Recent content by HailtotheChief

  1. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    Personally I think Mirk is our most important player, has a massive impact, and a guy we need to stay healthy. But, with that said i really think the guy i expect the most improvement from last year are Tomi and the incoming freshman Coleman. The floors of Vaaks, Dre and Z are pretty high and...
  2. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    I highly doubt Morillo will ever play PG for us. Nor do i forsee him ever in that role. When its not Vaaks, we will flow through our vets like Mirk, Tomi and then maybe Coleman. I would bet there will be a lot of Vaaks and Mirk running thunga chasing miss matches.
  3. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    One thing i recall about Hummel doing or commenting on our team last season. He was alway questioning or calling on BU to feed T with his crazy success he had in the post. I tend to agree until they double him. He was really good and over 70% is insane.
  4. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    Well, this is a good example of how a.season can turn without proper roster cinstruction and depth. Trying to say that no one will get hurt and iif it does we will be ok. I dont think next years team is in that type of situation but i pray Mirk stays healthy at the 4. He is the only banger we...
  5. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    In close games i bet Mirk plays as much as possible and closer to 35 but i do think most games Z will get 15 or a lil more at the 5 and another 5 to 8 backing up Mirk. If its not a blow out id expect Z and T to have fairly similar minutes on the floor. In blow outs some others will get some tick...
  6. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    I expect Vaaks is the best shooter on the team, especially if they are being guarded. If Brad feels he is the best offensive player in the portal a huge part of it is his diffucult shot making ability. The distance and difficulty of the type of shots he took at Providence are not the same as...
  7. H

    Illini Basketball 2026-2027

    So would Big Z if he could find his 3 pt shot. Coming into last season I thought Z had better numbers from beyond the arc but stuggled some last season. I hope they both get up closer to 38% or so. If that happens our team is so scary to try and stop..
  8. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Where do you rank Zens at each role to think he will play much in nig games? He is buried even further down the depth chart in his role than Ty who decided to redshirt 2 years ago and Lee last year was at the 2/3. Where are you thinking Zens fits or placing Zens at the 2/3 in the rotation? Its...
  9. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    I agree with you. I think it will primarily be 7 or 8 guys in close games barring foul trouble. I do think there are roles though for ball handling and D. I expect the 3 bigs at the 4/5, Dre and Jake eating up 90% at the 3 then Lucas for a couple, QC, Dre and a couple more for Lucas at the 2...
  10. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    No one asked Brad to say it or even about him in particular. Did you watch the interview? Werner asked about the frontcourt bigs and Brad mentioned only 4 guys in order with JJ being the last. He didnt mention anyone else. Now i dont expect him to play most close games unless there are foul...
  11. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    He may not this year.
  12. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    Its not about that. Its about need at the 4/5. BU even said to Werner that JJ was about to start playing "alot" and the the clot happened. Now i dont know about a lot but no way will he be 12th in minutes. No way unless he is ill. Not many minutes behind Dre and Jake at the 3. Or Vaaks n...
  13. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    5/ T, Z maybe Mirk or JJ in a pinch 4/ Mirk, Z maybe JJ 3/ Dre, Jake, Lucas or maybe Zens 2/ QC, Lucas, Dre 1 / Vaaks, QC Id expect those to be the roles and rankings of playing time at each position. Any player ranked outside of the top 2 at any spot may not even play in close games unless...
  14. H

    Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

    If you think he will play next season at the 4 or was recruited to do so at Illinois i highly disagree. If Z, T or Mirk get hurt it will be Jason to rebound and play D or Dre. We will miss Ben if Jason cant do those 2 things. BU said in the podcast Jason was going to play "a lot" but the clot...
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