Illini Basketball 2024-2025

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#152      
AirNeazy
blackdog said:
It's not just on the offensive end either. Despite being the engine that runs the offense he does everything defensively with a purpose and is way ahead of where a normal freshman would be normally.
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Great take, his defense and physical build/strength has been the biggest surprise for me about his game.
 
#155      
IlliniFan42
I have a sneaking suspicion that the committee will find a way to put Illinois and Auburn in the same quadrant. Last year they put us with UConn to guarantee our road would end at the Elite 8 if we got past Iowa State and this year there'd be the added intrigue of watching Bruce Pearl end our tournament (or we end Auburn's but the stats obviously favor them). It's too perfect for them to ignore.
 
#157      
OrangeBlue98
IlliniFan42 said:
I have a sneaking suspicion that the committee will find a way to put Illinois and Auburn in the same quadrant. Last year they put us with UConn to guarantee our road would end at the Elite 8 if we got past Iowa State and this year there'd be the added intrigue of watching Bruce Pearl end our tournament (or we end Auburn's but the stats obviously favor them). It's too perfect for them to ignore.
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Bring them on.

The one time they actually had to play basketball, they got beat.
 
#158      
alaskaillini
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1877136529476177964
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Have noticed how engaged Ty is on the bench during games (maybe more so than some of the other players). It is great to see.
Although Sincere was really engaged last year as well - so much that he got a technical called against him at one point. So I don't take it as an indication that Ty is coming back, but he is still being valuable to the team as a great teammate.
 
#160      
Joel Goodson
if I were running this board*, I'd seriously consider putting the Tre White detractors (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) into the penalty box (read only, no posting) for the season

just to be clear, not suggesting anyone should be immune to criticism. but the fans calling him rubbish when he transferred in were smh dead wrong

* - thank God, I'm not, lol
 
#161      
the juiceman cometh
IlliniFan42 said:
I have a sneaking suspicion that the committee will find a way to put Illinois and Auburn in the same quadrant. Last year they put us with UConn to guarantee our road would end at the Elite 8 if we got past Iowa State and this year there'd be the added intrigue of watching Bruce Pearl end our tournament (or we end Auburn's but the stats obviously favor them). It's too perfect for them to ignore.
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You really think the selection committee forms its bracket based on whatever is the best way to get your team of choice eliminated?
 
#163      
EyeoftheIllini
the juiceman cometh said:
You really think the selection committee forms its bracket based on whatever is the best way to get your team of choice eliminated?
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Yeah, people seem to forget that committee can’t just rank teams for seeding purposes and then slot into brackets. There are various bracketing principles concerning same conference teams and how early they can meet. It seems a pretty far fetched to me that the committee is worried about making it tougher on Illini (or any team) or looking for storylines.
 
#166      
Fighter of the Nightman
Really bummed that Sports Media Watch (an AWESOME website that tracks TV ratings, especially for college football) is not tracking college basketball ratings this year. :( It was really interesting to analyze. I am trying to compile all of the numbers I can for the Big Ten, but it's really difficult. Here are SOME Illini TV ratings I came across:

5.1 million for Illinois vs. Arkansas (Kansas City, MO) - 3:00 pm on CBS (Thanksgiving)
450k for Illinois vs. Missouri (St. Louis, MO) - SUN 12:00 pm on ESPN
277k for Illinois at Northwestern - FRI 8:00 pm on BTN

As you can see, a big range, haha. From my analytics of the past couple years, it seems that for basketball, BTN/FS1 games are usually in the 100k to 500k range, depending on the teams. Any BTN game above 725k or so is an amazing rating (on par with many regular season BTN football games...), and anything over 1 million is REALLY good - usually only on channels like FOX and CBS. While the perception that basketball ratings pale in comparison to football ratings, this is generally true ... HOWEVER, the big-time basketball ratings for things like the BTT on CBS, that special Illini/Arkansas game and especially March Madness itself really do score huge audiences. Getting exposure in basketball is still very important and financially valuable for the athletic department.
 
#170      
illiniwil
does anybody here have any more details about KJ's injury? how serious? how did it happen?
possible duration of time out? i want him absolutely healthy for tournament time but would
love it to be sooner.
 
#172      
Boricua Illini
illiniwil said:
does anybody here have any more details about KJ's injury? how serious? how did it happen?
possible duration of time out? i want him absolutely healthy for tournament time but would
love it to be sooner.
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The situation with Kasparas Jakučionis’ non-shooting forearm injury raises some interesting questions, both from a health and strategic standpoint. Here’s what we know so far:
  • The injury likely occurred during Sunday’s game against Washington, with inflammation and discomfort flaring up again during or shortly after individual workouts before last night’s game.
  • Despite being in uniform and participating in warmups (dribbling and shooting), Kasparas didn’t have a brace or bandage on, which suggests the injury isn’t severe or structural.
  • Coach Brad Underwood stated they kept him out to prioritize his long-term health and currently don’t have a timeline for his return.
So, what’s really going on? Here’s some speculation:
  1. The Injury Itself
    It’s possible Kasparas is dealing with something minor, like a soft tissue strain, tendon irritation, or even a mild contusion. If that’s the case, the discomfort might simply need rest and some light therapy to resolve. Given Illinois’ world-class trainers and recovery facilities, it’s hard to imagine this being more than a short-term setback—especially since Kasparas was moving well during warmups.
  2. Brad Underwood’s Strategic Play?
    Here’s where things get interesting. We can’t overlook Brad Underwood’s history of using player absences as opportunities for others to develop. Think back to last season when Marcus Domask gained confidence and rhythm while Terrence Shannon Jr. was out. This could be another chess move by Underwood to build depth.
    By giving other players extended minutes in Kasparas’ absence, Underwood might be creating chances for the team to grow and experiment with new rotations. Early in the season is the perfect time for this kind of adjustment. It’s a long season, and giving bench guys confidence now could pay off big when the schedule gets tougher.
  3. A Preventative Measure
    Even if the injury is mild, keeping Kasparas out ensures it doesn’t turn into something worse. Forearm injuries can be tricky—especially with repetitive activities like dribbling and passing. The staff might be taking a “better safe than sorry” approach, which is smart with such a long season ahead.
Whether this is purely about Kasparas’ health or Brad Underwood playing the long game, the move makes sense. Kasparas staying fresh while other players get valuable experience feels like a win-win. With Illinois’ elite recovery resources and Brad’s strategic mind, it’s hard to imagine this situation being anything other than temporary.
 
#173      
biglug58
alaskaillini said:
Have noticed how engaged Ty is on the bench during games (maybe more so than some of the other players). It is great to see.
Although Sincere was really engaged last year as well - so much that he got a technical called against him at one point. So I don't take it as an indication that Ty is coming back, but he is still being valuable to the team as a great teammate.
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Sure hope this is true....very exciting if it is, and based on what we're seeing of Ty during games it makes sense: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...n&cvid=e3f9571e4d574d7f9810d3c59d9083c1&ei=12
 
#175      
BTYBILL
If Tomislav leaves for the draft, does that mean that Morez stays?
 
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