Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#1,077      
Coleman played 31.5 minutes per game.

I don't know if we're calling CH a liar here, but he missed 2 or 3 games near the beginning of the 2023-24 season with a knee injury and then played the rest of the season with the bad knee.


Paid article, but the relevant quote is: "It felt like (Thursday) I was playing on one leg"
 
#1,078      
I don't know if we're calling CH a liar here, but he missed 2 or 3 games near the beginning of the 2023-24 season with a knee injury and then played the rest of the season with the bad knee.


Paid article, but the relevant quote is: "It felt like (Thursday) I was playing on one leg"
I’m not calling CH a liar. I’m saying despite playing hurt, he still played 31.5 minutes per game.

Which means, playing hurt has less to do with your minutes than how much the team values you.

About the original point - Andrej not playing 30 minutes a night has more to do with him not being valuable enough to play that amount, than just being hurt.

We couldn’t play Kylan and Andrej together, because they were two subpar shooters. Tough decisions had to be made with different lineups.
 
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#1,081      
I’m not calling CH a liar. I’m saying despite playing hurt, he still played 31.5 minutes per game.

Which means, playing hurt has less to do with your minutes than how much the team values you.

About the original point - Andrej not playing 30 minutes a night has more to do with him not being valuable enough to play that amount, than just being hurt.

We couldn’t play Kylan and Andrej together, because they were two subpar shooters. Tough decisions had to be made with different lineups.

Eh... 2 different guys with possibly 2 different injuries (or varying severity).

Boswell averaged 30.0 mpg and Andrej 26.3 so of course they played together. They were in the starting lineup together for 20+ games and according to on/off data our 3 most used lineups included both players. So I think you are wrong.
 
#1,082      
I'll be honest: the ONLY thing that's holding me back with Vaaks, is his lack of ability to get to the rim. He only attempted 2.1 shots per game at the rim last year.

For context, Keaton was at 3.9. Kylan was at 3.7. Kasparas was at 3.4.

.....

He also only attempted 3.9 twos per game.

Every starter on our team last year minus Tomislav, was above 5.0. In 2025, 4/5 starters were above 5.0 as well (with Tre White at 4.8).

.....

His 51.7% 2pt percentage will improve, I have no doubts. Quite literally every transfer we've gotten has improved their 2pt% after arriving here.

It's the ability to not be purely perimeter oriented, and get downhill for more of those opportunities, that I think he needs to work on.
Do you have a stat on how many at the rim Keaton made?
 
#1,084      
Wagler’s 2 point percentage was legitimately, his only weakness (at least at the college level).

He did not lack courage, and would drive in undeterred…. just didn’t get enough of them to drop, percentage wise.

His FT rate however, was terrific.
 
#1,085      
Wagler’s 2 point percentage was legitimately, his only weakness (at least at the college level).

He did not lack courage, and would drive in undeterred…. just didn’t get enough of them to drop, percentage wise.

His FT rate however, was terrific.
THIS is my point with Vaaks.

Keaton didn't make as many as you'd ideally hope, but he was able to get those looks thru his aggressiveness.

If Vaaks is able to get those looks, I think he makes more than Keaton considering: 1) his 2pt percentage was already higher last year. 2) we ALWAYS improve our transfer's 2pt percentage. 3) he's alot bigger, stronger, older than Keaton.

That's what would really elevate him to lottery pick status, IMO. In addition to getting a bit better defensively and on the glass (which I think will happen).
 
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