Illini Basketball 2024-2025

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#126      
Telling the fanbase to stop with the KJ hate is just plain silliness. He's been pretty much awful since he injured his wrist/forearm- mixed in with a few solid games. His last 4 games in the postseason he's had 24 TO's and averaged 6 a game. In multiple games within the last month or 2, I've felt that he has played a major role in losing us games with his careless play and at times really bad defense. He absolutely deserves much of the fanbases frustrations. Please don't tell us how to feel, especially after an extremely disappointing final game and in some respects, a disappointing season.
It's fine to be disappointed in his play, I am as well. But some of the **** I have seen said about him on here and social media is insane and sad.
 
#128      
He’ll never be a good NBA player. He’ll he back overseas by the time he’s 23-24. I’ll pitch in for his flight!
 
#129      
25/26 Most important move, Hamer gone, or become file clerk.
Back
1)Tomi,
2)Morez
3)Kylan
4)White if he would return. I don't know enough about his mid-season thing, mess. He may not want to come back.
5)DGL, I'd take him if he is willing
6)Jake Davis was good when aggressively mixing it up. He was a deer in the headlights the last couple games. Coach needs to tell him to fly around like Ty Rodgers.
7)Ty Rodgers
8)Jakstys? Heck if I know
9)Ben, yeah, He is an Illini
10)Keaton Wagler Don't get guys from the portal that will bury these guys and cause them to never come here
11)Brandon Lee Don't get guys from the portal that will bury these guys and cause them to never come here
12) Booth "Carey, in the B1G a scholarship is for a 4 year degree. You have a scholarship, but you will never play and won't get a dime of NIL"
13 KJ No way right?
14) Will No way right?

I know that the list will change drastically, hopefully we will keep the meat and the recruits will still come
 
#130      
I mean, if people are defaming his character, threatening him, calling him names, etc.. that is uncalled for. But I personally feel criticism is warranted and that it is more than fair for this forum to call out his poor play. I haven't seen anything on this forum that has crossed a line (IMO)- though I don't have the ability to read every post.

For example- I'll repeat that I don't think he's mentally tough- that's a pretty forthright criticism- but I don't feel it's insane or sad. Maybe I'm wrong.
 
#132      
Telling the fanbase to stop with the KJ hate is just plain silliness. He's been pretty much awful since he injured his wrist/forearm- mixed in with a few solid games. His last 4 games in the postseason he's had 24 TO's and averaged 6 a game. In multiple games within the last month or 2, I've felt that he has played a major role in losing us games with his careless play and at times really bad defense. He absolutely deserves much of the fanbases frustrations. Please don't tell us how to feel, especially after an extremely disappointing final game and in some respects, a disappointing season.
He’s an 18 year old kid. Perhaps some perspective might help.
 
#133      
He’s an 18 year old kid. Perhaps some perspective might help.
Busch Beer GIF by Busch
 
#134      
What about my post is crossing the line? Is inappropriate? Is inaccurate? Is unfair? He was objectively bad for most of the 2nd half of the season. He did not objectively help us win many games in the 2nd half of the season. And it is more than fair to criticize his play- as he's played professionally, got paid to play here this year, and is a few months away from being in the NBA. 18 or not- it's the path he has chosen... If you don't like the heat, don't be in the kitchen. Like I said, the name calling, threats, etc.. all cross the line. But criticism is more than appropriate.

If anything- it's on Underwood for giving the keys to the kingdom to an 18 year old kid and expecting him to fully take on the burden of controlling the offense. Regardless- no one is going to treat him with kid gloves when he's a 19 year old 1st round pick and he has a bad game.
 
#135      
Want to see back and probably a good chance;
Tomi
Kylan
Morez
Tre

He gawn;
KJ

He's probably gone, but throw a big bag and chance to move into a lottery pick at him;
Will

Wouldn't mind them sticking around but most likely gone;
Ty
DGL

Either way;
Jake

We'll help you pack your bags;
Booth

It'll take a lot of cash to keep this team together and add some quality pieces.
Good chance for a very solid pre-season rank......depends on how the chips fall.

HAPPY PORTAL SEASON!

Happy Animation GIF by Atrium.art
 
#136      
Goodnight year of the young and inexperienced team. You never quite lived up to our highest of hopes and were ultimately an extremely wild and turbulent ride. One I'd never like to ride again, thank you. Next year, give me a team full of experienced dogs with something to prove.
Look on the bright side, we're not Rutgers who also had 2 1st rounders
 
#138      
Disappointed in the outcome of course. Have room to improve and make a final four run next year….if BU makes the right moves not only in his staff but also with the portal.

Just getting tired of the tournament end results.
 
