Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
this could be the season
1m4tr
Cliffmas
But only if Andrej is playable. LOL.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
elite post, but LOL is wholly superfluous
Any chance we get Tomi back before UConn?
When we get healthy this team is DEEEP. We’ve got 6-7 guys that could lead us to lead us to victory on any given night.
Also, after years of Coleman and last year with KJ, it is refreshing to not have someone complaining about every foul or no call. No shade to those guys, but give me guys that just play.
Also, after years of Coleman and last year with KJ, it is refreshing to not have someone complaining about every foul or no call. No shade to those guys, but give me guys that just play.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
+infinity
Boz's restraint (and awareness) after that extreme BS call was very admirable
Sad that I can only like this once.
He’s still only 19 years old too.
He was probably in disbelief as I was and figured there was no way it would be upgraded.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Who knows how the metrics will shake out, but eye test wise Illinois and Alabama are the #1 and #2 offenses in America.
It'll be Stoj and Boz on Holloway and Phylon.
It'll be Stoj and Boz on Holloway and Phylon.
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I have to say, since the Underwood rebuild got off the ground in the 2019-20 season, there have been a few different "turning point moments" where I either began to really think that team had the potential for a deep NCAAT run or sort of lost hope and/or adjusted my expectations down to reality, realizing our ceiling was lower than I thought. I truly try not to overreact TOO much over one single game, but some examples include...
1. Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer to beat Iowa to end 2020, earning a double bye for the BTT that was not to be. We had an up-and-down season with some big wins, but we had gone through so many years of sucking that it was going to take a while to truly buy into us being "back." For so many reasons, this was a true statement win that we were a serious, nationally relevant program that was here to stay. I would have loved to see that team get a shot in the NCAA Tournament.
2. Winning the 2021 regular season finale at #7 Ohio State (the Ayo mask game) to cap off a streak of winning 11 out of 12 and leaving zero doubt whatsoever that we would get a #1 seed. Some folks might choose the beatdown of #2 Michigan without Ayo, but given all of the animosity between us and Michigan, it was clear we were geared up for that game and had something to prove. To then go get another top 10 road victory four days later combined with the WAY we grinded out that game left no doubt in my mind that we had the tools to win it all ... sigh.
3. The 2022 BTT loss to Indiana sort of made me at peace with the fact that this team might not be built for a deep run. I LOVED this team, and I guess I always held on to this belief that if we could hit our threes and our opponent couldn't triple team Kofi ... how exactly could you beat us?? However, something about this loss just sort of solidified my belief that this was indeed a good team but one that might be unlikely to go too far in March Madness ... which is fine, because they gave us our first regular season banner in 17 years!
4. This one is a two-fer, lol. After the 2023 team beat #2 Texas at MSG, I genuinely thought we had all of the pieces for a deep Tourney run ... it seems crazy to remember now given how this team performed down the stretch, but we showed SUCH grit in refusing to lose that game, and it just seemed like we had so many weapons. As the season went on, even dud losses to PSU at home or at Northwestern didn't truly dilute my hope ... it was the February 26 loss to OSU that solidified to me that this team just didn't have "it." We looked so lethargic. By the time we were losing to PSU for a third time in the BTT or Arkansas in the NCAAT, I had nothing but a passive hope we'd get lucky in some postseason games.
5. Shocking to many, I'm sure, but I'm skipping 2024 ... I loved that team, but there was never a moment where I was like "Oh crap, we might be legit!" or "Well, maybe we aren't as good as I thought." They were just steadily good all year, even through ups and downs, and I always thought we had Sweet Sixteen-ish potential. Getting that ISU victory to go to the Elite Eight felt like the epitome of "icing on the cake" for that season.
