Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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The 15th through the 21st of February will be a huge pressure point for our team, IMO. Travelling across two time zones to the left coast isn't going to be a picnic. Neither will sleeping in away accommodations during the days we have to spend out there. So far, we've shown that we can stay focused under those difficult sorts of circumstances, but USC and UCLA with Indiana 3 days before those fixtures will require another level of focus. Specifically, a focus on the present, and not a focus on the future game we have against the conference leaders after these games. I'm pumped to see what this team can do.Welcome to the Illini Basketball thread
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Illini Basketball 2025-2026 (19-3, 10-1)
Date Opponent Result Mon, Nov 3 Jackson State W 113-55 Fri, Nov 7 Florida Gulf Coast W 113-70 Tue, Nov 11 Texas Tech W 81-77 Fri, Nov 14 Colgate W 84-65 Wed, Nov 19 Alabama L 86-90 Sat, Nov 22 Long Island W 98-58 Mon, Nov 24 UT Rio Grande Valley W 87-73 Fri, Nov 28 UConn L 61-74 Sat, Dec 6 Tennessee W 75-62 Tue, Dec 9 at Ohio State W 88-80 Sat, Dec 13 Nebraska L 80-83 Mon, Dec 22 Missouri W 91-48 Mon, Dec 29 Southern W 90-55 Sat, Jan 3 at Penn State W 73-65 Thu, Jan 8 Rutgers W 81-55 Sun, Jan 11 at Iowa W 75-69 Wed, Jan 14 at Northwestern W 79-68 Sat, Jan 17 Minnesota W 77-67 Wed, Jan 21 Maryland W 89-70 Sat, Jan 24 at Purdue W 88-82 Thu, Jan 29 Washington W 75-66 Sun, Feb 1 at Nebraska W 78-69 Wed, Feb 4 Northwestern 8:00pm BTN Sat, Feb 7 at Michigan State 7:00pm FOX Tue, Feb 10 Wisconsin 7:00pm Peacock Sun, Feb 15 Indiana 12:00pm CBS Wed, Feb 18 at USC 9:00pm BTN Sat, Feb 21 at UCLA 7:00pm FOX Fri, Feb 27 Michigan 7:00pm FOX Tue, Mar 3 Oregon 8:00pm Peacock Sun, Mar 8 at Maryland 2:00pm FOX
All times CT
Before this season started, the vast majority of us predicted that we'd finish below the top tier of the conference. Well look at us. Nearly half the season in our rearview, and we're fighting for a conference championship. Let's get it, fellas.
I had to actually look that's team up because I also found the incredible. looks like it was led by Lamar Stevens and they peaked in their ranking at 9 sitting at 20-5 overall and 10-4 in the big ten when Illinois beat them that year in February with Ayo going for 24 points in the Illinois 62-56 point win. Penn State went on to finish 11-9 in conference tied for 5th that year.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
If anyone needs something to jog your memory, this was the weird game where both huddles were mic’d up.
I’ll never forget Pat Chambers telling his players to force Ayo to his left. They forced him left and he hit that floater late to basically clinch the win.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
A couple new ways to illustrate how good we are:
Since December 1st, Nebraska has had the #1 defense in college basketball.
And we scored ~1.2 points per possession on them.
So, in our last two road games we've beaten the #2 offense and the #1 defense (since December).
That's good, right?
Oh and one more thing, we were down at half to both teams and outscored them by a combined 25 points in the second half.
That's huge, IMO. It shows the problem solving ability of the players and staff. It shows poise. And it reinforces the belief in the players that they are never out of it. And we know better than anyone, that's the type of thing that turns an Elite 8 run into a Final Four run.
Since December 1st, Nebraska has had the #1 defense in college basketball.
And we scored ~1.2 points per possession on them.
So, in our last two road games we've beaten the #2 offense and the #1 defense (since December).
That's good, right?
Oh and one more thing, we were down at half to both teams and outscored them by a combined 25 points in the second half.
That's huge, IMO. It shows the problem solving ability of the players and staff. It shows poise. And it reinforces the belief in the players that they are never out of it. And we know better than anyone, that's the type of thing that turns an Elite 8 run into a Final Four run.
Found this interesting. Underwood says they are one of the most efficient teams in the country on inbounds plays?
I know we’ve been better this year but I am still surprised by this.
Does he mean simply getting the ball inbounds without a turnover?
This is why I’d like to have access to some of the more granular data like this: a few weeks ago I read that Calipari’s teams consistently are top 3 nationally in BLOB efficiency every year. It surprised me because, well, he gets slandered as a poor coach who just assembles talent.
Anyway, our go-to OOB play is basically lob it to Mirkovic and then setup/run our regular stuff/actions, so it’s not surprising to me it’s working. You don’t need fancy OOB plays if you have the #1 offense in KP history, just get the ball in bounds and do what you normally do.
If you have the best offense in the country then getting to run your offense after an inbounds play is probably efficient.
It means your average points per play coming off a BLOB
I am still curious about Ty Rodgers. Feel bad for him, he has had such bad luck. Brad hinted a few weeks back that he was practicing, dealing with the flu or something, but he was going to return soon. I may be misremembering, but it would be great to see him be a part of this run on the floor.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
It would be financially silly for Ty to return this year. He’s not going to the NBA so he needs to maximize his earning power on the collegiate level.
Wait, I thought we didn't have any coaches on our team...
Exactly, Brad wants to get the ball in and get into a set. I'm sure he has some plays, but rather run offense.
They just want to clear out one side on the inbounds
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Very fun breakdown of the Illinois offense here!
I learned some things.
I learned some things.
LouHenson
- Naples Florida
Very much the case. Also, we will have enough issues with reintroducing Kylan into our rotation (and that will be easy) compared to bringing in a player who has not played in 2 years? I am not convinced he would play much as we would see the “center on Ty” again for sure, and this team lives on spacing and shooting. He simply would not help with that.
We would be basically bringing him into a game to be a defensive stopper (which we hope he can do after 1 surgery and 2 years off) for very short periods of game time. Is that worth an entire year of what he could make? Seems like a long shot? I hope so, but I have serious doubts.
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Seat numbers go from left to right. #1 seat is on the aisle on the left side of the section looking up from the floor at the section. For instance, seat #1 in Section 226 is on the aisle between Section 225 and 226.
How in the world was that Ayo floater not an and 1?
What an INCREDIBLE rebound by Feliz.
blackdog
- Champaign
BuT wE dOnT rUn SeT pLaYs
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