Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#526      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
Fly Illini Fly! said:
If you watch this, that last play was really not on Keaton. Matter of fact, he does a very nice job of showing and then with that length recovering out to Lawrence. He's there on the catch and makes it an off the bounce shot. Just a very, very difficult (somewhat lucky) shot by Lawrence.
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Almost all the other threes shown were catch and shoot. That was the lone one off the bounce.

Crazy thing is we **likely** win if it goes to OT. It shows how talented this team is that despite allowing over 1.3ppg you still had more than an opportunity to win. I see it a bit of the same way as the Minny game a few years ago, only this one results in a loss.

The previous possession was a bit of bad luck too as he says it was the one spot where the rebound couldn't go that it went.

And the possession before that was the questionable call on Ivisic. Not making excuses - just dont think we're as bad as some naysayers claim.
 
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#527      
BrownTown
lstewart53x3 said:
Even if this team doesn’t improve as the year goes along (and I assume it will), it’s still the #12 team in KenPom with wins over the #15 (road/neutral), #27 (home), and #39 (road) ranked teams.

Certainly that’s a team capable of making the S16, yeah?

We’re currently on pace for a ~3 seed. 3 seeds make the S16 every now and then, don’t they?

The TJ team was good. Made the E8. Had a KenPom rating of +24.53. This team has a KenPom rating of +26.63. So this team is arguably better. Why are people pretending like this isn’t a good team?
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I would say because you don't have a TSJ or Domask who just flat out refuse to lose. Those types of players are typically what get you over the edge.

At this moment, we will be requiring a true freshmen who is playing about 38 minutes a game to step up in those key moments.

Kylan will be solid but he's already ceding alpha status to Wagler. Andrej isn't very consistent nor a winning player at this point (though he's shown flashes).
 
#529      
BretMyBeachHouse
NarrowJ said:
Well I can understand why you are upset, if you actually believe a legitimate D1 P4 program would keep a guy on who contributes absolutely nothing, but because he's 'a cool dude', we throw him $200k.
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I certainly don't feel qualified to comment on Hamer's ability. But I don't believe Jay Price ever coached another day in men's college basketball after leaving Illinois, so yes, I believe that through relationships many guys get jobs that they probably shouldn't have.
 
#530      
Fly Illini Fly!
BrownTown said:
I would say because you don't have a TSJ or Domask who just flat out refuse to lose. Those types of players are typically what get you over the edge.
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This exact argument being made for every great player that's played here is just freaking hysterical.

Did that team not blow a 7 point lead with 35 seconds left to a bad Penn State team? Did that team not have a horrid home loss to a Maryland team that went under .500? Did that team not have a game giving up 1.47 points per possession (albeit in a win) to a Minnesota team that missed the tourney?

I have no idea who told you our past teams didn’t lose?
BrownTown said:
At this moment, we will be requiring a true freshmen who is playing about 38 minutes a game to step up in those key moments.

Kylan will be solid but he's already ceding alpha status to Wagler. Andrej isn't very consistent nor a winning player at this point (though he's shown flashes).
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So if Keaton's really good Kylan somehow... can't be?
 
#531      
BrownTown
Fly Illini Fly! said:
This exact argument being made for every great player that's played here is just freaking hysterical.

Did that team not blow a 7 point lead with 35 seconds left to a bad Penn State team? Did that team not have a horrid home loss to a Maryland team that went under .500? Did that team not have a game giving up 1.47 points per possession (albeit in a win) to a Minnesota team that missed the tourney?

I have no idea who told you that team didn’t lose?

So if Keaton's really good Kylan somehow... can't be?
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You're missing my point.

In March, old teams and great guard play get you to the 2nd weekend on.

Keaton is playing huge minutes for a freshmen...I hope I'm wrong BUT freshmen walls are real. Especially for shooters who play big minutes...this is not a new thing.

Why I'm saying you want a guy like Kylan to be the alpha as he has 4 years in S&C program and is better suited to handle the grind of 30 games.

