Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

I'll keep beating the drum with Vaaks...I think he's gonna be terrific this year, exceeding expectations.

He'll obviously be different then Keaton...Vaaks is definitely more of a gunslinger, where as Keaton was more passive for the right reasons. I think there will be games where Vaaks may wear us out as far as shot selection...but when he's on....he's going to light some teams up.

Keaton was a master in the pick and roll, I think Vaaks can be just as good...also, he's walking around at a legit 6'7. I guarantee there will be more then zero dunks. I can't wait to see it....

Bonafide lottery pick IMO.

Keaton wasn't a checker. Just wasn't his game.

Vaaks will undoubtedly cost us games with his shot selection, but he'll also win us games if he's hot. Hopefully he can toe that line better than a Matt Mayer.

The difference though between him and Mayer is the play-making. Vaaks makes his teammates better.

 

[HouTexIllini]

Coach is right on Mirk. He wasn't the most athletic last season and still brought ball up court. Initiated offense quite a bit. Could be top 5 in country this fall. He is special.

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

In one of the videos, Coleman ripped him…actually straight up took it from him.

 

[RollChief]

https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illini-basketball-2026-2027.42874/post-2469133

Good lord Blake is jacked… really taking advantage of the access to fletch haha

 

[NarrowJ]

With Vaaks, I think the shot selection will be reigned in by more than a tad bit

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

In one of the videos, Coleman ripped him…actually straight up took it from him.

And most of the time I expect Mirk to back that defender into the paint for a layup

 

[jamarvelous31]

He was 5/8 last game.

...and shot 40% from 3 last year on 8 attempts a game.

Think he might improve on it ha

 

[zentrails]

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

Don't remember that happening much to Frosh Mirk; I expect it to happen even less with Soph Mirk.

Frosh Mirk did occasionally dribble into double or triple teams and lose the ball, hopefully Soph Mirk does that a LOT less, totally correctable by coaching

 

[jamarvelous31]

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

In one of the videos, Coleman ripped him…actually straight up took it from him.

Coleman showed himself to be an absolute pest at the u17s. I dunno how far that clip is worth extrapolating on.. (I'm so excited to see Quentin playyyy)

If you have a guard on Mirk it means you have a big on a shooter or Andrej. Mirk had a 2:1 ato with 24-5% usg and less than 2 tos a game Feb on. I think you can trust him to pass out of a trap or unfavorable matchup to our advantage...

 

[WyattEarp]

Keaton wasn't a checker. Just wasn't his game.

Vaaks will undoubtedly cost us games with his shot selection, but he'll also win us games if he's hot. Hopefully he can toe that line better than a Matt Mayer.

The difference though between him and Mayer is the play-making. Vaaks makes his teammates better.

Yep, I hope there’s A LOT of difference; and I suspect there definitely is.

For one thing, he’s 5-10 times the passer that Mayer is/was. Seems to relish making the right play and is just looks to be a WAY a better: dribble, pass, shoot type player.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

In one of the videos, Coleman ripped him…actually straight up took it from him.

Feel like Houston did that, and he just picked them a part on passes over the top and back downs.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

...and shot 40% from 3 last year on 8 attempts a game.

Think he might improve on it ha

35%.

 

[HouTexIllini]

With Vaaks, I think the shot selection will be reigned in by more than a tad bit



And most of the time I expect Mirk to back that defender into the paint for a layup

And we saw Mirk back people down from anywhere outside the post how many times last year?

 

[HouTexIllini]

Coleman showed himself to be an absolute pest at the u17s. I dunno how far that clip is worth extrapolating on.. (I'm so excited to see Quentin playyyy)

If you have a guard on Mirk it means you have a big on a shooter or Andrej. Mirk had a 2:1 ato with 24-5% usg and less than 2 tos a game Feb on. I think you can trust him to pass out of a trap or unfavorable matchup to our advantage...

I didn’t say there was going to be a guard on Mirk.

If he is bringing the ball up the court frequently, we aren’t in a good spot. I believe my words were opposing coaches would attack him with quicker guards, I’m thinking more like blitzing.

 

[NarrowJ]

And we saw Mirk back people down from anywhere outside the post how many times last year?

Seemed like it must’ve been 100 at least, just on OOB plays alone.

Obviously that’s an slight exaggeration, but I just don’t share your concern. Remember the MSU game when we attacked Fears relentlessly with Mirkovic? He finished with 18 points 6 rebounds 6 assists and zero turnovers.

If he is bringing the ball up the court frequently, we aren’t in a good spot.

He did this a lot last season. You expect him to get worse at it?

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

35%.

Yes, huge difference there.

If it were 40% on that kind of volume, he’d probably be getting a huge payday elsewhere (like John Blackwell).

