Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#126      
lstewart53x3
Just as we all predicted, 4 of our top 5 players in PRPG are freshman:

IMG_0754.jpeg
 
#127      
ChiefGritty
It's been a long and winding road getting here, and we definitely hope for Mirk's return to complicate it, but for the first time since his much-ballyhooed big money transfer this is Andrej Stojakovic's team, he's the alpha dog, and is playing very well.
 
#128      
From the cheap seats
I know we have not been tested yet (though I thought Penn was a pretty good team with all of their returning players and some decent size), but I am amazed at a few things:
1) Most freshmen play like freshmen, even against teams like Penn. These freshmen don't, except for maybe Williams' first 3 minutes last night. When he returned, he was laser-focused.
2) The speed at which the Illini process on the offensive end is pretty incredible. They process stuff faster than I can watching it. It's kind of like me trying to play Madden against my grandsons (the grandsons being the Illini, of course). It also seems to me that same basketball IQ is just starting to show itself on the defensive end, which is a harder concept.
3) The unselfishness. It looks like to a man they take more pride in making a good pass (not flashy, just super effective) than scoring themselves.
4) Going from one of the slower-paced, high-efficiency offenses of last year to this pace with great efficiency is just mind-boggling. The more possessions in a game the better our chances to win, something that almost always holds true for a more talented team in a matchup.
We're going to lose some games, especially with our best player on the sidelines, but as these young guns gain experience, look out. And this is so much fun to watch you don't ever want to leave early because no matter who Brad puts in they play an exciting brand of basketball. Final thought: This has to raise our recruiting brand even more because this has to be a fun style to play...and everyone gets to play.
 
#131      
blackdog
From the cheap seats said:
I know we have not been tested yet (though I thought Penn was a pretty good team with all of their returning players and some decent size), but I am amazed at a few things:
1) Most freshmen play like freshmen, even against teams like Penn. These freshmen don't, except for maybe Williams' first 3 minutes last night. When he returned, he was laser-focused.
2) The speed at which the Illini process on the offensive end is pretty incredible. They process stuff faster than I can watching it. It's kind of like me trying to play Madden against my grandsons (the grandsons being the Illini, of course). It also seems to me that same basketball IQ is just starting to show itself on the defensive end, which is a harder concept.
3) The unselfishness. It looks like to a man they take more pride in making a good pass (not flashy, just super effective) than scoring themselves.
4) Going from one of the slower-paced, high-efficiency offenses of last year to this pace with great efficiency is just mind-boggling. The more possessions in a game the better our chances to win, something that almost always holds true for a more talented team in a matchup.
We're going to lose some games, especially with our best player on the sidelines, but as these young guns gain experience, look out. And this is so much fun to watch you don't ever want to leave early because no matter who Brad puts in they play an exciting brand of basketball. Final thought: This has to raise our recruiting brand even more because this has to be a fun style to play...and everyone gets to play.
Click to expand...

I would consider those exhibitions against Cincinnati and Baylor to be pretty good tests already. The offense looked pretty dang good in both of those too.
 
#134      
Fly Illini Fly!
First game chart:

IMG_2087.jpeg


Second game chart:

IMG_2104.jpeg


100% of shots are either threes OR paint twos below the FT circle.
 
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#136      
sitka
Need to start promoting the UConn game!!! too many tickets left still
 
#137      
OrangeBlue98
Fly Illini Fly! said:
First game chart:

View attachment 52438

Second game chart:

View attachment 52439

100% of shots are either threes OR paint twos below the FT circle.
Click to expand...
This still continues to just boggle my mind. You would think that in 80 minutes of basketball-particularly at the pace they are playing-someone would have one brain lock or be fatigued and let one go from 17 feet.

The coaching and discipline for this is extremely impressive.
 
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