Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#651      
NarrowJ
the juiceman cometh said:
Agree with most of what you say but just one thing on this - I think people are mad at the way he left. There are of course some portion of fans who are always mad when a player leaves but Morez angered a lot of us that don't fall into that category. The things he and his camp said publicly after he left, the trolling on social media, were not OK. It's not just immature - it's designed to make the program look bad and hurt the program with future recruits, particularly recruits from Chicago. After that I think it's fine to root against the guy. In fact, I'd argue it's your duty as an Illini fan. I'd even argue that Morez has done more to deserve the ire of Illini fans than Hunter Dickinson.
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Yeah, definitely. They also supposedly had an NIL deal for this season already in place for over a month before he flipped.
 
#652      
BalloonsTheElephant
Brosky said:
Morez was (and is) a 6-9 center. He's strong and aggressive, but has absolutely no face-up game. Any talk of him in the NBA is preposterous.
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Did I say Morez was going to the NBA?

Santa Claus Cat GIF
 
#653      
Illini 993
Speaking of no individual, but players in general - are there any advanced analytics that show what the best way to handle playing/pulling a player in foul trouble? It seems that so many times, a player will automatically be pulled if he gets 2 fouls in the first half, but then plays the second half with 0-1 more. I understand it when it is a top player or two on a team, and probably agree with it. But, the way to get the most minutes out of a player is to just let him play until he gets 5 fouls, instead of ending the game with fouls to give. It must be the most effective the way it is done, because a vast majority of coaches follow the same plan. I'd like to see some kind of stats if they are available. I did find a few articles, but they were old ones, and were more opinions than numbers.
 
#654      
the juiceman cometh
Illini 993 said:
Speaking of no individual, but players in general - are there any advanced analytics that show what the best way to handle playing/pulling a player in foul trouble? It seems that so many times, a player will automatically be pulled if he gets 2 fouls in the first half, but then plays the second half with 0-1 more. I understand it when it is a top player or two on a team, and probably agree with it. But, the way to get the most minutes out of a player is to just let him play until he gets 5 fouls, instead of ending the game with fouls to give. It must be the most effective the way it is done, because a vast majority of coaches follow the same plan. I'd like to see some kind of stats if they are available. I did find a few articles, but they were old ones, and were more opinions than numbers.
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I think it's always going to be too situational to have a great statistics based approach. For one, it's going to depend a lot on how much you trust the player to be able to adjust and keep from picking up more fouls. Then you also have to consider whether the adjustment will hurt your team more than just putting a bench player in. Let's say for example the player that gets into early foul trouble is you center and the opposing center is also your opponent's biggest scoring threat. Can your guy provide competent defense and ensure he doesn't pick up more fouls, or is your oppenent going to just get whatever they want while your guy avoids firther foul trouble? Would your defense do better with the backup who doesn't have to restrain himself?
 
#655      
BalloonsTheElephant
the juiceman cometh said:
Agree with most of what you say but just one thing on this - I think people are mad at the way he left. There are of course some portion of fans who are always mad when a player leaves but Morez angered a lot of us that don't fall into that category. The things he and his camp said publicly after he left, the trolling on social media, were not OK. It's not just immature - it's designed to make the program look bad and hurt the program with future recruits, particularly recruits from Chicago. After that I think it's fine to root against the guy. In fact, I'd argue it's your duty as an Illini fan. I'd even argue that Morez has done more to deserve the ire of Illini fans than Hunter Dickinson.
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Totally agree. I was initially upset at Brad, but then what actually happened spilled out. The pressure is on to be successful in Michigan. You only get to leave like that once.
 
#656      
Emerson Bigguns
BalloonsTheElephant said:
Disclaimers:

I'm 100% onboard with the Z for Morez trade. He's a better all around player and covers some of what we lose with Morez leaving.
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I agree, with the caveat that its a Morez for Z. & Tomi combo trade. If Morez is here, I think there would have been more of a chance for them to team up somewhere else. I think they were going to find a way to play together, regardless. A lot of minutes opened up for Z when Morez hit the bricks.