Nothing wrong with Keaton being awesome. If you think he's not gonna hit a wall this season playing 38 minutes in a physical B1G conference....Well let's just hope that doesn't happen.

Ideally, Andrej becomes the guy at some point and takes that next step into consistency. With his 3pt jump shot looking absolutely broken...might make him a bit 1 dimensional against a good defensive team.
 
#532      
NarrowJ
Fly Illini Fly! said:
This exact argument being made for every great player that's played here is just freaking hysterical.

Did that team not blow a 7 point lead with 35 seconds left to a bad Penn State team? Did that team not have a horrid home loss to a Maryland team that went under .500? Did that team not have a game giving up 1.47 points per possession (albeit in a win) to a Minnesota team that missed the tourney?

I have no idea who told you our past teams didn’t lose?

So if Keaton's really good Kylan somehow... can't be?
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The umpteenth time I’ve seen this “refuse to lose” idea parroted, how is this measurable? I mean, the best way I know how is: the E8 team won 76% of its games, this team has won 73% of its games with a near identical SOS (17 vs 19). So it seems this team has a near equal “refuse to lose” rate.

I also am going to take issue with Andrej not being a winning player, what’s up with that? Are we talking about him playing at Cal or at Illinois? I thought he really responded with the 10 boards, he is running bad with the 3 pt shot but also made 7-7 FTs.
 
#533      
BrownTown
Fly Illini Fly! said:
This exact argument being made for every great player that's played here is just freaking hysterical.

Did that team not blow a 7 point lead with 35 seconds left to a bad Penn State team? Did that team not have a horrid home loss to a Maryland team that went under .500? Did that team not have a game giving up 1.47 points per possession (albeit in a win) to a Minnesota team that missed the tourney?

I have no idea who told you our past teams didn’t lose?

So if Keaton's really good Kylan somehow... can't be?
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After reading your post again ..I did not make it clear enough that I was specifically talking about a postseason run.

Yes, just about all of Brad's teams have had those head scratching losses during the season. No matter how many All Americans were in the roster.
 
#534      
BrownTown
NarrowJ said:
The umpteenth time I’ve seen this “refuse to lose” idea parroted, how is this measurable? I mean, the best way I know how is: the E8 team won 76% of its games, this team has won 73% of its games with a near identical SOS (17 vs 19). So it seems this team has a near equal “refuse to lose” rate.

I also am going to take issue with Andrej not being a winning player, what’s up with that? Are we talking about him playing at Cal or at Illinois? I thought he really responded with the 10 boards, he is running bad with the 3 pt shot but also made 7-7 FTs.
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His defense and rebounding aren't where they should be. That's all effort IMO. Hence the winning player vs. the guy who fills the offensive score sheet aka gets his.

Refuse to lose is referencing TSJ or Domask in late games being able to seal wins. Admittedly, I'm moreso referencing the postseason stretch run.
 
#535      
NarrowJ
BretMyBeachHouse said:
I certainly don't feel qualified to comment on Hamer's ability. But I don't believe Jay Price ever coached another day in men's college basketball after leaving Illinois, so yes, I believe that through relationships many guys get jobs that they probably shouldn't have.
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I don’t even know how he ended up here other than what the UI website tells me:

“Hamer arrived at Illinois in the summer of 2019 after spending the previous two seasons on staff with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was an advance scout in 2019 after debuting as a coaching associate in 2018. Hamer handled opponent scouting, with a focus on defensive game planning, and created video playbooks on all NBA teams.”
 
#536      
BalloonsTheElephant
I know what I saw when we played UConn. One team could get an easy basket when they need to stem the tide, the other settled for bad threes after making no attempt to get to the paint.

Tyler is good enough, but Murray on a different level with the sets he runs. I understand their current rankings, but the difference is fairly negligible at this point in the season.
 
#540      
NarrowJ
BrownTown said:
His defense and rebounding aren't where they should be. That's all effort IMO. Hence the winning player vs. the guy who fills the offensive score sheet aka gets his.