#139      
He’s an 18 year old kid. Perhaps some perspective might help.
It was also pretty obvious the book on KJ was to physically beat him up. Seemed like Kentucky's strategy was to run him into as many hard screens as possible. Seemed our defensive strategy was to ensure that happened. At least on O they started to use him off the ball a bit more late in the season, making him not quite the target all the time.
 
#140      
I'm no NBA expert but it seems to me that if TSJ isn't getting tic then KJ and WR will have difficulty, too.
I know getting picked in the first round means a bigger payday that whatever they would get in NIL, but
wouldn't their games atrophy, not playing all that much?

So I wouldn't be too surprised if WR came back, and maybe even KJ.
Time will tell
(Cue Savoy Brown anyone?)
 
#141      
I'm no NBA expert but it seems to me that if TSJ isn't getting tic then KJ and WR will have difficulty, too.
I know getting picked in the first round means a bigger payday that whatever they would get in NIL, but
wouldn't their games atrophy, not playing all that much?

So I wouldn't be too surprised if WR came back, and maybe even KJ.
Time will tell
(Cue Savoy Brown anyone?)

TJ is old and not young with potential which most scouts look at. He's not getting tick because he's behind Ant who happens to be younger than him. When Ant was out about a month ago he got a lot more playing time.
 
#142      
I'm no NBA expert but it seems to me that if TSJ isn't getting tic then KJ and WR will have difficulty, too.
I know getting picked in the first round means a bigger payday that whatever they would get in NIL, but
wouldn't their games atrophy, not playing all that much?

So I wouldn't be too surprised if WR came back, and maybe even KJ.
Time will tell
(Cue Savoy Brown anyone?)
TJ got drafted by a team that just played in the western conference finals, and an extremely stubborn coach who keeps his rotations tight.
KJ will likely go to a team that needs him, or at least will be majorly invested in his development. Will could go to as similar situation as TJ has found himself in, but that probably isn’t the worst thing for him. He isn’t quite ready for the big stage, but that has never stopped NBA GMs before. Talent will get taken.
 
#144      
Shannon was a 23 year old playing against kids in College. Great college player but he's old for the NBA as a rookie.
Yeah, TJ was an incredible player for us last year, and he’s one of my favorite players of all time.

But—comparing freshman year stats:

TJ: 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists
KJ: 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists
Riley: 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Imagine how good KJ and Will would be as 5th year seniors like TJ was last year.
 
#145      
25/26 Most important move, Hamer gone, or become file clerk.
Back
1)Tomi,
2)Morez
3)Kylan
4)White if he would return. I don't know enough about his mid-season thing, mess. He may not want to come back.
5)DGL, I'd take him if he is willing
6)Jake Davis was good when aggressively mixing it up. He was a deer in the headlights the last couple games. Coach needs to tell him to fly around like Ty Rodgers.
7)Ty Rodgers
8)Jakstys? Heck if I know
9)Ben, yeah, He is an Illini
10)Keaton Wagler Don't get guys from the portal that will bury these guys and cause them to never come here
11)Brandon Lee Don't get guys from the portal that will bury these guys and cause them to never come here
12) Booth "Carey, in the B1G a scholarship is for a 4 year degree. You have a scholarship, but you will never play and won't get a dime of NIL"
13 KJ No way right?
14) Will No way right?

I know that the list will change drastically, hopefully we will keep the meat and the recruits will still come
I maintain that Tre's mid-season thing was all illness. Sometimes you think you're finally out of it, you stand up, and then you sit back down, for him it just happened multiple times. I mean we saw what happened with Jake Davis, he thought he could play and it led to him spending the rest of the night puking.
 
#146      
I'm no NBA expert but it seems to me that if TSJ isn't getting tic then KJ and WR will have difficulty, too.
I know getting picked in the first round means a bigger payday that whatever they would get in NIL, but
wouldn't their games atrophy, not playing all that much?

So I wouldn't be too surprised if WR came back, and maybe even KJ.
Time will tell
(Cue Savoy Brown anyone?)
They will spend a ton of time in the GLeague.
 
#149      
Shannon was a 23 year old playing against kids in College. Great college player but he's old for the NBA as a rookie.
But he is ready NOW to contribute in the NBA. The few times he has gotten significant tics in a NBA game, he has more than held his own. In his short 2 game-demotion to the G league he shredded them like they were high school JV. The mothership was so embarrassed they called him back up before he could unpack.
 
#150      
They will spend a ton of time in the GLeague.
You can’t compare Tj and the two rookies. In his limited games where he got significant tic, TJ was NBA ready. In two games in the G league, he shredded it like a dry log in a wood shredder.
 
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