David Mirkovic suffers left foot injury
- Status
From Mirkovic’s TikTok:
Which either way would put Mirk back by Duke or at the very least UConn, Mizzery, and UNC
UNC is January 30th. If he's not back by then, we have real issues.
Not sure where the 30% usage would be coming from to make that happen
Yaxel was in the running for the award with a 20% usage rate. Oscar Tshibwe won the award with a usage rate of 23%. When Anthony Davis won it he had a usage rate of 18.8%!
He was at 23% last year. Pretty easy to get to 30 from there… couple more shot attempts, another free throw, maybe half a turnover since he’ll have the ball more**. That’s it.
**Assists don’t count because USG is a measure of the specific player terminating a play.
Editing to add: not that he needs to (but I see that’s been pointed out by someone faster than me)
Just don’t rush back! I’d rather be a 4-seed with a full-speed healthy Mirk, than a 2-seed with a hobbled Mirk who came back too soon (see: Boswell, Kylan)
It's not though.
Shannon was at 27.9%.
Keaton was at 25.7%.
Ayo was at 29.4%.
Kofi was at 30.7%.
So Kofi's our only star that's hit 30%. If Mirk was as good as the hype, he definitely could've gotten near that, so that's not what I'm arguing.
But 23 usage and 30 usage is a very significant difference. (AJ Dybantsa led the P5 at 33.5 last year)
Last edited:
I'd point to KJ more. Hus numbers before and after seemed very different. It was never very clear what all transpired there.
Every winner's usage from 2016 to 2026:
2026 Boozer: 30.6
2025 Flagg: 30.8
2024 Edey: 33.4
2023 Edey: 32.6
2022 Oscar: 24.8
2021 Garza: 30.4
2020 Toppin: 26.2
2019 Zion: 28.2
2018 Brunson: 26.1
2017 Mason: 25.5
2016 Heild: 28.4
(per Torvik)
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Yup. Life’ll be all like “whaaaaaat?”
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Also known as satire..
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I literally posted what he’d need to get: a couple more shot attempts, raise the FT rate a little, and another half a turnover. That’s it.
especially when I expect mirk to pass a lot to set up plays
This! Hope they bring him back slow.
Really think the path to NPOY or 1stAA for Mirk is being awesome on an awesome team. I'm actually fairly impressed the national audience by and large seems to understand the value in his unique game - sure he does get very impressive counting stats, but his value as a connector is so much deeper.
That said, his defensive leap last year towards the end is what will truly separate him. I actually think he can be a very above average defender. Outside of the UCONN "wow" plays on blocks, he was so good against Iowa. This is actually one of my favorite moments all year, from any Illini - that is perfect help side on a big (and good) driver in Banks, getting out to a guy from 3 who was about as confident as could be, staying in the play, walling up, and two hand block and really probably deserved credit for the rebound.
That said, his defensive leap last year towards the end is what will truly separate him. I actually think he can be a very above average defender. Outside of the UCONN "wow" plays on blocks, he was so good against Iowa. This is actually one of my favorite moments all year, from any Illini - that is perfect help side on a big (and good) driver in Banks, getting out to a guy from 3 who was about as confident as could be, staying in the play, walling up, and two hand block and really probably deserved credit for the rebound.
I mean sure, but 23 usage and 30 usage is a very big difference.
Mirkovic was 3rd on Illinois's team last year with 23.3 usage. Everything revolved around Wagler, and he was only at 25.7. Highest on the team, but nowhere close to 30.
The B10 only had 1 player at 30 or higher last year (Nick Boyd at 30.1).
So, 23.3% and 30% are really not comparable.
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
that's a given. but what about his foot bones? are they on the same page?
Hereforit
- Littleton, CO
Thank you. You (and the other insiders) are a primary reason I went from lurker to participant. Collectively you guys are the best out there.
That's because you have to practice how you play! You can't turn on intensity and aggressiveness like a light switch. It's taught and learned and sustained. It becomes a lifestyle of how you play all the time. Everyday! Every second. Every time you step in between the lines! I-L-L
Correct, I believe I was going by date of surgery which I think was around the 29th.
I didn’t say they were comparable, I said his stats wouldn’t have to increase that much. Go do the math. There are online calculators that can do this for you.
You literally posted yourself that weve had 3 guys do it just recently. Kofi 30.7, Ayo 29.5, TSJ 29.2 were all right at 30. Totally doable to get there with a couple more shot attempts, add a bit to FT rate, and another half a turnover.
Last edited:
- Status