Eleventh-best is really, really good. We are fortuntate. And yet that rating -- to the extent it is accurate (not so much) -- leaves a ways to go to reach the mountaintop. Obviously.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
- Status
He said it was a player we had competed against a lot. Probably not one of ours.
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Can they play him by then? Yes based on comments from Brad. Will they? Betting little to none.
An insider on here said he’s going to start practicing next week. That’s all I know
We will see, but I bet Andrej and Tomi are rested against ISU: Andrej has started to practice with the team again, will be doing everything in a few days. Tomi should start to do some stuff this coming week-if not the week after, both will be back well before the first regular season game.
Game One prediction for November 3rd:
Kylan, Keaton, Andrej, Ben, and Tomi.
Petro will play 22-25 minutes off the bench if he does not start, Z 20 minutes, Mirk 12-15, Jake and Lee maybe a little less than that.
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
Kenpom has Illinois at preseason #6 in the country.
bsky.app
Matt Norlander (@norlander.bsky.social)
SUNDAY AM BULLETIN: @kenpom.com's preseason rankings have gone LIVE. Here's a look at the top 80. College hoops season is 22 days away!
bsky.app
FightinIllini30
Future insider
I am bought in on this Illinois team for sure- I think we’re gonna be really good. That being said, #6 is charitable. I hope I’m wrong
Reminder that preseason KenPom rankings are determined by returning production. And we have a lot of it.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
We have the talent. Get healthy. Get qualified to actually be able to play. Build chemistry. Let's see where the chips fall once the games start. The ceiling is high if things break right.
That starting lineup has the makings to be an offensive force. Keaton or Kylan as primary ball handler?
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Finally a poll that agrees with how my heart feels about how good we should be.Kenpom has Illinois at preseason #6 in the country.
Matt Norlander (@norlander.bsky.social)
SUNDAY AM BULLETIN: @kenpom.com's preseason rankings have gone LIVE. Here's a look at the top 80. College hoops season is 22 days away!
Torvik has Illinois at 7. Not sure it’s entirely charitable, but games still have to be played so I get it.
Kenpom: 6
Torvik:7
Evan Miya: 8
Torvik:7
Evan Miya: 8
AP: probably out of the top 25 lol. Wouldn't shock me one bit. But I expect it will be around 15-16Kenpom: 6
Torvik:7
Evan Miya: 8
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Love it. But whatever. Go play the games and justify the ex ante ranking.Kenpom has Illinois at preseason #6 in the country.
Matt Norlander (@norlander.bsky.social)
SUNDAY AM BULLETIN: @kenpom.com's preseason rankings have gone LIVE. Here's a look at the top 80. College hoops season is 22 days away!
Really looking forward to tip off in Nov.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I retract my earlier assessment. Now that I've examined the ranking more closely, and find four particularly odious programs occupying the 31/33/34/40 slots, I view the KenPom preseason ranking as infallible:
One week to go. I may have missed it, but it seems every year we have a discussion about how many players will be in the rotation. I haven’t seen it yet, except maybe one or two posts a while back. So, I will be that guy. I can see a possible 9 or even 10 player rotation this year. It’s my opinion, and as they say, that plus about $5 will get you a cup of coffee (I asked AI what the average price of a regular cup of coffee costs nowadays). Plus, I am basing this on what you all, the posters here on IL, have posted, and on listening to interviews with people like LaTulip and Isaac Trotter, among others.
Up until recently, when the unexpected news of how good KW is started to trickle out, I think most agreed on the starting line-up of MP, KB, AS, TI, with the question mark being at the 4; BH, or DM? I think BH will start, at least at the beginning of the season. I base that on what I have been hearing and the fact that BH has bulked up, and this is his second year; he’s more comfortable with the system, and I believe I heard he feels more confident, and that BU chose him to represent the Illini at Big Ten Media Days. Plus, the impression right now is that BH is more skilled offensively, although DM has said that he thinks people are sleeping on his offensive skills. And although I believe one or maybe two of the insiders have said KW will start the ISU game, I still think MP will be the starter for most of the season. Various reasons for that, but the most telling was when BU talked about how MP is like a jet. And I think BU will prefer that, but I suppose it could go either way. There are a few more reasons I think MP will start, but I think this post is going to be long enough, so I am trying to be as brief as possible. (“You call this brief?”)