Refuse to lose is referencing TSJ or Domask in late games being able to seal wins. Admittedly, I'm moreso referencing the postseason stretch run.
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He just had 10 rebounds. He was the only guy that could slow down Thornton.

They have won 3 Q1 games (most nationally is 4) so this team can certainly “seal wins”. Have played zero NCAA tournament games yet so a little early to write them off for postseason stretch run.
 
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#541      
Fly Illini Fly!
eas23 said:
Here's the Penn State game after TSJ was back and exactly one month before we started our tournament run to the Elite 8.

Penn State 90, Illinois 89 Postgame

We are not a top 10 team. We are not a top 20 team right now.
www.illinoisloyalty.com www.illinoisloyalty.com
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Ooof Penn State was rough!

One thing that's always been consistent however is our ability to respond from most of these losses. Maybe one exception would be the team in '23, but under Brad we have not had a history of folding after those losses.
 
#542      
Fly Illini Fly!
BrownTown said:
His defense and rebounding aren't where they should be. That's all effort IMO. Hence the winning player vs. the guy who fills the offensive score sheet aka gets his.

Refuse to lose is referencing TSJ or Domask in late games being able to seal wins. Admittedly, I'm moreso referencing the postseason stretch run.
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He literally just put up 19&10. No one was good defensively against Nebraska... but he was by far your most effective option on Thornton.
 
#543      
mysterio2525
just don't post another penn state game thread.... you know which one. I couldn't dare go into the depths of that depravity again
 
#544      
mysterio2525
we just moved up to 34 on kenpom defense! also we are the highest rated kenpom team with more than 1 loss and we have 3. that Nebraska loss hurt and I do feel like it was winnable even with their shooting.

get that defense little tighter, fewer easy layups off of cuts and just getting the team on shape and playing together and we are there. I'm back on the train!
 
#545      
Fly Illini Fly!
BrownTown said:
You're missing my point.

In March, old teams and great guard play get you to the 2nd weekend on.

Keaton is playing huge minutes for a freshmen...I hope I'm wrong BUT freshmen walls are real. Especially for shooters who play big minutes...this is not a new thing.

Why I'm saying you want a guy like Kylan to be the alpha as he has 4 years in S&C program and is better suited to handle the grind of 30 games.

Nothing wrong with Keaton being awesome. If you think he's not gonna hit a wall this season playing 38 minutes in a physical B1G conference....Well let's just hope that doesn't happen.

Ideally, Andrej becomes the guy at some point and takes that next step into consistency. With his 3pt jump shot looking absolutely broken...might make him a bit 1 dimensional against a good defensive team.
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What's your definition of "alpha" and how is that quantifiable? He just put up 20 points this past game... he leads the team in points, assists, and minutes played averaging 16.1 points, 4.3 REB, and 3.5 assist.

I think he's doing alright. Defensively he does need to get back to that elite level.
 
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#547      
BrownTown
Fly Illini Fly! said:
What's your definition of "alpha" and how is that quantifiable? He just put up 20 points this past game... he leads the team in points, assists, and minutes played averaging 16.1 points, 4.3 REB, and 3.5 assist.
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Who is initiating the offense? Who is Brad putting the ball in the hands of?

Its very much been Keaton the last couple games.

Kylan has been good. Not to disparage him but the center of gravity on this team is KW.

Who gets the ball when you need a big bucket? Right now it's Keaton. Followed by Andrej if he's having a good game but that's been a little sporadic
 
#549      
BrownTown
NarrowJ said:
Man I can’t believe I’m watching someone argue that having a surprise one-and-done is bad
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You really think KW keeps up his current production?

I'm the only one who has heard of a freshmen wall? I love Wagler's game...I don't want him having to play 38 to 40 minutes a game in December because Brad trusts him more than anyone else on the team.

In a perfect world he plays 40 minutes a game, keeps up his current production, and no worries come March. But that's quite unlikely.
 
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