This is awesome.
Would Will Wade had taken the Illinois job if it was open last spring?
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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Would Will Wade had taken the Illinois job if it was open last spring?
Guy seems unhinged
Sounds like an unsuccessful coach throwing everyone under the bus to me
Brad used to get clowned when he acted like this
We will have to see! He’s picked up his production as the competition has improved, which is crazy. And is why he is approaching lottery territory in some mocks in a really strong draft class.
It’s just funny a couple months ago there was this huge uproar because our high school recruiting did not have any obvious stars, and now we have another one and done and people have shifted to finding reasons why that’s bad now.
if we were 8-4 with losses to seton hall and Texas I’m not sure this board would care too much about the fire to be honest.
Half this board is pissed off for “throwing guys under the bus” after the Nebraska game for a bad few days of practice.
are you talking about the kid who was expected to either have limited play time or redshirt?
What f-ing bonus we never saw coming!
One and done…. I hope so for the player!
Is NC State listed in Kenpom? I can't command F them so I can't give you their metrics, but they're 8-4 with losses giving up 102 to Texas and 85 to Seton Hall.
We're a better team than they are to put it simply. Plus, I'm not sure he sounds too inspiring either.
So why is that exactly a bad thing? The fact that that's been the case, despite Kylan being "good"... to me has more to do with how good Keaton's been and not a knock on Kylan.
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Got it... so basically your problem is "why is Keaton our best player."
IMO there's much more important problems to be concerned about than "the guy who's our best player I had no idea would be this good."
I don't think that point would ever hold ground if he was a five star (instead of being #261 on 247composite... literally).
It's especially flawed logic because one star freshman is not the same as a whole team that's majorly composed of freshman (like us last year).
One great freshman, surrounded with a cast of vets, doesn't hurt you. Jase Richardson at MSU is an example of this - primary shot creator, led them in scoring, led them to the E8, went on to became a first round pick.
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Sam Vecenie, Adam Finkelstein.... quite some Illinois talk, especially Wagler. From approx 44:27:
(this was after the Tennessee game)
(this was after the Tennessee game)
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#28 overall. #55 in DRtg.
I think its more-so "the guy who's our best player can't be a freshman" or at least "our point guard can't be a freshman."
I don't agree with it, because everyone around him (other than Mirk) is an upperclassman. Plus, if things do get shaky, Kylan's more than capable as a ball-handler and maybe even Petro in spurts. But while it's working, it's okay to exercise putting the ball in your best ball handler's hands - it's our best form of offense.
Your Jace Richardson example in the following post was spot on.
I think one of the biggest attributes with Wagler is he doesn't turn the ball over - that itself is good enough to keep him on the court as a freshman PG (and not be a liability). He's also second on the team in rebounding (kinda crazy).
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I want consistency on getting to the second weekend. That leads to better opportunities on getting to the FF. Yes, there is a bit of luck involved when it comes to upsets. We caught a break in 24 to get to the S16 by playing Duquesne instead of BYU. Winning in march is paramount as it improves recruiting with national exposure, more money by boosters when you produce a winning product. I also do not understand the lame attitude that some have here that they are happy with the status quo
But being happy about what we’ve accomplished and wanting us to do more are not mutually exclusive feelings to have
The people I don’t understand are the ones who ignore the former entirely while constantly complaining about the latter
Edit: not saying that’s you
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Was Izzo playing Jace Richardson 38 minutes a game all November/December? Or did he bring him on gradually so he would still have his "legs" in March? He's been awesome but to say there aren't worries of him hitting a freshmen wall while logging those minutes? Seems optimistic to me
That's all I'm trying to say. Teams with veteran guards as your lead "action guy" have owned the second weekend on. Partially because of experience, but also because multiple years in a college S&C program better prepares you for the physical draw of 35+ games.
He hasn’t played 38 minutes per game all November/December. He averaged under 30 minutes the entire season until the last two games. What the hell lol at least look something up before you make some outrageous claim. The reason Richardson did not start playing a bunch of minutes until February is because Wagler is miles ahead of him at this stage.
Also there is zero evidence we cannot go deep in a tournament with Wagler. Look at him flying up draft boards and the turnover rate is pristine for a lead guard.
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I agree that we can make a run in the tournament with Wagler.
Also, he played less than 30 minutes in buy games, correct. Though that did bump up to 35+ in P4 games like TTU and Bama where we didn't happen to be up by 30.
Coach Izzo also utilizes a deeper roster than most. Think his highest MPG guy is sitting around 30 right now.
I don't care to argue this any further. I love Wagler's game and knock on wood that he stays healthy and continues his ascension.
There are near 40 year old guys in the NBA playing 36-38 mins per night across 70ish games (I’m taking out 12 games for “rest”). I think an 18 year old can certainly do it for 2 games. If we agree Wagler can be an integral piece of a team that advances in the tourney then I think we angree on what the main point is anyway.
Will Wade is also in year 1 and doesn't have anywhere near the roster that Illinois has haha. I love this type of fire from a head coach, would much rather hear this than "Give credit to the team we just played" or "Tip my cap to that team, they are good". Don't get me wrong, I really like Brad and would have him over Will Wade but sometimes his post game pressers bother me, especially after a loss.
This was after a 36 point win vs cupcake though
Here's one after a 83-73 loss:
You don't have to wait long, at the 32 second mark: "they made some TOUGH threes, give Hall and Overton credit, two great players, they really did a great job tonight"
Here's one after a loss to Seton Hall in the Maui Invitational:
Here you have an even shorter wait, at the 9 second mark: "Give Seton Hall a ton of credit"
They spent a ton of money on some big transfers and a top-30 prep recruit. Darrion Williams probably cost them more NIL than anyone on our roster. I wouldn't be surprised if their roster was more expensive than ours. If not, it's at least in the same ballpark.
The Sprouting Divot
Invisible and Bulletproof
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And just as baffling is the sizeable contingent who apparently believe that the former must logically and categorically reject the latter.
I think my biggest frustration with Brad is the way our losses typically happen. Perhaps it's selective recall (and I'm sure one of the more stridently optimistic stat compilervomiters will be by soon if I'm wrong) but I feel like it's rarely a closely fought, back and forth game where we just happened to not have the lead when the clock expires. They're usually really ugly losses in one way or another, and I would put the Nebraska game in that category. Heroic comebacks are only good if they're successful, of course, but even better is if we don't play like !!! for extended periods, and/or allow yet another career game to require us to rally.
My sense of Brad’s teams so far (and most of our losses under his watch) remind me of Longfellow's Little Girl - when we're good, we're very, very good, but when we're bad, we're horrid. And I would personally like a lot less of that variance.
Bigtex
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I am interested in data/facts. What has been Illinois raking (kenpom/net/ whatever source works) Start of the season? January 1st and then mid march?
Historically have Illinois teams progressed?
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