I do worry that we don't have anyone on the roster who is well suited to organize the cabinet under the sink at Ubben. Those things can become a cluttered mess if you're not careful.
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Real depth 2024 - Dain Dainja, Luke Goode, Justin Harmon
Real depth 2025 Morez Johson, Will Riley .DGL
Real depth - 2026 Ben Humrichous, Big Z, Jake Z
Real depth 2027 - Big Z Jake, Lukas (PG?), Lincoln (def?)
Very rare you go past 8
Where exactly are you seeing our "9th/10th guys" ranked top 100?
247composite:
Zavier Zens is 146
Lincoln Williams is 202
Ethan Brown is 211
Landon Davis is 244
That's only 1 in the top 200 (at 146).
In 2025, Jake Davis played 9.5 minutes per game. In 2024, DGL played 7.1 minutes per game.
Both did it over the course of playing at least 75% of team games.
It's generally ideal to have a guy behind the top 8, who can absorb those low-maintenance minutes.
blackdog
- Champaign
Its just one guy posting a lot and everyone else is arguing with him lol
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
I've watched this 82 times. seeing Andrej hit some 3s warms the ol' cockles. lots more to like too. can't wait.
anyone got a link to the spycam?
Last edited:
Mirk making it look easy too!!
I've watched this 82 times. seeing Andrej hit some 3s warms the ol' cockles. lots more to like too. can't wait.
anyone got a link to the spycam?
I may have parroted someone else, but I wasn’t considering Landon Davis at all given what we know about these four players. Zens is a 4 star.
Why do we have to have nitpick fights over guys who are unlikely to see a box score outside of major injury or 30 point blowout?
Constant negativity about things that don’t even budge the needle is just annoying (which is actually my theory on why it exists on a fan forum of a top 3 ranked team: people like to be annoying and stir pots or whatever).
This team looks smooth af. What an exciting year ahead.
I get that we lost Keaton. But we may actually be a more balanced team this year.
I get that we lost Keaton. But we may actually be a more balanced team this year.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I've watched this 82 times. seeing Andrej hit some 3s warms the ol' cockles. lots more to like too. can't wait.
anyone got a link to the spycam?
Is that David at the 0:48 mark with the filthy spin move? How many dudes who are that large can do that?
Good point, and it will be that much funnier when they end back up in the mid 70’s at the bottom half of the B1G by the end of the season.
that was exactly the one question I had as well? it had to be him.
also QC seems do be doing all the little things already
vaaks is huge and looking to shoot
tomi looks in better shape as well
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Learned from the best (Dain Dainja)
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
Vaaks is a pretty good shooter
Tomas also looks thic
I'm all for it. let em rip. we got the guys to get it back if he misses
I don't care about how physically big he is, I want to see more explosion by the rim on both ends of the floor. Hoping the foot speed improves.
Was absolutely nasty, looked like Derrick Queen kind of…
Also ballsy move by David to try and dunk on Z haha, respect (1:05 mark)
Good news is it looks like Mirk more than cleared a water bottle there
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Interesting debate on the Sleepers podcast. Who’s been the best team in the B1G over the past 5-6 years and who will be the most dominate team in the B1G going forward?
To start, here’s the results of each of the 4 best teams in the B1G over the last 6 years:
That’s likely the order I’d place them in. To me, Purdue takes the crown. Most wins, most conference championships, and a national championship game appearance.
I put Illinois 2nd. 11 more B1G wins than Michigan and 2 additional NCAAT appearances, but Michigan does have the only Natty of any B1G team in the past 25 years. That might be worth a few extra regular season wins. Would be tough to argue with someone placing them at the top or 2nd.
MSU is clearly 4th though. 10 less regular season wins than us, just 1 conference championship, and never made it past the E8.
Now, what’s the B1G going to look like going forward?
As of this moment, I’d rank them:
1. Illinois
2. Purdue
3. Michigan St
4. Michigan
Michigan sliding into last is easy. They just lost a generational coach. They’ve got a mediocre coach on a 2 year deal. The wrong hire could set them back another 3-5 years.
I put us on top. I’m obviously bias, but the reason why is exactly what Trotter said on the Werner podcast this week:
Brad can recruit high school, the transfer portal, and the Euro market, giving us flexibility in roster building. Brad’s got a F4 under his belt, guys making the league, a system NBA prospects want to play for, and staff continuity.
If I were to pick the team with the most wins in the B1G over the next 6 years, I’d pick Illinois.
Now, if only we can solve this 9th man issue, then we’d really be onto something.
To start, here’s the results of each of the 4 best teams in the B1G over the last 6 years:
| Team | Big Ten wins | Conference championships | NCAA appearances | Elite Eights or better | Best finish |
| Purdue | 85 | 4 | 6 | 2 | Runner-up |
| Illinois | 83 | 3 | 6 | 2 | Final Four |
| Michigan | 72 | 3 | 4 | 2 | Champion |
| MSU | 73 | 1 | 6 | 1 | Elite Eight |
That’s likely the order I’d place them in. To me, Purdue takes the crown. Most wins, most conference championships, and a national championship game appearance.
I put Illinois 2nd. 11 more B1G wins than Michigan and 2 additional NCAAT appearances, but Michigan does have the only Natty of any B1G team in the past 25 years. That might be worth a few extra regular season wins. Would be tough to argue with someone placing them at the top or 2nd.
MSU is clearly 4th though. 10 less regular season wins than us, just 1 conference championship, and never made it past the E8.
Now, what’s the B1G going to look like going forward?
As of this moment, I’d rank them:
1. Illinois
2. Purdue
3. Michigan St
4. Michigan
Michigan sliding into last is easy. They just lost a generational coach. They’ve got a mediocre coach on a 2 year deal. The wrong hire could set them back another 3-5 years.
I put us on top. I’m obviously bias, but the reason why is exactly what Trotter said on the Werner podcast this week:
Brad can recruit high school, the transfer portal, and the Euro market, giving us flexibility in roster building. Brad’s got a F4 under his belt, guys making the league, a system NBA prospects want to play for, and staff continuity.
If I were to pick the team with the most wins in the B1G over the next 6 years, I’d pick Illinois.
Now, if only we can solve this 9th man issue, then we’d really be onto something.