Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[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.

 

[Illinirog1970]

I don't think that there is an incoming freshman in out class that you can sleep on. Best player in Wisconsin, top player in Missouri, great players in Iowa, great springy player from Illinois, east coast all star...

They are all super competitive and used to carrying their team. When Fletched, each one can make a lot of noise. Hope we have some games where get out ahead and we can see them playing together. Then the six (minus Q, who will be starting) can show us what they've got.

Add a Big man or two next year and we might look like Florida or Purdue, only BETTER! Oh and with a reclassed Pettigrew!! YUM!!

 

[hoopsfan47]

I don't think that there is an incoming freshman in out class that you can sleep on. Best player in Wisconsin, top player in Missouri, great players in Iowa, great springy player from Illinois, east coast all star...

They are all super competitive and used to carrying their team. When Fletched, each one can make a lot of noise. Hope we have some games where get out ahead and we can see them playing together. Then the six (minus Q, who will be starting) can show us what they've got.

Add a Big man or two next year and we might look like Florida or Purdue, only BETTER! Oh and with a reclassed Pettigrew!! YUM!!

This may seem the case....but IMHO the Illini will need two high level bigs....6'11-7'3" to compete at the same level again. Lot of talent among the newcomers, but also a lot of repetition. But I am not being negative as I really like the new guys. They just won't have all the parts necessary without some bangers. But if I can see that, you know BU does also and will work his tail off to put the right roster together. We may lose Vaaks and Coleman to the NBA along with all the sons of vics...and if so, it will not be easy to find the parts.

But the good news is that finding parts is something this staff does well and is getting more dependable with the recent and consistent success.

 

[foby]

So this is what Summers are like for a Duke fan.

 

[pweo]

So this is what Summers are like for a Duke fan.

I think they are Dodgers fans in the summer