I don’t know what the definition of “starter” minutes is, so I am limiting it to “significant” minutes. I suppose somewhere around 10-20 minutes. And I know my calculations may add up to more than 40 minutes total. But it’s just a rough estimate. So, I think MP and KB will be the starting guards. Then, KW will spell both of them during the game, i.e., KW will play both at point and combo guard, or whatever KB is considered. So that should add up to 20 or so minutes. I suppose KW could spell MP and BL come in for BAM, but with all the hype about KW, I think this will get him the most minutes. Big Z will spell Tomi at center. This is based on LaTulip’s and Trotter’s opinions, and others. They both said they thought Z would primarily back up Tomi, but would also play some at the 4. Also, BU has said he wants to see Tomi and Z on the court together. So, Z won’t split the time with Tomi at center, but with also playing some at the 4, he should also approach the 10-20-minute mark. I think that BH and DM will split the minutes at the 4. Although if BH has improved considerably on defense, which I believe there have been some indications that this has happened, he may get the majority of the minutes. And lastly, I think Jake will spell AS some at the 3. BU has said Jake is going to get more minutes this year, and I think Jake averaged about 10 minutes a game last year, so more should put him in the “significant” minutes category. I just don’t know if he will sub. for AS for that many minutes. He may play some at another position. And then maybe BL will fit in somewhere, though I don’t see how he will get significant minutes. So, that will be 9 players in rotation. And possibly 10 if somehow they can get BL some minutes.
This is probably not realistic, because, as it has been pointed out in previous years, when it comes down to crunch time, or when the games are too close, BU will play whom he considers to be the best.
With the season about to start, it just seemed as if there wasn’t really much activity going on here that should be. So, I thought I would just throw this out so people can shoot me down (just be gentle), offer their own opinions, and generate more traffic here. I get paid by the number of responses that call me an idiot. Actually, I already realize that my definition of significant minutes could be a faulty premise.
Up until recently, when the unexpected news of how good KW is started to trickle out, I think most agreed on the starting line-up of MP, KB, AS, TI, with the question mark being at the 4; BH, or DM? I think BH will start, at least at the beginning of the season. I base that on what I have been hearing and the fact that BH has bulked up, and this is his second year; he’s more comfortable with the system, and I believe I heard he feels more confident, and that BU chose him to represent the Illini at Big Ten Media Days. Plus, the impression right now is that BH is more skilled offensively, although DM has said that he thinks people are sleeping on his offensive skills. And although I believe one or maybe two of the insiders have said KW will start the ISU game, I still think MP will be the starter for most of the season. Various reasons for that, but the most telling was when BU talked about how MP is like a jet. And I think BU will prefer that, but I suppose it could go either way. There are a few more reasons I think MP will start, but I think this post is going to be long enough, so I am trying to be as brief as possible. (“You call this brief?”)
I don’t know what the definition of “starter” minutes is, so I am limiting it to “significant” minutes. I suppose somewhere around 10-20 minutes. And I know my calculations may add up to more than 40 minutes total. But it’s just a rough estimate. So, I think MP and KB will be the starting guards. Then, KW will spell both of them during the game, i.e., KW will play both at point and combo guard, or whatever KB is considered. So that should add up to 20 or so minutes. I suppose KW could spell MP and BL come in for BAM, but with all the hype about KW, I think this will get him the most minutes. Big Z will spell Tomi at center. This is based on LaTulip’s and Trotter’s opinions, and others. They both said they thought Z would primarily back up Tomi, but would also play some at the 4. Also, BU has said he wants to see Tomi and Z on the court together. So, Z won’t split the time with Tomi at center, but with also playing some at the 4, he should also approach the 10-20-minute mark. I think that BH and DM will split the minutes at the 4. Although if BH has improved considerably on defense, which I believe there have been some indications that this has happened, he may get the majority of the minutes. And lastly, I think Jake will spell AS some at the 3. BU has said Jake is going to get more minutes this year, and I think Jake averaged about 10 minutes a game last year, so more should put him in the “significant” minutes category. I just don’t know if he will sub. for AS for that many minutes. He may play some at another position. And then maybe BL will fit in somewhere, though I don’t see how he will get significant minutes. So, that will be 9 players in rotation. And possibly 10 if somehow they can get BL some minutes.
This is probably not realistic, because, as it has been pointed out in previous years, when it comes down to crunch time, or when the games are too close, BU will play whom he considers to be the best.
With the season about to start, it just seemed as if there wasn’t really much activity going on here that should be. So, I thought I would just throw this out so people can shoot me down (just be gentle), offer their own opinions, and generate more traffic here. I get paid by the number of responses that call me an idiot. Actually, I already realize that my definition of significant minutes could be a faulty premise.
For much of the offseason I thought this team would have a very high floor, but lacked a truly elite upside.
I’m starting to believe in the ceiling a lot more.
I’m starting to believe in the ceiling a lot more.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Keaton Wagler is a major reason the expectations have increased internally . Special player.
Glad we’ll get to see our first look in a week
Thoughts on the Morez quote?
“Looking for a players coach, a coach that wants to see his players develop”
On why he chose Michigan…
- Status