Illini Basketball 2024-2025

Status
Not open for further replies.
#201      
Bigtex
sdiver68 said:
Seeing multiple 1 and done predictions for Riley, maybe JK, etc.. but I believe the odds are against that happening.

College players are now choosing NIL $ over 2nd round draft status.

Unless the 1 and done is in reference to the highest college bidder which seems more likely.
Click to expand...
History agrees with you. Illinois has never had a 1 and done (where done = NBA). Richmond was one and done. There might be others who played as a freshman and then left college.

Hard to see never been done to having 2 young men going from Illinois to NBA after freshman year.
 
#202      
The Ghost

Attachments

  • grady.PNG
    grady.PNG
    56.4 KB · Views: 189
#204      
Mr. Roberts
ChiefGritty said:
This just kinda feels like an unhelpful expectation to be setting for a bunch of teenagers who are going to be embarking on a brutally difficult non-conference schedule in the first exposure to high-major basketball for virtually the entire team.

There's a decent chance there are some real lumps to be taken here. What this team does have though, and what we need to maintain sight of through any such growing pains, is loads of talent and bright future.
Click to expand...
Expectation? No. Stretch goal? Certainly.
 
#205      
Combo
jjv0004 said:
Reading through the board over the last week + I have determined we should be at least 12 deep, have 10 or more guys in double figures, have at least 2 guys drafted in the 1st round next year, have 6 -7 guys that will play in the NBA and probably win it all. The most talented team in Illinois history. Wow, mama. Slow down fellas.
Click to expand...
Every off-season we do this.
 
#206      
Fly Illini Fly!
Sedino said:
Save this post, this WILL be the starting lineup in November.

Kylan
Tre White
Riley
Ty
Ivisic

As positionless as it gets, all ability to be monsters and playmakers in fast moving offense, size.
Click to expand...
Like the "positionless" idea about it here...

and def. think this could work great in certain situations...

but Ben coming off the bench is just...I just don't see it. Right now looking at it, he'll most likely be the leading scorer and might be just as much a lock to start as Kylan tbh...
 
#210      
Emerson Bigguns
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Like the "positionless" idea about it here...

and def. think this could work great in certain situations...

but Ben coming off the bench is just...I just don't see it. Right now looking at it, he'll most likely be the leading scorer and might be just as much a lock to start as Kylan tbh...
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. With such a young team, it's hard for me to imagine the 5th year guy doesn't start.
 
#213      
Combo
GrayGhost77 said:
And yet also winless.

But yeah. Let's pump the brakes a little bit. We will be talented, no doubt, but I expect growing pains in the beginning. That said, should be electric to watch by the time February/March rolls around.
Click to expand...
We will be talented but there are plenty of other talented teams out there. Over the years Duke, Kentucky, et al have rolled out rosters with way more talent than our 2024-2025 version looks to have and some years those teams have been mediocre.

You have to have a decent level of chemistry for the talent to coalesce into a quality team and it's for from guaranteed that we'll be able to achieve that.
 
#214      
Fighter of the Nightman
Illini4Christ said:
This next year‘s team very well could be the best team in Illini history...
Click to expand...
1. I am glad we are back to the point where we have some fans saying overly optimistic things like this. It seems like a lifetime ago in some ways, but our fans WERE this cocky and optimistic circa 2006, and the pessimistic "woe is us" that dominated many of our fans' psyches until we finally broke through to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond this season was 1,000 times worse.

2. With that said ... we should all just be ecstatic if next year's team comes close to replicating last season's success, let alone rewriting Illini history to this extent!!
 
#215      
Illini4Christ
GrayGhost77 said:
And yet also winless.

But yeah. Let's pump the brakes a little bit. We will be talented, no doubt, but I expect growing pains in the beginning. That said, should be electric to watch by the time February/March rolls around.
Click to expand...
Oh my Illini brethren who are of little faith. Just kidding.
 
#216      
Fighter of the Nightman
With all that said, since Lou Henson arrived on campus over 4.5 decades ago, it seems incredibly clear that it's really not very hard to win at Illinois if you are a good coach.

- Henson took over a mess and had a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight within 5 years. Within a decade, he had a Final Four and had established a top 10 program.
- Kruger walked into a below average situation and had a Big Ten championship in his second season, as well as laid the foundation for a #1 seed Elite Eight team by the time he left.
- Self took over a program in a good spot and had a Big Ten championship, a #1 seed and Elite Eight in his first season. He would end his tenure with 2 trips to the Second Weekend and 3 total Big Ten banners. Weber obviously eventually went downhill, but to be fair to him he delivered about the best 2-year span any fan could ask for in 2004 and 2005.
- Underwood walked into the worst situation the program had seen in decades. By year 3, he had us back into the top 25. Year 4 brought a BTT championship and #1 seed. It took him until year 7 to break through to the Elite Eight, but along the way he hung 3 Big Ten banners.

