It really depends on what my team needs. If I had to just take the best current NBA player I'd take Podz then TJ. If I was building a young roster, KJ.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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No Ayo? Is that because of his injury or even when healthy you'd take Shannon over him?
I like the impact TJ has on the game with his size and athleticism. I value that more, assuming I have a replacement level player instead of Ayo. And actually I would move Ayo to a 1B position if he can have more years like 23-24. Podz is an efficient shooter, but I don't think he impacts a game on as many levels as Ayo would. Podz is on a great trajectory with his NBA development as a 2, but there are 40 players who shot 40% from three this past year. He's the most easily replaced.
1A: TJ
1B: Ayo
3: Podz
3 point girl
- texas
I had a tough time choosing between Podz & Shannon, but I agree that I would take TSJ.
blackdog
- Champaign
Ayo has to be the guy right now. Before the shoulder injury he was really efficient, provides good versatility, and is the best defender of the group.
Dan
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redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
That’s insane. Really hope it pays off for us. Will be some must see action early in the season.
Really not a ton downside to having a tough non-con.
You get a lot of diminishing returns with cupcakes. Sure you want some tune up games, but playing more than half your non-con against teams ranked 200+ is kind of pointless. Ideally you also minimize the 50-200 range teams as wins are minimally helpful and losses really hurt.
Having upwards (it won’t reach this number but…) 20 Q1 games is ideal. At the end of the day, if the goal is to obtain the highest seed possible, gaming the metrics by taking a ton of bites at the Q1 apple is one of the easiest ways to do it. You could also play no one and decimate them, but it’s riskier, plus you know “if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best” is a good motto to have.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Brad must read this board. Added Texas Tech home and away in response to all the season ticket holders complaining about neutral site games
Going to be a brutal preseason
Alabama United Center ,Tennesee Nashville, UConn@ MSG Missouri St Louis, Texas Tech @Home.
I assume we are not going to any tournaments like Maui etc.
5 top 20 nonconference opponents. Most I have ever seen (fan since 1967)
Going to be a brutal preseason
Alabama United Center ,Tennesee Nashville, UConn@ MSG Missouri St Louis, Texas Tech @Home.
I assume we are not going to any tournaments like Maui etc.
5 top 20 nonconference opponents. Most I have ever seen (fan since 1967)
I have no idea what these other teams have coming back. We'll see how the Illini can click early on. Can anyone guestimate a potential record here?
vs. Alabama in Chicago: Leaning 'W'
vs. Tennessee in Nashville: Leaning 'L'
vs. UConn in NY: Leaning 'L'
vs. TT in Champaign: Leaning 'W'
vs. Missouri in SL: Leaning 'W'
I have no idea what Tennessee and TT are bringing back. I thought Alabama may lose a lot.
vs. Alabama in Chicago: Leaning 'W'
vs. Tennessee in Nashville: Leaning 'L'
vs. UConn in NY: Leaning 'L'
vs. TT in Champaign: Leaning 'W'
vs. Missouri in SL: Leaning 'W'
I have no idea what Tennessee and TT are bringing back. I thought Alabama may lose a lot.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
T-Rank Projections:
Illinois: 9
Texas Tech: 26
Alabama: 19
UConn: 11
Tennessee: 12
Missouri: 27
A chance each of those is a top 25 match up.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
I know it’s a different sport and a different time, and most importantly the metrics to get into the postseason greatly favor the Q1 games now.How do I lovetheethis non-con slate? Let me count the ways.
I love this to the depth and breadth and height
MysoulIllini fandom can reach, when feeling out of sight
But I’m starting to get the Guenther non-conference scheduling vibes here. That is a loaded schedule.
Hoping for the best of course.
Edit: thanks to @lstewart53x3 , seeing the ‘9’ next to our name feels better.
What a GAUNTLET! I'd say 3-2 would be a good outcome from this stretch. With the losses likely coming from Bama and UConn (hopefully we get revenge on both)?
SI has UConn at 3 and TTU at 6. Tennessee is right behind us at 16, while Bama is just outside the rankings.
I'd put Podz at the bottom of the list. I watched a fair bit of GS this season. I think their ceiling is being limited severely by Podz. He tries hard. Really hard. He puts it all on the line to draw charges. Even with that, his overall defense is subpar IMO, and his shooting is streaky. When the opponents put a plus defender on him, he totally disappears. That means in almost every big game he is a non-factor. His passing isn't good enough to make up for it.
PizzaHutParkingLot
- Vodice, Croatia
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We need a weekend non-conference marquee home game, and the schedule will be completed. December 13th is open. Last year, Illinois played Tennessee on December 14th. Six high-quality games and 2 or 3 home cupcake games should round out a 19-game home schedule.
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Last year we had five major non-con opponents as well, we swapped Duke for UConn and Arkansas for Texas Tech. I don't expect them to add any more of this caliber (but I'd love to be wrong), so next up scheduling-wise is a team in the Oakland tier.
There is a such thing as over scheduling and we're right at that line. In the very first month of this team playing together, they have Tech, Bama, UConn and Tennessee in front of them. I like the games, don't like the timing of them. Last year we played Duke mid season. Think that concept could have been the same for UConn, but it is what it is.
I don't see any way that happens. Last year we had 5 marquee games (Duke, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Missouri). The only home game was Tennessee. This year we have Texas Tech.
illiniswish09
- Northwest Suburbs
Was hoping for Kansas but I'll take it
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