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.
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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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.
Tomi looking a lot thicker than I remember him. Would be nice to have him banging inside a bit.
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?
Mirk also looking like he's in a lot better shape(also I know it's not called anymore but some egregious carries).
Still think Lincoln Williams might end up being an interesting bench piece this year because how different he is to the rest of the roster. Get working with Fletch and buy in as a defender and he could earn himself a role.
Agree with Illinois at #1 moving into the future.
But for the last 6 years -- I don't think you can put Michigan #3. National Championships are highly scarce, especially in the Big Ten. That team was also probably the best of any team in College Basketball in that 6 year span.
The obvious argument against them, would be how bad Juwan's final year was. They were legitimately the worst team in the Big Ten. The lows of the program were as low as anybody, yet the highs were higher than anybody as well.
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Generally not one to put lots of stock into these vids; however, both QC and Lincoln Williams seem to have a different level of bounce and athleticism.
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?
Besides Andrej, it's something we lack amongst the other perimeter guys.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
highlight clip. nevertheless, pretty good:
how quickly he gets his shot off is most impressive. and that he's not merely a stationary shooter too. could be an outright killer. a year with Fletch should help a lot
how quickly he gets his shot off is most impressive. and that he's not merely a stationary shooter too. could be an outright killer. a year with Fletch should help a lot
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How I’d summarize the previous discussion, is that we just need one of Brown/Zens/Williams being capable of filling the #9thMan void.
It’s a very light-work role. Around 5-7 minutes per game.
We just need ONE out of the THREE to be good enough for it.
…..
I think/hope… that shouldn’t be an issue?
Previous examples include: freshman Coleman Hawkins. freshman Dra Gibbs Lawhorn.
It’s a very light-work role. Around 5-7 minutes per game.
We just need ONE out of the THREE to be good enough for it.
…..
I think/hope… that shouldn’t be an issue?
Previous examples include: freshman Coleman Hawkins. freshman Dra Gibbs Lawhorn.
Don’t put much stock in rankings, we learned that last year
They’re accurate more times than not.
Wagler was just the exception. (Brandon Lee conversely, was not that exception)
blackdog
- Champaign
If you aren't already in his hip pocket when he catches hes firing that thing up. Talk about creating gravity for a defense.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
the entire season hinges on it
Yes, Freshman DGL and Freshman Coleman Hawkins are both good options (for a 9th man).
Freshman CH: 81% of games played, averaged 1.4 points and 6.4 minutes across those games.
Freshman DGL: 74% of games played, averaged 2.4 points and 7.1 minutes across those games.
You at least have the option to dispose those guys in a given circumstance, knowing they can hold up in limited minutes.
The issue is, the guys this year (Williams, Zens, Brown) are ranked much lower than both.
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They’re accurate more times than not.
“Last year” just means Wagler. He was the generational exception (not the rule).
But that’s why we have THREE of them. You only need 1 out of the 3 to hit.
And “hit” just means to be able to play 5-7 minutes / game.
Their team is very much like Michigan last year. Would not be surprised to see them atop the conference actually.
That is what I am saying. Albeit, not very well.
Both in essence played their top 7, 93% of the game. Michigan was 97% and chose to play a hurt Lendeborg 36 mins as opposed to playing their 8th man.
UConn played their 8-9th men. A grand total of 14 mins. I would assume that would have been considerably less if their two starting guards didn’t have 9 fouls between them.
Nope. I think the pressure and the crazy shooting sight lines of playing in a football stadium are FAR bigger factors than fatigue.
So was Wagler… rankings don’t matter much when you get to that range.
I trust this staff to hit on one of those 3 to be capable of scoring 2 points in 7 minutes and playing capable defense.
Since people say this so loosely, let's break it down.
Our top 8: Vaaks, Coleman, Stojakovic, Mirkovic, Tomi, Z, Jake, Morillo.
Tomi and Z are graduating -- can't come back even with pending 5 for 5 -- so that's 2.
Jake isn't departing due to graduation (5 for 5), and he doesn't have the NBA potential to turn down a year of college to go to the draft, so not him. He'll either come back or transfer (regardless of which he chooses, he isn't going to the draft, and he isn't graduating).
So that leaves 5 wild cards: QC, Vaaks, Morillo, Stojakovic, Mirkovic.
To satisfy your 7 number, all 5 would have to go to the draft.
To satisfy 6, 4 would have to go to the draft.
To satisfy 5, 3 would have to go to the draft.
Coleman Hawkins and DGL were both 3 stars... CH wasn't even ranked, DGL was 143rd
Zens, at least, is a 4 star on 247.com, ranked higher than both at 129th and has a player rating of 90 which is also higher than both CH & DGL
Yesterday we had to hear that Jervis and Taylor of MSU are both 5 stars
Why do you guys keep lying?
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You're the one who first called Williams, zens, and Brown top 100 guys. That claim isn't even close.
The 247composite is most reliable. It converges all the the data from rankings industry. Hawkins and DGL are both rated much higher than Zens.
“We’re not as deep a roster as this team or that unproven team.”
“We’re missing a big player at the nth spot.”
Feels like we’re grasping at straws a bit to complain about. The “problems” we’re facing now as a program is loading up on even more superior non-con opponents with prime time broadcasting deals. We’re about to have a season where we play UConn, Duke, UNC, Mizzery, and Texas Tech. Likely with another on the way.
Or that our incoming freshman aren’t all 5-star top 30 players but instead are 4-star, best in state players, who chose us because of the development they can get here. Us over their own state’s university that has some legacy and local buy-in.
Truly “Champaign” problems. Our steak is too juicy, and our lobster is too buttery. What are we going to do with all of these raw talent freshman that are higher rated than we are used to getting, and have a pathway to staying here, instead of being one and dones, and becoming collegiate stars in a couple years with heart and grit for the Orange and Blue…
“We’re missing a big player at the nth spot.”
Feels like we’re grasping at straws a bit to complain about. The “problems” we’re facing now as a program is loading up on even more superior non-con opponents with prime time broadcasting deals. We’re about to have a season where we play UConn, Duke, UNC, Mizzery, and Texas Tech. Likely with another on the way.
Or that our incoming freshman aren’t all 5-star top 30 players but instead are 4-star, best in state players, who chose us because of the development they can get here. Us over their own state’s university that has some legacy and local buy-in.
Truly “Champaign” problems. Our steak is too juicy, and our lobster is too buttery. What are we going to do with all of these raw talent freshman that are higher rated than we are used to getting, and have a pathway to staying here, instead of being one and dones, and becoming collegiate stars in a couple years with heart and grit for the Orange and Blue…
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