In a vacuum, Z is more versatile, but I'm not sure his best individual tools are as good as MJ's best individual tools. Z is probably a better fit for how Brad likes to play.
Morez is going to be a tremendous pain in our backside. I'm hoping May lets him play the way he indicated he wants to. I'd rather play "perimeter shooting, trying to make the NBA Morez", than "Rebound and Dunk Morez". If he embraces his strengths he could be an All-American down the line. If he wants to be less efficient in Maize and Blue, I'm all for it.
 
#657      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Z was gonna be here regardless of whether Morez stayed or Morez left. We heard the rumors months before the season ended. Sugarcoating it as a trade off is just a help you feel better narrative.
 
#658      
the juiceman cometh
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
Z was gonna be here regardless of whether Morez stayed or Morez left. We heard the rumors months before the season ended. Sugarcoating it as a trade off is just a help you feel better narrative.
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I think it's a trade off in the sense that it appears (if you read between the lines) part of the reason Morez left was he didn't like that big Z was coming in. Seems like there never was a universe in which Morez and Z both end up here.
 
#659      
PepeSilvia
the juiceman cometh said:
How common is it for a coach to leave in a player when he picks up 2 or 3 quick fouls?
Sure, if you kept him in on average he'd manage to get to 30 minutes without fouling out, but we all know that's not how it works.
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I actually think one of the biggest statistical mistakes coaches make is sitting guys with fouls too long and too early to try to save them for late game situations that might not even occur.

Players have 5 fouls to give and you can't roll extra ones over to the next game.

If a guy picks up 2 quick fouls and then you sit him for 15 minutes in the first half sure he might not foul out in the 2nd half but you also lost 10-15 minutes where he could make an impact. Basically proactively punishing your team.

Would you rather have a guy pick up 2 early fouls, sit for a long time, and finish the game without fouling out but only play 20 minutes or a play a guy with early fouls and he fouls out with 2 minutes left but he gets to play 30 minutes?

Points count for the same amount in the first half as they do the second. I think it's just a risk aversion think where coaches just follow the conventional wisdom. Imo, let the guy play normally and cross the bridge of how to play without him if/when he actually fouls out. Don't adjust your gameplan and sacrifice a lot of minutes just to potentially save them for a few minutes at the end.
 
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#660      
MDchicago
Illini 993 said:
Speaking of no individual, but players in general - are there any advanced analytics that show what the best way to handle playing/pulling a player in foul trouble? It seems that so many times, a player will automatically be pulled if he gets 2 fouls in the first half, but then plays the second half with 0-1 more. I understand it when it is a top player or two on a team, and probably agree with it. But, the way to get the most minutes out of a player is to just let him play until he gets 5 fouls, instead of ending the game with fouls to give. It must be the most effective the way it is done, because a vast majority of coaches follow the same plan. I'd like to see some kind of stats if they are available. I did find a few articles, but they were old ones, and were more opinions than numbers.
Click to expand...
the juiceman cometh said:
I think it's always going to be too situational to have a great statistics based approach. For one, it's going to depend a lot on how much you trust the player to be able to adjust and keep from picking up more fouls. Then you also have to consider whether the adjustment will hurt your team more than just putting a bench player in. Let's say for example the player that gets into early foul trouble is you center and the opposing center is also your opponent's biggest scoring threat. Can your guy provide competent defense and ensure he doesn't pick up more fouls, or is your oppenent going to just get whatever they want while your guy avoids firther foul trouble? Would your defense do better with the backup who doesn't have to restrain himself?
Click to expand...

Ken Pomeroy did a multi-part Summer Series of blog posts on that subject almost 10 years ago. Link Punchline (to the extent there was one) is pretty much the first sentence of Juiceman's post above.
 
