Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#676      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
RockfordIllini said:
I still maintain it’s a bad look that we’ve chosen to deploy our pretty substantial resources to build an offense first team when the coach’s son is offensive coordinator.

Is Tyler a good o coordinator? I think so. Has the axis in the sport shifted where most of the contenders tend to be elite offensively? I think that’s also right. But it still feels like we are an Iowa on steroids model, and Fran never won the conference and never got to a second weekend despite all the talent he had (Garza NPOY, Weiskamp nba pick, the Murray twins, couldn’t stand him but JBo was a plus BIG player, etc.)

Instead of grabbing strong offensive players and trying to teach them to guard, would like to see us grab a couple of athletic, defensive dogs and see if we can teach them to shoot corner 3s
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The same guy who's led a top 15 offense each of the past three seasons, and a top 3 offense two of those three years.
 
#677      
Fly Illini Fly!
www.espn.com

Ranking men's college basketball Freshman of the Year contenders

The Duke star has topped almost every edition of these twice-monthly rankings. See who made the final cut.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

8. Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois​

Previous rank: Unranked
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Biggest performance so far: 19 points and 10 assists vs. Nebraska on Dec. 13

A four-star recruit in the 2025 class, Wagler didn't enjoy the hype his peers did in high school but continues to prove he belongs in the conversation of most talented freshmen with elite efforts in Illinois' most challenging games. He finished with 19 points and 10 assists in a narrow loss to Nebraska last Saturday. He had 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a win over Tennessee. And he had 23 points in a win over Ohio State. The 6-foot-6 standout is trending toward a great freshman season, shooting 38.9% from 3 so far.
 
#680      
EmeraldCityIllini
NarrowJ said:
View attachment 45846
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These are fun - for the most part just graphing what Kenpom tells us - but you definitely get a picture of "style of play". Mentioned the other day Bama, Illinois, Purdue, and Lville are all in similar boats with powerful offenses and questions on defense (Bama defense a little more than a question at this point as they nicely drop to 69 after allowing 93 and 81 to USF and Kennesaw State respectively). - Most fans remain frustrated about Philon going nuclear at the end in that Bama game, I remain mostly frustrated about that 4-minute stretch to start the 2nd half where we missed layup after layup, and compounded it by missing FT's the rest of the half.

Arizona, UCONN, and Zaga cluster speaks for itself - same with Duke, Iowa State, and BYU. Honestly, makes me feel a tad better about Michigan - i dont think this defense is sustainable.

All this to say... Offense is our identity again and we're starting to form that as our program calling card. Just have the defense live in the 20-30 range.
 
#682      
derrick6
IlliniFan42 said:
Perhaps the strategy is to never create another #1 seed. After all, as a #1 seed the expectation is Final Four. #2 seeds should make the Elite Eight. #3 and #4 seeds should make the Sweet 16. So if you're incapable of getting past the Round of 32 but still wanna win your first game, your target seed should be in the 5-8 range. Then when you fail to advance to the second weekend, the defense is you performed to your seed and we can all perpetually be "happy to be here" as we keep getting our "bites of the apple".
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The #5 seed is the exception though. Definitely don’t want that.
 
#686      
ejam21
After last nights shooting display, took a look at our 3pt shooters and how they are faring through to date in total and against P5 teams since we've already played 7

Keaton: 43% for the year, 46% vs P5 (18-39)
Tomi: 37% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Ben: 36% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Mirk: 36% for year, 37% vs p5 (10/27)
Z: 34% for year, 30% v p5 (7/23)
Jake: 33% for year, 30% p5 (3/10)
Boz: 31% for year, 29% P5 9/31
Andrej: 25% for year, 29% p5 (5/17)
 
#687      
I-L-L 1318
ejam21 said:
After last nights shooting display, took a look at our 3pt shooters and how they are faring through to date in total and against P5 teams since we've already played 7

Keaton: 43% for the year, 46% vs P5 (18-39)
Tomi: 37% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Ben: 36% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Mirk: 36% for year, 37% vs p5 (10/27)
Z: 34% for year, 30% v p5 (7/23)
Jake: 33% for year, 30% p5 (3/10)
Boz: 31% for year, 29% P5 9/31
Andrej: 25% for year, 29% p5 (5/17)
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That will definitely play…especially when you factor in how many of those misses we are getting back.
 
#688      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
ejam21 said:
After last nights shooting display, took a look at our 3pt shooters and how they are faring through to date in total and against P5 teams since we've already played 7

Keaton: 43% for the year, 46% vs P5 (18-39)
Tomi: 37% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Ben: 36% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Mirk: 36% for year, 37% vs p5 (10/27)
Z: 34% for year, 30% v p5 (7/23)
Jake: 33% for year, 30% p5 (3/10)
Boz: 31% for year, 29% P5 9/31
Andrej: 25% for year, 29% p5 (5/17)
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We've been >30% in every high major game, minus UConn.
 