As I have said many times, our fans like to pity themselves too much. We are very lucky.
 
#217      
BTM33
This was before some of the buzz has been coming in but...I think I'm planting my flag that Kasparas is gonna be the real deal.

Even from some highlights and getting to watch him in a few full games. He's 6'5 200lbs, can shoot, looks to be a better passer then many thought and he plays at great pace.

I think he is going to be REAL good, and maybe the best of this bunch.
 
#218      
OrangeKrush1981
Love the moonshine-swilling, moon-howling, catcalling enthusiasm! But baby, bay ... I think I gonna try to keep one foot, or one toe anyway, on planet Earth. And when you are right? I will remember next Spring when the snow melts away and the Sun shines more hours than the moon gleams at night that you were the prophet .... shine on, you crazy diamond. :)
 
#219      
OrangeKrush1981
:) That sounds like a campaign speech, brother man. What are you running for, and what are you serving in those gleaming glasses? Whatever and whatever, let me get that and that.

I want to say that I am not sure that anything worth achieving is "not very hard" to achieve, good coach or not.

And I guess I just want to make the point that good coaches don't always see that much success above 0.500. Try it ....

Great coaches? That's another story. Let me know when you find one of those unicorns. Maybe our current head coach is the one, and I would definitely no longer want to argue the contrary. I want Coach Underwood to achieve his dreams of a Natty and a Statue, dreams that are the same as the ones we Illini have had since long, long, long before he came to make it happen.

You are one of the greatest posters in Loyalty history, Nightman, so take this note from an admirer in stride.
 
#221      
DB11Headband
BTM33 said:
This was before some of the buzz has been coming in but...I think I'm planting my flag that Kasparas is gonna be the real deal.

Even from some highlights and getting to watch him in a few full games. He's 6'5 200lbs, can shoot, looks to be a better passer then many thought and he plays at great pace.

I think he is going to be REAL good, and maybe the best of this bunch.
Click to expand...
Right there with you
 
#222      
Fighting I 95
Piper just said the early reports from practice are that he is the real deal. Said he hasnt had a problem with tys or boswells strength and had a lot of finishes around the rim. Also ty's shot and offense are still getting glowing reports via piper.
 
#223      
MDchicago
Fighter of the Nightman said:
With all that said, since Lou Henson arrived on campus over 4.5 decades ago, it seems incredibly clear that it's really not very hard to win at Illinois if you are a good coach.

- Henson took over a mess and had a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight within 5 years. Within a decade, he had a Final Four and had established a top 10 program.
- Kruger walked into a below average situation and had a Big Ten championship in his second season, as well as laid the foundation for a #1 seed Elite Eight team by the time he left.
- Self took over a program in a good spot and had a Big Ten championship, a #1 seed and Elite Eight in his first season. He would end his tenure with 2 trips to the Second Weekend and 3 total Big Ten banners. Weber obviously eventually went downhill, but to be fair to him he delivered about the best 2-year span any fan could ask for in 2004 and 2005.
- Underwood walked into the worst situation the program had seen in decades. By year 3, he had us back into the top 25. Year 4 brought a BTT championship and #1 seed. It took him until year 7 to break through to the Elite Eight, but along the way he hung 3 Big Ten banners.

As I have said many times, our fans like to pity themselves too much. We are very lucky.
Click to expand...

Take the larger point, but Henson didn't make the NCAA tournament in any of his first 5 years. He got his co-Big 10 title and E8 run in his 9th season and a F4 run in his 14th season with the Illini.
 
#224      
lstewart53x3
LvilleILL said:
If I had to guess, I think one of Riley/KJ will be drafted in the first round next year and the other will be back for year 2 and be drafted after 2 years at Illinois
Click to expand...
One possible scenario that I feel is pretty realistic:

Lose Humrichous, lose one player to the draft, lose two non-starters to the portal, lose one surprise player who starts to the portal. That gives us 7 returning players. Add Fears, one more freshman, and three transfers in - one starter to replace the starter who transferred and two depth pieces.

That’s a top 10 preseason team.
 
Last edited:
#225      
PepeSilvia
lstewart53x3 said:
One possible scenario that I feel is pretty realistic:

Lose Humrichous, lose one player to the draft, lose two non-starters to the portal, lose one surprise player who starts to the portal. That gives us 7 returning players. Add Fears, one more freshman, and three transfers in - one starter to replace the starter who transferred and two depth pieces.

That’s a top 10 preseason team.
Click to expand...
I don't see the Illini as the type of program that loses a starter to the portal. At least a starter in good standing, not a Jayden Epps/Skyy Clark situation.

I know some other schools have deeper pockets but its not like you see other schools plundering Baylor or Creighton.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back