#661      
IlliniFan42
Illini 993 said:
Speaking of no individual, but players in general - are there any advanced analytics that show what the best way to handle playing/pulling a player in foul trouble? It seems that so many times, a player will automatically be pulled if he gets 2 fouls in the first half, but then plays the second half with 0-1 more. I understand it when it is a top player or two on a team, and probably agree with it. But, the way to get the most minutes out of a player is to just let him play until he gets 5 fouls, instead of ending the game with fouls to give. It must be the most effective the way it is done, because a vast majority of coaches follow the same plan. I'd like to see some kind of stats if they are available. I did find a few articles, but they were old ones, and were more opinions than numbers.
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Part of the equation isn't on the player, it's on the ref, and there's several pieces:

At halftime the refs will review the fouls called thus far and adjust. You'll also see throughout the game refs playing foul catch-up between the teams, with the home team almost always favored.

Whenever the clock hits a TV timeout on the next stoppage, refs will often search for fouls. There's a great benefit to being on offense at these specific times, and if you have a player defending with two fouls you know he's getting targeted.

Pulling a player at two fouls is basically the coach submitting to the refs. If the player isn't pulled (or even if he's put back in too early), some refs will take it as disrespect and find a way to get another foul called on the player.
 
#662      
RollChief
MDchicago said:
Ken Pomeroy did a multi-part Summer Series of blog posts on that subject almost 10 years ago. Link Punchline (to the extent there was one) is pretty much the first sentence of Juiceman's post above.
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Our man KP has spent decades trying to solve these very problems.
 
#664      
RoundBalcs
ImGonnaBeILL said:
Not Illini basketball itself but Illinois Inquirer found their Derek Piper replacement with Kyle Tausk

Unknown if long term but it's easy to see he's got a very bright future. Very well spoken. If you closed your eyes and listened, you'd think it was Piper speaking 🤣

Will try to link 1st pod below 👇
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Post in thread 'Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread'
https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/post/illinois-hoops-recruiting-thread.38940/post-2279372.

I’ve ascended to ‘not complete outsider’ status?
 
#665      
BalloonsTheElephant
Emerson Bigguns said:
I agree, with the caveat that its a Morez for Z. & Tomi combo trade. If Morez is here, I think there would have been more of a chance for them to team up somewhere else. I think they were going to find a way to play together, regardless. A lot of minutes opened up for Z when Morez hit the bricks.

In a vacuum, Z is more versatile, but I'm not sure his best individual tools are as good as MJ's best individual tools. Z is probably a better fit for how Brad likes to play.
Morez is going to be a tremendous pain in our backside. I'm hoping May lets him play the way he indicated he wants to. I'd rather play "perimeter shooting, trying to make the NBA Morez", than "Rebound and Dunk Morez". If he embraces his strengths he could be an All-American down the line. If he wants to be less efficient in Maize and Blue, I'm all for it.
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Z is more of a rim protector than Tomi and also fits the mold of player we want more than Morez. He's not as good as Morez at what Morez is good at, but we value what he is good at more than what Morez is good at. That wasn't confusing to write, lol. Z still brings some defense and rim protection.

It also helps that Queen is no longer playing college basketball. Morez is going to hear it all game when he comes to Champaign and will be playing with a lot of aggression. I'd send KB at him and get some early fouls when he leans in on the contest.
 
#666      
FightinIllini30

Someone may have shared this here already but it’s a fun watch. It’s cool to see the inner workings with Fletch, the chefs, and Brad being a goof lol. Also during some of the workout clips you can see just how strong Kylan is… he kinda kicks Dos’s butt
 
#668      
MTMinded
FightinIllini30 said:

Someone may have shared this here already but it’s a fun watch. It’s cool to see the inner workings with Fletch, the chefs, and Brad being a goof lol. Also during some of the workout clips you can see just how strong Kylan is… he kinda kicks Dos’s butt
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It is definitely a cool video. I would not characterize it as Bam kicking Ayo's butt. Ayo is noticeably more controlled in his movements. He also is doing some of the exercises for the first time. Methinks NBA Ayo is a beast...that's not saying Kylan isn't strong.
 
#671      
OrangeBlue98
RollChief said:
I heard he was given 2 more years of eligibility, I think the article came out a few weeks ago.
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Wow, and we all thought Jess Settles spent a lot of time in college…….
 
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