Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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Hate to be pessimistic but we could finish anywhere from 1-7 in the conference. The big ten is pretty loaded this year at the top.
Michigan, UCLA, Purdue, Wisconsin, Oregon, OSU, USC, Indiana, Iowa are all improved and have aspirations for March.
I think we are behind Purdue, Michigan & UCLA right now.
Michigan, UCLA, Purdue, Wisconsin, Oregon, OSU, USC, Indiana, Iowa are all improved and have aspirations for March.
I think we are behind Purdue, Michigan & UCLA right now.
I'll say 2-7. Purdue will very likely run away with it at the end with their talent.
two other teams: MSU and Washington. I'd put them above Iowa and USC at the moment.
As our roster is currently, I'd edit that to 3-7. We aren't currently talented or deep enough on paper to finish ahead of Purdue or Michigan.
Read the last line.
great coach
1m4tr
Cliffmas
Aren’t we due to have a season where we finish above expectations by two spots in the league? Seems like Wiscy achieves that every year.
Perhaps, but in basketball, talent wins. When our first option off the bench in our backcourt is a 4 star incoming true freshman, unless a miracle occurs (highly unlikely), that just isn't good enough to compete in a physical, deep conference with many deep and talented teams.
If our coaching staff can find another experienced backcourt addition, then we're in business, but unless that happens, given what our competition is bringing to the table, I just don't see it.
I think 3-7 is optimistic. And no, we're not in the same league talent-wise as those two teams.
I agree. There's glaring holes on this roster right now. Maybe it's not in the cards, but I think they need another contributor in the portal. I'd be more optimistic with a rim running defensive 4 or even if it were Ty. I think Ty was the X factor on this constructed team as a utility weapon. That it seems he's gone for season is devastating.
I think Morez would have been just an awesome fit here. I think both he and this Illini team would have been better off with him here this season. His offensive game would have and will expand just based on his sheer raw talent. He's going to be a very good college basketball player before all is said and done.
There's no doubt of the offensive talent on this team. I also think this could be one of the worst Illini team's defensively in recent memory. One also lacking athleticism. Without another addition & assuming Ty's gone for season, Lee is absolutely going to have to play a huge role with the complete lack of depth in the backcourt.
What's more important to everyone, our Big Ten record or making it into the Sweet Sixteen? The latter is how Dean Smith made a name for himself.
Didn't realize/remember we already played him! Thanks!
That bolded is a wild statement. For 95% of our history, we would be (rightfully so) ecstatic at such a “problem.”
Is this your first time watching college basketball? Because some of your claims are absurd. Seriously what do you find so incredibly destructive about a top 90-100 freshman guard (very much like DGL/Sencire Harris; maybe even a bit better) playing a 8-10 minute role? You think he's AJ Redd?
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For 95% of our history we didn't have or allocate the resources to pay our coach a top 10 salary nationally. We have the resources now to compete for conference championships. That should be the level of our expectation. Not the expectations of the Bruce Weber era or John Groce era or Harv Schmitt era, or whatever bygone era the bar was substantially lower.
Morez on this team immediately elevates us to a final four contender. I mean basically a guy who averages a double double per 25 minutes.
What's tough about the Ty injury is that I talked myself into the "if Morez was here, Ty wouldn't be" idea (which is probably true). But turns out we won't get Ty anyways.
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^^^^^^^^ Goes on about "absurd claims." Then proceeds to label a player who hasn't played a minute of college basketball "very much like DGL/Sencire Harris; maybe even a bit better."
you don't think freshman year DGL/Sencire is a fine expectation for Lee in a 10 minute role?
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There are far, far bigger concerns on this roster than Brandon Lee playing 8 minutes per game.
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We are not an all-time top 15 college BB program because BUs predecessors strived for mediocrity. Quite the opposite. Bruce and John were outliers. Perhaps some views are skewed because of recent past coaching records. Let's at least get this year's team on campus and practicing together before making any predictions of success or failure.
1. If Lee is our primary backup for positions 1-3 on the court, how will we be able to limit his minutes to 10 a game?
2. I've been a fan of this team for a long time and watched a lot of Illini frosh. I've learned not to have expectations for true freshman who don't have European professional experience.
He needs to be better than a 10 minute role. Assuming the starters (Petrovic, Bos, and Andrej) all average 30 and never get hurt, which is a lot, you still have 30 minutes to fill off the bench between Lee, Davis, and Wagler.
Except Morez cant stay on the court for 25 minutes because he cant play without fouling.
Winning in March is more important. Not to say that winning conference games is not important but if you win the conference and lose in the 64/32 round is a failure.
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