Illini Basketball 2026-2027

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#176      
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!!
 
#177      
hoopsfan47
Illinirog1970 said:
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!!
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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.
 
#178      
foby
So this is what Summers are like for a Duke fan.

Chilling Summer Time GIF by Merge Mansion
 
#180      
RollChief
hoopsfan47 said:
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.
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Not glazing Michigan by any means here but I think they proved last year that if you’ve got the pocket book then you can pretty successfully rebuild a front court on the open market haha
 
#181      
CDRUSN
foby said:
So this is what Summers are like for a Duke fan.

Chilling Summer Time GIF by Merge Mansion
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In the summer, a typical Duke fan is meeting up with his chaps Chauncey and Cuthbert at the Yacht Club, while commoners are busy detailing the Rolls and the maid is polishing their silver while the gardener is sculpting the topiary. It's a tough life.
 
#187      
BrownTown
Fly Illini Fly! said:
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.
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You’re absolutely right about usage. No doubt in my mind he won’t get the same touches as his freshmen year…

I do think he can get close to 35% from 3 and start playing with the confidence and poise that we saw in the tournament last year.

Felt like a lot of last year he never found his footing after coming off the tonsil surgery and missing the summer.

I still believe he can improve his post touches and become more than the lefty baby hook. Maybe I’m wishful thinking but that’s an element we just haven’t had since Kofi.

Again…we aren’t going back to a 2022-esque halfcourt offense but good luck bringing a double on Tomi with his passing and the amount of shooting on the floor next year.

Just my .02
 
#188      
BrownTown
Emerson Bigguns said:
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.
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Spot on…if Tomi had Mirk’s nose for the ball and will to grab every single board he wouldn’t be in college basketball still.
 
#190      
OrangeBlue98
FightinIllini30 said:
I would think Jake and Morillo would both be over Z but maybe I’m a hater
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I think a lot will depend on the particular opponent’s matchup. Which is a great problem to have, as it shows the depth of talent.
 
#192      
RowdyFromRow22
Any insight on if we are bringing a marquee non-conference matchup to SFC? Brad seemed pretty adamant about one.
 
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