Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[RollChief]

Should we as fans expect to win it this year? No. You can't assume that a national championship is the most likely outcome for any team.

Speak for yourself my friend....

 

[Iamgroot]

Anticipating those top 3 are preseason 3. The scary trend is that only 1 of the top 4 make the F4. There there is a team from 5-8, then the other two teams come out of the teens through 20's.

Hopefully this is the year of breaking trends and the beloved finally bring that trophy home to the house of paign.ILL

 

[NarrowJ]

I was super curious, so I looked up our top 50 KenPom non-conference opponents in the Underwood Era! Apologies in advance if I missed any.

2017-2018
vs. #40 Missouri (St. Louis, MO)

2018-2019
vs. #2 Gonzaga (Maui, HI)
vs. #15 Iowa State (Maui, HI)

2019-2020
at #19 Arizona

2020-2021 (Shortened COVID Season)
vs. #2 Baylor (Indianapolis, IN)
at #36 Duke

2021-2022
vs. #5 Arizona
vs. #38 Notre Dame
at #47 Missouri

2022-2023
vs. #3 UCLA (Las Vegas, NV)
vs. #5 Texas (New York, NY)
vs. #34 Virginia (Las Vegas, NV)

2023-2024
at #5 Tennessee
vs. #13 Marquette
vs. #47 FAU (New York, NY)

2024-2025
vs. #1 Duke (New York, NY)
vs. #5 Tennessee
vs. #6 Alabama (Birmingham, AL)
vs. #19 Missouri (St. Louis, MO)
vs. #36 Arkansas (Kansas City, MO)

2025-2026
vs. #9 UConn (New York, NY)
vs. #12 Alabama (Chicago, IL)
vs. #14 Tennessee (Nashville, TN)
vs. #20 Texas Tech

2026-2027
at #1 Duke
vs. #11 UConn (Chicago, IL)
at #12 Texas Tech
vs. #37 North Carolina (Nashville, TN)
vs. #48 Missouri (St. Louis, MO)

One top 50 opponent in Year 1 to five in Year 10, including three in the top 15!

You inspired me to cook up another tool this afternoon: Quality Record

 

[CDRUSN]

When asked how long you've been an Illini fan, the appropriate response is:

All me bloomin' life.
Me mother was Alma Mater.
Me father was Chief Illiniwek.
I was born in the corn of Morrow Plot,
Rocked in a cradle in Grange Grove.
Orange and Blue are me clothes.
When I drinks, it's at Kam's bar.
I's loyal I is, I am, I are.

 

[pweo]

Does anyone know which side of Bridgestone Areana in Nashville will be the Illini side?

Travel packages are selling sections 106 107 109.

 

[HoopsterMan]

Hopefully this is the year of breaking trends and the beloved finally bring that trophy home to the house of paign.ILL

I think this is as good a year as it's going to get.

There is only one possible bohemith out there and that has to play out.

 

[AssemblyHallForever]

Brad says Lincoln Williams is on the “two and a half pound breakfast” plan. Add that to your 2026-27 Bingo cards.

Is that similar to the 6000 calorie diet Tisdale was on? Is he going to the Ole Pancake House to load up on breakfast?

 

[HensonHall71]

Anticipating those top 3 are preseason 3. The scary trend is that only 1 of the top 4 make the F4. There there is a team from 5-8, then the other two teams come out of the teens through 20's.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Should we as fans expect to win it this year? No. You can't assume that a national championship is the most likely outcome for any team.

But we're more capable of it than almost any other team in the country and I'd much rather have that kind of expectations and pressure on the team than the alternative.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Is that similar to the 6000 calorie diet Tisdale was on? Is he going to the Ole Pancake House to load up on breakfast?

Brad said it’s a lot of waffles.