I believe so, I think he likes having more control over the schedule and it's hard to learn from your mistakes/grow as a team when you play consecutive days.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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I'd hope there's a return game because NYC to me seems like neutral-away when UConn's the opponent, but I think you're right because in the past they've generally said there's a return game in the announcement. But it hasn't been officially announced, so there's still hope.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, they would be an awesome opponent for the United Center - a team that wouldn't bring too many visiting fans (unlike a team like Duke with all its bandwagons in every city), and it's a name opponent that would excite our fans/local basketball fans.
On that topic earlier, I think the following would be my top three wish list for a good series for us to try to set up in a 4-year pattern. I know I have posted these before, but the topic came up again!! With the exception of Kentucky, my criteria would roughly be:
(1) A program that would lead to a big crowd at the United Center but would NOT bring a lot of its own fans ... the UC needs to be marketed as OUR home away from home, not a true neutral site. In other words, no Marquette, Notre Dame, etc. It would be so stupid for us to aid in them getting that exposure. Mizzou does us a massive favor by broadcasting us loudly and clearly as an equal in the St. Louis market every single December, even though their fans outnumber ours there by a wide margin.
(2) A program with a valuable market for a return neutral game, for one reason or another. It could be a recruiting hotbed, it could have a lot of Illini transplants, it could be somewhere our fans would flock to for the "vacation" aspect like Vegas, etc.
(3) Probably the least essential, but a program that has a cool on-campus arena for the return away game.
Kentucky - This one is the biggest no-brainer to me. The atmosphere for the on-campus games would be awesome, and both fan bases would bring a lot of fans to both locations. Plus, as I have said in previous posts, having the UK return game at Indy is just such a funny troll ... having Indiana fans know that Kentucky and Illinois will be playing in their backyard on national TV and Downtown Indy will be swarmed with two fan bases they hate is just delicious, haha.
1. Champaign, IL
2. Lexington, KY
3. Chicago, IL
4. Indianapolis, IN
North Carolina - Big name that surprisingly doesn't pack the house with traveling fans quite like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc. Plus, the return game in Charlotte is great, as it is surprisingly one of the best hot beds for hoops talent.
1. Champaign, IL
2. Chapel Hill, NC
3. Chicago, IL
4. Charlotte, NC
Florida - Something a little different, and I think if it is on a weekend, Illini fans would flock to the Orlando return game.
1. Champaign, IL
2. Gainesville, FL
3. Chicago, IL
4. Orlando, FL
A lot of other options either had a cool opponent but not an overly attractive market (e.g., Kansas with Kansas City and Iowa State with Des Moines) or they had a cool market by them but might not excite the Chicago fans as much for the return game (e.g., Georgia with Atlanta).
P.S. Bad blood with coaches actually really puts a wrench in this thing! Series with Houston and Auburn (with the return game in Atlanta) would be awesome on paper, but I am guessing the issues with Sampson and Pearl would be too much...
Bad take. Think you got your locations mixed up. Duke gave us a beating, but outside of that.....we've been fairly good.
It's not demoralizing, it's sobering. The Duke game showed us exactly where we stood. There was no hiding our shortcomings with regards to size, ball handling and athleticism. It all got exposed. For kids who have one competitive bine in their body, they take it personally and get better. They don't get demoralized.
There is zero downside to these games. If we win by 20, lose by 20, win a tight one, lose a tight one.....it's a great barometer.
Brad and Co are master manipulators of the NET rankings and all other metrics used. He knows how to schedule and he knows how to recruit. This game highlights that.
There is zero downside to these games. If we win by 20, lose by 20, win a tight one, lose a tight one.....it's a great barometer.
Brad and Co are master manipulators of the NET rankings and all other metrics used. He knows how to schedule and he knows how to recruit. This game highlights that.
They probably didn't want to list anyone more than once? Their starting spots are guaranteed anyway
. There's no way Stoy doesn't end up being our #2 at worst.Let it be known that I'm the first to call him Stoy. Maybe it'll stick...
I was actually thinking of UNC after Lville mentioned another marquee series. And to the last sentence...it wouldn't happen.
Petrovic doesn't appear on the official roster: https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
I doubt we brought him in to be a third option. But, I'm super high on Tomi and I think we're sleeping on Kylan a bit. He averaged 18 and 4 assists over his last 5 games last season. Those three could be 1a, 1b, 1c.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I’m super high on Tomi as well. I think the offense will run through him and Andrej, with Boswell being the facilitator.
I'd love to see a home and home with Kansas.
It looks like if they are mentioned as starters… they are not mentioned as “ notable returners”. Notable returners I assume means …. returning players that will come off the bench. Look at the other team rosters… same thing.
If things are hummin’ I see Stoj-Tomi-Bos as 1a-1b-1c
The correct answer is Arizona if you can get them to agree to it.
There is legitimate history between the two programs(2 elite 8 games between us). Arizona plays neutral site games in both Vegas and Phoenix so either could be an option.
Champaign
Tucson
Chicago
Phoenix/Vegas
Vegas would obviously make for a travel destination for Illini fans but Arizona in general is full of Chicago area transplants.
Also, another minor connection is that I believe Lloyd leaving Gonzaga for Arizona lead to Gentry leaving Illinois to go back to Gonzaga.
i hope the purdue game is at the end again. just good generally imo.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, Phoenix would be great from a lot of perspectives, it just doesn't produce as much talent as other metros. However, it is undeniable that we have a lot more history with Arizona than the vast majority of non-Big Ten programs, and I would love to get another crack at them after the tough loss at home in 2021-22. If they would agree to Vegas, I think we do that one as an absolute no-brainer ... I still cannot believe how Illini fans took over 80%+ of the crowd when we played there back in November 2022!
Lol was just reading replies in the last thread. The team was a worse offensive team with Hummer on the floor! He had a good three point shooting percentage for the team who couldn't shoot, but he basically stopped shooting. He averaged 6 points per game from February 1 on with 13 usage percentage. Let's not act like last season he was a big offensive threat just because he shot in the 30s from three. Hopefully he bounces back next year but he wasn't close to what Brad I'm sure thought he was getting.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
It's pronounced Stoy though?
3 point girl
- texas
Don't know where to put this but if you are a NBA GM and you can take one player to help your team who do you take from these 4: Podz, Ayo, TSJ, or KJ?
To help now: TSJ or Ayo. To help longterm: KJ
Right now Podz is the best player in that group. Long-term, potential wise probably KJ.
Coaches and international athletes grapple with U.S. visa uncertainties
College coaches and international athletes are stuck in an unnerving limbo, saying they're unsure how to plan for recent changes in U.S. student visa policy that could potentially wreak havoc on their rosters this year.
Are our guys included in this?
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