Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#126      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
Weatherspoon1 said:
Agreed. Anyone thinking we’re better off without Morez is nuts. Dude is a friggin moose.
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I dont think anyone is....just people's struggle to get over the hurt feelings. We wanted him, he didn't want us....we'll still be contenders atop the B10 and have a very good frontcourt. Honestly sad we can't accept and move on from the posts bashing the young man and making up false, fantasy realities of him not getting PT and what not (very likely he starts and plays a lot). Just shows and makes for unnecessary and cheap despair.
 
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#129      
PepeSilvia
Emerson Bigguns said:
I fail to see how being an all conference player makes a person a better coach. There is no direct correlation to that being the case. There are enough examples in both categories to safely say they are different skill sets.
I’d argue that coaching having always been Tyler’s plan A, probably made him pay more attention to the nuances of coaching while he was still playing, rather than focusing on getting to the next level.
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I mean it doesn't but it's resume booster and door opener.

It buys you immediate credibility both with coaching players and recruiting(selling ideas to players and parents).
 
#130      
PasadenaIllini
Wonderful hire by Brad. As for those trying to insinuate that there is any hint of nepotism here, please stop being ridiculous. When you have the chance to bring on a coach with the amount of experience that Kevin Kruger brings to the table, including a winning record as a head coach, if you're looking to make your program the best it can be, you don't hesitate.
 
#131      
OrangeBlue98
PepeSilvia said:
Kevin could legitimately play. Was the best player on ASU under his dad and then was an All mountain West selection at UNLV his final year when they made a sweet 16 run(beating Wisconsin). Then he played professionally for several years after college.

As far as a coach, he worked at Northern Arizona before joining his dad at Oklahoma and then spent two years with Otz at UNLV before taking over as their HC when Otz went back to Iowa State.

As a head coach he wasn't really bad at UNLV just mediocre. Career record of 76-55(40-34 in conference) and finished 5th, 7th, 4th, and 6th in the MWC. Not great but depends on the resources UNLV gave him and seems overly qualified for an assistant and like he still could have gotten a gig at a mid major.

Seemed to do a decent job of identifying talent at UNLV even if the results were mediocre. Dedan Thomas was great for 2 years and is now at LSU, initially recruited Keyshawn Hall(Auburn) and Keshon Gilbert(Iowa State), then Harkless and Donovan Williams both have played in the NBA.
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He’s still getting paid by UNLV (net his Illinois salary), so maybe he felt like this would be a good opportunity to stay involved while recharging and reassessing. He’s familiar with Champaign. I would imagine as fellow K-Staters that Underwood and Lon have a good connection.

I’ve said for years that Brad should bring Lon in to consult on tactics and coming out of timeouts. Lon was one of the best coaches I’ve ever seen at that. If Kevin can bring some of that to the program, it’s a win.
 
#132      
New Creation
Dan said:
Underwood Adds Kruger to Fighting Illini Staff

"Kruger returns to Champaign, where he lived for four years and played two seasons at Centennial High School while his father, 2022 College Basketball Hall of Famer Lon Kruger, served as head coach of the Fighting Illini program from 1996-2000."

fightingillini.com

Underwood Adds Kruger to Fighting Illini Staff - University of Illinois Athletics

Veteran coach named Assistant to the Head Coach for the Fighting Illini.
fightingillini.com fightingillini.com
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Celebration Win GIF by Fighting Illini Athletics
 
#135      
altgeld88
IlliniKat91 said:
This is the camp I'm in. Whether the 22nd falls on a Monday or Wednesday, it's still close enough to Christmas that most companies are either off or people are using their PTO to prep for the holiday. It feels like it's the perception of it being on a Monday driving ire rather than actually looking at the calendar date.

I'll be honest, if we weren't expecting our first baby at the end of October, this is the year I'd try to con my husband into going down. Working in a high school I'd be off already, and he always takes the week off Christmas off. It would be perfect for our timing. Alas, baby girl to be has other plans for us and I'll be cheering from the couch again.
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I'm a week late (though I certainly hope your little girl isn't) with this but: this is absolutely wonderful news. Congratulations. :love: ❤️
 
#137      
robertgoulet
Calvin said:
He was so much more than that. Really exciting teams with guys that played their butts off.
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I remember seeing him at a UI bball camp I was attending and thinking "man that guy is way shorter than I expected".

Played a huge role in keeping (could actually argue "getting") the program where it deserved to be. Following a legend isn't easy.
 
#138      
the juiceman cometh
PepeSilvia said:
Also, I kind of doubt Otz took him as a nepo hire. They coached against each other in the Big12(assistants at ISU and Oklahoma). Sure, Kruger had the connection to UNLV because he played there and his dad coached there but I doubt he was forced on Otz.
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Nepotism isn't about whether someone is qualified or not and it isn't about whether someone is "forced" onto a job. It's about whether family ties play a factor in hiring. I suppose it's possible that Kruger's dad being the 2nd winningest coach in program history played zero part in the decision to hire him. But it's unlikely. And even if it didn't, had UNLV cared about the appearance of nepotism they would have avoided the hire. Clearly they did not care so much. I suppose all I'm saying is that since TU is on staff, might as well judge him on his performance and not his last name (same for Kruger).

PepeSilvia said:
I don't think Tyler would be getting the nepotism criticism if he had been an all conference level player and played professionally before being hired as an assistant.
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Two things that have nothing to do with nepotism or coaching.
 
#140      
Mobi
PizzaHutParkingLot said:
What specific skill set or strategic expertise does Kruger bring to the staff?

Is he known for developing a particular position group, drawing up late-game sets, implementing schemes, or being a strong recruiter with ties to a certain region or AAU circuit?

Curious how his prior head coaching experience at UNLV translates into a defined role on Brad Underwood's bench.
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He was the HC at UNLV for like 4 years and he learned under Otzelberger. He probably has lots of skill sets and know a thing or two about defense. He qualifies for an associate/assistant coach.
 
#143      
Mobi
illini0440 said:
You guys question everything lol
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I don't know if I should open the pandora box but doesn't Kruger qualify for a associate/assistant coach? We may not have the slot this year but how about next year?
 
#144      
Scoregasm
#147      
dish3
Dan said:
Illinois to Face Tennessee in Nashville on Dec. 6

"Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster."

"..along with a game in Chicago in 2027"

fightingillini.com

Illinois to Face Tennessee in Nashville on Dec. 6 - University of Illinois Athletics

Illinois will face Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
fightingillini.com fightingillini.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1943022509156151721
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Presale code is VERY guessable. They are not bashful with ticket pricing.
 
#148      
JKR
the juiceman cometh said:
Nepotism isn't about whether someone is qualified or not and it isn't about whether someone is "forced" onto a job. It's about whether family ties play a factor in hiring. I suppose it's possible that Kruger's dad being the 2nd winningest coach in program history played zero part in the decision to hire him. But it's unlikely. And even if it didn't, had UNLV cared about the appearance of nepotism they would have avoided the hire. Clearly they did not care so much. I suppose all I'm saying is that since TU is on staff, might as well judge him on his performance and not his last name (same for Kruger).
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I don't follow. Are you saying that Kruger is the second winningest coach at Illinois? Maybe you are saying UNLV?
 
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