6. Another two-fer! Even though we already had THREE ranked wins by this point (including the UTTER beatdown of #9 Oregon on the road), it was actually the 91-52 annihilation of Penn State at home in 2025 that got me thinking we were an actual Final Four threat. We had just come back from a 2-0 West Coast road trip, and for us to just take care of business so methodically vs. an inferior opponent without any unnecessary drama felt like such a breath of fresh air that was all too rare even in some of our previous successful seasons. I retained MOST of this optimism even through the USC dud home loss (crazy stuff happens!) and the humiliation vs. Maryland at home (they have dark magic over us, after all), but it was the OT loss at Nebraska where I sort of gave up on the idea that this team could ever be consistent (or tough) enough to put together a Second Weekend NCAAT run ... we looked like we didn't want to be there, and no win after that TRULY 100% ever restored my confidence.
TL;DR
If you read through all of that, you will see that there have been a few "light bulb moments" for me over the last couple of years where I either (A) seemed to suddenly realize how high our ceiling was or (B) come crashing back down to Earth and accept that this was simply not "the year." I can honestly say, through all of the highs and lows, last night's gutsy win vs. #11 Texas Tech without key pieces and making ZERO threes in the second half might have me feeling the most "high" on a team since the 2021 team was tearing it up down the stretch. It was a statement that this team wasn't just good or talented or "high potential" or whatever ... we showed that we were complete and, more importantly, TOUGH.
Knock on wood, but I think this could be a special year.
1. Kofi blocking Garza at the buzzer to beat Iowa to end 2020, earning a double bye for the BTT that was not to be. We had an up-and-down season with some big wins, but we had gone through so many years of sucking that it was going to take a while to truly buy into us being "back." For so many reasons, this was a true statement win that we were a serious, nationally relevant program that was here to stay. I would have loved to see that team get a shot in the NCAA Tournament.
2. Winning the 2021 regular season finale at #7 Ohio State (the Ayo mask game) to cap off a streak of winning 11 out of 12 and leaving zero doubt whatsoever that we would get a #1 seed. Some folks might choose the beatdown of #2 Michigan without Ayo, but given all of the animosity between us and Michigan, it was clear we were geared up for that game and had something to prove. To then go get another top 10 road victory four days later combined with the WAY we grinded out that game left no doubt in my mind that we had the tools to win it all ... sigh.
3. The 2022 BTT loss to Indiana sort of made me at peace with the fact that this team might not be built for a deep run. I LOVED this team, and I guess I always held on to this belief that if we could hit our threes and our opponent couldn't triple team Kofi ... how exactly could you beat us?? However, something about this loss just sort of solidified my belief that this was indeed a good team but one that might be unlikely to go too far in March Madness ... which is fine, because they gave us our first regular season banner in 17 years!
4. This one is a two-fer, lol. After the 2023 team beat #2 Texas at MSG, I genuinely thought we had all of the pieces for a deep Tourney run ... it seems crazy to remember now given how this team performed down the stretch, but we showed SUCH grit in refusing to lose that game, and it just seemed like we had so many weapons. As the season went on, even dud losses to PSU at home or at Northwestern didn't truly dilute my hope ... it was the February 26 loss to OSU that solidified to me that this team just didn't have "it." We looked so lethargic. By the time we were losing to PSU for a third time in the BTT or Arkansas in the NCAAT, I had nothing but a passive hope we'd get lucky in some postseason games.
5. Shocking to many, I'm sure, but I'm skipping 2024 ... I loved that team, but there was never a moment where I was like "Oh crap, we might be legit!" or "Well, maybe we aren't as good as I thought." They were just steadily good all year, even through ups and downs, and I always thought we had Sweet Sixteen-ish potential. Getting that ISU victory to go to the Elite Eight felt like the epitome of "icing on the cake" for that season.
6. Another two-fer! Even though we already had THREE ranked wins by this point (including the UTTER beatdown of #9 Oregon on the road), it was actually the 91-52 annihilation of Penn State at home in 2025 that got me thinking we were an actual Final Four threat. We had just come back from a 2-0 West Coast road trip, and for us to just take care of business so methodically vs. an inferior opponent without any unnecessary drama felt like such a breath of fresh air that was all too rare even in some of our previous successful seasons. I retained MOST of this optimism even through the USC dud home loss (crazy stuff happens!) and the humiliation vs. Maryland at home (they have dark magic over us, after all), but it was the OT loss at Nebraska where I sort of gave up on the idea that this team could ever be consistent (or tough) enough to put together a Second Weekend NCAAT run ... we looked like we didn't want to be there, and no win after that TRULY 100% ever restored my confidence.
