Illini Basketball 2025-2026

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#478      
@sharpshot16 Glad to see you’re back! Hope you’re ok. You and your insight were missed!
Had some real life changes happen - in a good way!

Happy to be back.
I see it this year. He has the shooters to make it work and it has been obviously extremely efficient. Last year we didn't have the personnel to make it work and when threes didn't fall we also rarely adjusted, and I don't know if it would have mattered much if we did.

This roster has been much better for the game Tyler wants to play.
The past 3 years our offensive has been ranked:

2024 - #4
2025 - #14
2026 (current) - #1

I can't think of any assistant in the business that has performed at that level. The dude lives and breathes basketball and it shows. I am waiting for the moment he wants to get out from his dad's shadow and take a head coach gig...at this pace its not far off.
 
#479      
Had some real life changes happen - in a good way!

Happy to be back.

The past 3 years our offensive has been ranked:

2024 - #4
2025 - #14
2026 (current) - #1

I can't think of any assistant in the business that has performed at that level. The dude lives and breathes basketball and it shows. I am waiting for the moment he wants to get out from his dad's shadow and take a head coach gig...at this pace its not far off.
@illini0440 don't leave us
 
#480      
Leonardo Dicaprio GIF
 
#481      
Had some real life changes happen - in a good way!

Happy to be back.

The past 3 years our offensive has been ranked:

2024 - #4
2025 - #14
2026 (current) - #1

I can't think of any assistant in the business that has performed at that level. The dude lives and breathes basketball and it shows. I am waiting for the moment he wants to get out from his dad's shadow and take a head coach gig...at this pace its not far off.
Impossible for a nepo
 
#482      
Would be kind of fun if he’d stick around and then replace Brad someday.
 
#483      
ESPN released a top 50 players list. Only KW makes the list at 15th. In fact 7 out of top 15 are freshmen. Morez at 47th. I don’t follow enough bball outside Illinois to make an intelligent argument here but it just feels like we should have one more player here. But I gotta say there is a lot of talent out there now with NIL keeping players at the collegiate level.

 
#484      
ESPN released a top 50 players list. Only KW makes the list at 15th. In fact 7 out of top 15 are freshmen. Morez at 47th. I don’t follow enough bball outside Illinois to make an intelligent argument here but it just feels like we should have one more player here. But I gotta say there is a lot of talent out there now with NIL keeping players at the collegiate level.

You also might notice Keaton is the only one in the list without an actual player picture.

Bart Torvik keeps a good running list of top players by his PORPAGATU! stat (effectively, the stat is points over a replacement player at that level of usage, because the more a player is used, the lower his efficiency is on average). In that stat, KW is 2nd in the nation (he was 6th before Saturday, so it's not like it's just one game):

PORPAGATU!
 
#485      
You also might notice Keaton is the only one in the list without an actual player picture.

Bart Torvik keeps a good running list of top players by his PORPAGATU! stat (effectively, the stat is points over a replacement player at that level of usage, because the more a player is used, the lower his efficiency is on average). In that stat, KW is 2nd in the nation (he was 6th before Saturday, so it's not like it's just one game):

PORPAGATU!
Tre White sighting there
 
#487      
ESPN released a top 50 players list. Only KW makes the list at 15th. In fact 7 out of top 15 are freshmen. Morez at 47th. I don’t follow enough bball outside Illinois to make an intelligent argument here but it just feels like we should have one more player here. But I gotta say there is a lot of talent out there now with NIL keeping players at the collegiate level.


Jeremy Fears Jr. at 14…

We rue losing good players either in recruiting or via transfer a lot (like all fanbases), and we dont seem that bothered by Fears - but maybe I’m assuming too much.

I imagine it has to do with us having Boswell the past 2 years, KJ, and now Keaton. Just find it interesting
 
#492      
ESPN released a top 50 players list. Only KW makes the list at 15th. In fact 7 out of top 15 are freshmen. Morez at 47th. I don’t follow enough bball outside Illinois to make an intelligent argument here but it just feels like we should have one more player here. But I gotta say there is a lot of talent out there now with NIL keeping players at the collegiate level.

It ultimately speaks to the strength of the team that we're getting contributions from so many guys that it's hard to single them out on a list like this.

I think it's nice to have an online article to recognize what someone like Nick Martinelli is doing carrying a bad team. That was Malcolm Hill once upon a time. I'm happy to take the wins instead.
 
#494      
Tre White might low key be Kansas's best player.

Which, no shade to Tre White, should demonstrate the gap between Illinois and Kansas this year.
That's quite the hot take considering Kansas has Darryn Peterson, who many consider the top prospect for the upcoming draft.

Check Peterson's stats...dude is a certified baller.
 
#495      
That's quite the hot take considering Kansas has Darryn Peterson, who many consider the top prospect for the upcoming draft.

Check Peterson's stats...dude is a certified baller.
He's had some fantastic games, for sure, but he's also been involved in less than half of Kansas' games thus far, and he was really only lights out in the Baylor game in terms of offensive efficiency. White has been the guy all season, game to game (except the Baylor game, oddly enough), and has managed to keep Kansas afloat with Peterson out.
 
#496      
He's had some fantastic games, for sure, but he's also been involved in less than half of Kansas' games thus far, and he was really only lights out in the Baylor game in terms of offensive efficiency. White has been the guy all season, game to game (except the Baylor game, oddly enough), and has managed to keep Kansas afloat with Peterson out.
Fair enough as far as being out... I'm not really into understanding advanced stats, so efficiency may mean something else to you than it does me, BUT dude is shooting 50, 42, 82...pretty dang efficient.
 
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