#689      
mysterio2525
ejam21 said:
After last nights shooting display, took a look at our 3pt shooters and how they are faring through to date in total and against P5 teams since we've already played 7

Keaton: 43% for the year, 46% vs P5 (18-39)
Tomi: 37% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Ben: 36% for year, 36% vs P5 (9/25)
Mirk: 36% for year, 37% vs p5 (10/27)
Z: 34% for year, 30% v p5 (7/23)
Jake: 33% for year, 30% p5 (3/10)
Boz: 31% for year, 29% P5 9/31
Andrej: 25% for year, 29% p5 (5/17)
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ugh this is great to see and hope we continue. it answers one of the two questions that carried over from last year (warranted or not)... can we consistently hit 3s and can we defend. I think we are working on both but feel better about 3s now that we are just chucking step back 3s every other possession.

we are 2 bone headed fumbles (Alabama with free throws and Nebraska with defense) from being a top 5 team in all the polls. we can be that from now on
 
#690      
Ga65
For anyone that thinks that Wagler will be around next year.
Pts first on team 15.7
3 pts made 26 first on team
Offense rebounds 29 tied for first on team
Assts 40 second to Boz 41
Steals 10 first on team
Fts 54 first on team
Ft avg .831 first on team
3 pt % .433 first on team
Mins 31.5 tied for first on team

Stats say best player on team and eye test doesn’t disagree. Gone to NBA next year.
 
#691      
Big Jack
Sadly i think you are probably right, lot of games left to play but t h e kid is definitely very talented.

I would hope his family and others would really tell him his body needs one more year of development and he elects to stay here and we make him a solid NIL offer.
 
#692      
21ChampaignSt
Big Jack said:
Sadly i think you are probably right, lot of games left to play but t h e kid is definitely very talented.

I would hope his family and others would really tell him his body needs one more year of development and he elects to stay here and we make him a solid NIL offer.
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Here are the conversations people close to him should be having.

Friends and family
"Keaton, we're so proud of you. Go fulfill your childhood dream of playing in the NBA."

Illinois coaching staff
"Keaton, you know you'll always have a spot here. But go make us proud in the league."

Illinois fans
"Keaton, thanks for spending your one year of college at Illinois. I hope it was as good for you as it was for us."

Fans of rival schools
"Keaton, go pro."

NBA execs
"Keaton, you've shown us enough. If you want to keep developing an NBA game and NBA body, the best way to do that is to join an NBA team."

Financial advisor
"Keaton, every additional year you spend in college could cost you eight figures down the line. Take the money and run."

Keaton to himself
"The NBA isn't the destination. That's just the beginning. Keep choppin wood."
 
#696      
TheOx76
While attending the Border war, I had a lot of time to think of other bball situations 🤣

Last possession for a win?
Really only 3 options (not in order)
1. Andrej
2. Kylan
3. Keaton

I leave off Tomi because it’s too hard to get the ball inside at the end of a game and a quick double could ruin a chance at a good shot.

1. Great 1 v 1 and can get the hoop or the foul. Not likely to pass once in score mode and double team could be a problem.

2. Can get off multiple types of shots and can distribute to the open man if needed. Size is an issue at the rim and sometimes settles for long 3s

3. Can get off any shot with size and also make a pass to the open man if needed.

Of course options will depend on matchups. Kylan has probably earned the first option but if you ask me, I’m picking Keaton almost every time
 
#698      
Fly Illini Fly!
TheOx76 said:
While attending the Border war, I had a lot of time to think of other bball situations 🤣

Last possession for a win?
Really only 3 options (not in order)
1. Andrej
2. Kylan
3. Keaton

I leave off Tomi because it’s too hard to get the ball inside at the end of a game and a quick double could ruin a chance at a good shot.

1. Great 1 v 1 and can get the hoop or the foul. Not likely to pass once in score mode and double team could be a problem.

2. Can get off multiple types of shots and can distribute to the open man if needed. Size is an issue at the rim and sometimes settles for long 3s

3. Can get off any shot with size and also make a pass to the open man if needed.

Of course options will depend on matchups. Kylan has probably earned the first option but if you ask me, I’m picking Keaton almost every time
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Best 1v1 option is Andrej. But for me best team option would be a Wagler-Ivisic (either one) pick n roll/pop.

Keaton's definitely the best decision maker.
 
#700      
sacraig
TheOx76 said:
While attending the Border war, I had a lot of time to think of other bball situations 🤣

Last possession for a win?
Really only 3 options (not in order)
1. Andrej
2. Kylan
3. Keaton

I leave off Tomi because it’s too hard to get the ball inside at the end of a game and a quick double could ruin a chance at a good shot.

1. Great 1 v 1 and can get the hoop or the foul. Not likely to pass once in score mode and double team could be a problem.

2. Can get off multiple types of shots and can distribute to the open man if needed. Size is an issue at the rim and sometimes settles for long 3s

3. Can get off any shot with size and also make a pass to the open man if needed.

Of course options will depend on matchups. Kylan has probably earned the first option but if you ask me, I’m picking Keaton almost every time
Click to expand...
Border war? Are you a Jayhawk?
 
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