TL;DR
If you read through all of that, you will see that there have been a few "light bulb moments" for me over the last couple of years where I either (A) seemed to suddenly realize how high our ceiling was or (B) come crashing back down to Earth and accept that this was simply not "the year." I can honestly say, through all of the highs and lows, last night's gutsy win vs. #11 Texas Tech without key pieces and making ZERO threes in the second half might have me feeling the most "high" on a team since the 2021 team was tearing it up down the stretch. It was a statement that this team wasn't just good or talented or "high potential" or whatever ... we showed that we were complete and, more importantly, TOUGH.
Knock on wood, but I think this could be a special year.
Has to be the Wisconsin game for 2024. Capping off winning three games in three days for the BTT is always significant, especially that year.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Such a great memory for sure (and I think a HUGELY important moment for the program to not let Purdue win that banner, too), but my feelings about that team's ceiling/floor didn't really change after that game. After we beat FAU at MSG, I felt we were a Sweet Sixteen caliber team ... and even through all of the TSJ drama and whatever else, I never really changed that tune! Even after we beat ISU, I was just so ecstatic to be in the Elite Eight and never really thought we would beat UConn, so that was kind of my point - I didn't really have an "oh crap" moment with that team ... pretty much saw them as "Sweet Sixteen caliber" all year.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
Gonzaga hurdling is in kenpom is a little annoying. But they played really well so I get it.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Username checks out.
No issues. I'm happy someone hurdled Houston. That said, I think Creighton might be terrible.
Creighton is one of 8 teams, along with Illinois, who has an active tournament streak of at least 6 years, including the projected field in 2020.
Wouldn't mind seeing them fall off that list. Still early of course, but all the others; MSU, Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston, Baylor, SDSU, and us should extend their streaks this year.
@IlliniInBuckeyeState with the football guesses a bit more boring this year, I humbly ask again if you have any guesses for our attendance as of today vs. Alabama at the UC!
Alabama vs. Illinois | United Center
For reference, here was the ticket map on October 24 when I guess I last screenshotted it, haha.
October 24
View attachment 44807
November 10
View attachment 44808
So a tiny bit of positive movement in some sections, but it is still looking like it will be an underwhelming crowd.Hoping if we can go 2-0 this week, we could see a late surge of tickets, and I also wonder how many fans like me are planning on going and just haven't decided what tickets they want to buy.
There are quite a few people who will wait to make sure there is no winter weather to deal with too.
If we want to make this UC game a special event that Illini fans circle on the calendar every year, I think we need to lock in a date or date range and keep it that way. Similar to how Braggin Rights is always a few days before Xmas.
The best option is between Xmas and New Years. Students are off campus anyway, and many of them are in the Chicago area of course. That will bump up attendance. Plus the festive atmosphere can't be beat, and anyone who has been to Bragging Rights knows what I'm talking about.
Have to say that the Texas win was great, but you could see the writing on the wall if you looked at Skyy on the bench at the end of the game. Obvious that there was trouble in paradise. It also took Mayer being unconscious shooting threes to claw that one out. Same for the UCLA game. Took TSJ unconscious shooting from three to win that one. We won those but it was through a punchers chance - we got lucky with some great play at the right time to do so. Last night was not our best game where we got on a streak from three (like Oregon last year as well). Last night was won by taking what we were given. Totally a different thing. But I agree that this team has to show it can continue playing together and continue to make shots, but I think we are, to quote Mirk, "built for big games."
I think it used to be the first Saturday in December. Those were well attended. The Saturday daytime games avoided Bulls Blackhawks conflicts.
The schedule now includes a couple conference games that typically take that spot.
The spot between Christmas and New Years might work, but aren’t there a few days when the players get to go home around then?
This may have been posted and I didn't see it but Kylan scored his 1000th collegiate point in the win over Tech.
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