 

[HouTexIllini]

Feel like Houston did that, and he just picked them a part on passes over the top and back downs.

Well, don’t just go on feel, go back and watch the video.

Houston didn’t guard Mirk with their guards and he wasn’t the primary ball handler, that was Keaton and Boswell. Anytime he had a guard on him was due to the way Houston defended the PNR and within the flow of the offense. It was Tomi who was passing over the D and Mirk was getting shots and layups from Tomi assists.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Obviously that’s a slight exaggeration, but I just don’t share your concern. Remember the MSU game when we attacked Fears relentlessly with Mirkovic? He finished with 18 points 6 rebounds 6 assists and zero turnovers.

The very next game against Wisconsin he finished with 1 assist, 4 turnovers.

 

[NarrowJ]

The very next game against Wisconsin he finished with 1 assist, 4 turnovers.

So 7 assists and 4 turnovers in the 2 games. Not too shabby for a 6'9 ballhandler.

EDIT: The 4 turnovers vs Wisconsin was his highest single game turnover total of the entire season. Also, 5 assists and 1 turnover in the 2nd game vs Wisconsin.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Well, don’t just go on feel, go back and watch the video.

Houston didn’t guard Mirk with their guards and he wasn’t the primary ball handler, that was Keaton and Boswell. Anytime he had a guard on him was due to the way Houston defended the PNR and within the flow of the offense. It was Tomi who was passing over the D and Mirk was getting shots and layups from Tomi assists.

Houston blitzed plenty of time with both their guards and bigs - that’s Houston.

But now I’m confused, because you just said you didn’t mean guards guarding Mirk, you meant guards blitzing, but now you’re saying you mean guards?

If teams wanna guard or blitz Mirk with small guards and sell out double teams 25 - 30 feet from the hoop, as Brad says when teams press us, I welcome it

Edit - I should say. If mirk is the primary guy bringing it up the court everytime, I don’t know if I’d be concerned perse, but I’d agree with that would be odd. But I feel like something really would have to go off the rails with Vaaks for that to happen. Even then, we play slow enough I really doubt this would be an issue

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

So 7 assists and 4 turnovers in the 2 games. Not too shabby for a 6'9 ballhandler.

EDIT: The 4 turnovers vs Wisconsin was his highest single game turnover total of the entire season. Also, 5 assists and 1 turnover in the 2nd game vs Wisconsin.

Yes it was probably one of his worst games, especially considering the 3 missed FT in overtime. However, it might’ve also been the game we needed him the most, because both Andrej and Kylan were hurt.

We win that game if the blatant shove in the back on Keaton gets called …. or the 10 second in the backcourt. (I think bald head ref is retiring, so that’s one positive)

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

We win that game if the blatant shove in the back on Keaton gets called …. or the 10 second in the backcourt. (I think bald head ref is retiring, so that’s one positive)

Bald head ref highlights from this game.

He ruled this a Jump Ball (costing us 2pts):

Not a 10 second despite literally staring at the play:

 

[BlueFlag]

Houston blitzed plenty of time with both their guards and bigs - that’s Houston.

But now I’m confused, because you just said you didn’t mean guards guarding Mirk, you meant guards blitzing, but now you’re saying you mean guards?

If teams wanna guard or blitz Mirk with small guards and sell out double teams 25 - 30 feet from the hoop, as Brad says when teams press us, I welcome it

Edit - I should say. If mirk is the primary guy bringing it up the court everytime, I don’t know if I’d be concerned perse, but I’d agree with that would be odd. But I feel like something really would have to go off the rails with Vaaks for that to happen. Even then, we play slow enough I really doubt this would be an issue

What's a "blitz" in basketball? . . .

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

What's a "blitz" in basketball? . . .

When your man is guarding you, and then a second defender dives hard and quick.

Usually off a ball screen or right when the ballhandler crosses halfcourt.

 

[Ryllini]

What's a "blitz" in basketball? . . .

Typically when you are on defense and the guy you are guarding sets a screen and you leave your man and go and trap the ball handler aggressively. Alot times to prevent the ball handler from turning the corner and getting down hill or to his spot.

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Yep, I hope there’s A LOT of difference; and I suspect there definitely is.

For one thing, he’s 5-10 times the passer that Mayer is/was. Seems to relish making the right play and is just looks to be a WAY a better: dribble, pass, shoot type player.

 

[Grandpa]

Unlike many on here, the more frequent we rely on Mirk to bring the ball up the court or play de facto pg duties, expect opposing defensive coaches to attack him with quicker and handsy defenders.

In one of the videos, Coleman ripped him…actually straight up took it from him.

Mirk brought the ball up when the defense was tight on Wagler. Then we set a screen in the offense and got Wagler the ball.
If the little guy is tight on Mirk in the backcourt he will pass to the guard, who will bring up the ball.