it looks like he's ready to play this year!

 

[jimbo72]

We have the #6 ranked HS recruiting class according to 247, and the fun thing about this season is that it's the first season in a while where our recruiting primarily came from one measurable source. The last few seasons, we've had a few HS recruits, a few good transfers, and then a very strong Euro pipeline, which doesn't really have a definitive ranking system. It feels a bit more tangible when you can actually put a ranking next to it, instead of "well these guys are Euros, but if you did include them in our recruiting class, we would be ranked x."

It's cool to see the pivot over time based on where the opportunity is, it feels like we've been 2 steps ahead the last few seasons.

Agreed %.

 

[NarrowJ]

The only thing missing is a response to this along the lines of “oh, so now you’re saying I’m not allowed to say anything negative?!”

1) Everyone is allowed to have opinions

2) It is your right to decide whether or not you'd like to engage with them

 

[Homecoming 2019]

Best comparison for Mirk by far is Jokovic. Obviously a poor man's Jokovic.

Tomi as a FR looked like a poor man's Tim Duncan. Last year, not sure.

I was wondering who Jokovic was, seems you misspelled his name, you're missing a "D" for Djokovic. But I really don’t think a tennis player is a good comp for a basketball player.

 

[Combo]

I was wondering who Jokovic was, seems you misspelled his name, you're missing a "D" for Djokovic. But I really don’t think a tennis player is a good comp for a basketball player.

Haha! Yes I get their names confused.

 

[jamarvelous31]

1) Everyone is allowed to have opinions

2) It is your right to decide whether or not you'd like to engage with them

People are allowed to fart on planes, that doesn't mean it's pleasant for those around them.

You're also allowed to be self aware enough to not reach the point where you're making strangers make that decision.