ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
SFC better be foaming at the mouth and speaking in tongues for that one.
Illini Basketball 2025-2026
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Illinicpa14
- Chicago
lol I just don’t get how you can say you don’t trust the offense. They 100% may have a bad game and go home early but they’ve won in so many ways on offense. For a college team in a year with no dominant team, there is nobody they can’t put a big number on.
Also, I quite literally never said anything regarding a 1seed or 2seed in the big ten tournament. Your point was that we needed Michigan to beat Purdue in order to secure the triple bye, which really isn’t all too accurate.
About your point on triple byes: “securing the triple bye is crucial.” I actually find that quite accurate, so here it goes:
We have, as far as realistic scenarios go, put ourselves in a VERY good spot for the triple bye regardless.
Here’s the top6 teams in the conference standings as it currently stands:
Here’s the remaining schedule for each of those 6 squads:
Michigan: Duke (neutral; out of conference), home Minnesota, @Iowa, home Michigan State
Illinois: @USC, @UCLA, home Michigan, home Oregon, @Maryland
Purdue: home Indiana, home Michigan State, @OSU, @NW, home Wisconsin
Nebraska: home Penn State, home Maryland, @USC, @UCLA, home Iowa
Michigan State: home OSU, @Purdue, @Indiana, home Rutgers, @Michigan
Wisconsin: home Iowa, @Oregon, @Washington, home Maryland, @Purdue
If some don’t see it this way, that’s fine, and maybe I am wrong and we totally piss the bed…. but the worst I realistically see Illinois finishing in these final 5 games is 3-2. Split the west coast, loss to Michigan, take care of the two trainwreck teams of Oregon and Maryland (FWIW, Oregon lost 61-44 to Minnesota at home yesterday).
So — with that considered, and assuming we lose no more than 2 of our remaining 5 games, and obviously there’s other potential scenarios in play as well…. but as long as Wisconsin and Michigan State get to at least 6 losses (as those are the two teams that own direct tiebreakers over us), we are safe for the triple bye. Looking at the schedule for both teams, I think that’s very likely to happen.
IMHO, right now there should be more of a discussion about where we’d fall between 2-4 (assuming Michigan wins outright) than whether we get a triple bye or not.
About your point on triple byes: “securing the triple bye is crucial.” I actually find that quite accurate, so here it goes:
We have, as far as realistic scenarios go, put ourselves in a VERY good spot for the triple bye regardless.
Here’s the top6 teams in the conference standings as it currently stands:
Here’s the remaining schedule for each of those 6 squads:
Michigan: Duke (neutral; out of conference), home Minnesota, @Iowa, home Michigan State
Illinois: @USC, @UCLA, home Michigan, home Oregon, @Maryland
Purdue: home Indiana, home Michigan State, @OSU, @NW, home Wisconsin
Nebraska: home Penn State, home Maryland, @USC, @UCLA, home Iowa
Michigan State: home OSU, @Purdue, @Indiana, home Rutgers, @Michigan
Wisconsin: home Iowa, @Oregon, @Washington, home Maryland, @Purdue
If some don’t see it this way, that’s fine, and maybe I am wrong and we totally piss the bed…. but the worst I realistically see Illinois finishing in these final 5 games is 3-2. Split the west coast, loss to Michigan, take care of the two trainwreck teams of Oregon and Maryland (FWIW, Oregon lost 61-44 to Minnesota at home yesterday).
So — with that considered, and assuming we lose no more than 2 of our remaining 5 games, and obviously there’s other potential scenarios in play as well…. but as long as Wisconsin and Michigan State get to at least 6 losses (as those are the two teams that own direct tiebreakers over us), we are safe for the triple bye. Looking at the schedule for both teams, I think that’s very likely to happen.
IMHO, right now there should be more of a discussion about where we’d fall between 2-4 (assuming Michigan wins outright) than whether we get a triple bye or not.
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For the time being, Michigan put the stance to rest yesterday night.
Agree with most but no splitzies...
100%. I was just speaking on the worst we could do while still maintaining a triple bye.
As long as we win at least 3 more games, we're very likely to land a triple bye. That's a very good testament to the work this team has done; as well as the beneficial results from last night.
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AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
I could've sworn there was a list a couple months ago with Illinois on it
Our offense broke their algorithms. Made us win every game.
Sorry Coal, I was tagging onto your response and not questioning it.
I saw earlier this month that a fight broke out over shirts and the cards. Expect them to be gone immediately.
Attachments
If you’re referring to the tweet by a guy saying their trailer was on campus, he posted that about a dozen other schools, I recall ISU being one and they aren’t listed either.
I also recall someone saying at one point he said they were at an east coast school one day, then west coast the next—impossible.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Strength of Remaining Regular Season Schedule (easiest to most diffucult):
6 guaranteed games, plus 2 other potential Big10 Tourney games......
Home-Oregon
Away-Maryland
Away-USC
Neutral-Big 10 Tourney Quarterfinals
Away-UCLA
Neutral-Big 10 Tourney Semi-Finals (if we make it)
Home-Michigan
Neutral-Big 10 Finals (if we make it)
6 guaranteed games, plus 2 other potential Big10 Tourney games......
Home-Oregon
Away-Maryland
Away-USC
Neutral-Big 10 Tourney Quarterfinals
Away-UCLA
Neutral-Big 10 Tourney Semi-Finals (if we make it)
Home-Michigan
Neutral-Big 10 Finals (if we make it)
In 19 of the last 24 years, our KenPom NetRtg of 34.39 would've meant we were the best team in the country and the odds on favorite to win the title.
As it stands, we're probably no better than 4th in terms of championship odds. (Torvik has us at 4th, almost as close to #2 Houston as we are #5 Duke) But, hey, I'm not complainin.
In fact, there have been some good Illinois teams in my life - 3 have gotten 1 seeds. But for my money, this team which probably will not get a 1 seed or a conference championship, is the 2nd best Illini team I've ever watched. And the gap between it and the best team is not a large one.
With only 6 guaranteed games left from this squad, just wanted to take a minute after our most dominant conference road win ever to bask in the glow of their greatness.
As it stands, we're probably no better than 4th in terms of championship odds. (Torvik has us at 4th, almost as close to #2 Houston as we are #5 Duke) But, hey, I'm not complainin.
In fact, there have been some good Illinois teams in my life - 3 have gotten 1 seeds. But for my money, this team which probably will not get a 1 seed or a conference championship, is the 2nd best Illini team I've ever watched. And the gap between it and the best team is not a large one.
With only 6 guaranteed games left from this squad, just wanted to take a minute after our most dominant conference road win ever to bask in the glow of their greatness.
I have some crow to eat:
1) Ben H has far exceeded my expectations this year. I'll stand by the fact that I think he was played more minutes than he should've been last year. However, his current minute allotment and role is PERFECT. He is bringing so much more value defensively and with rebounding than I could've imagined this year. He is doing the things that help a team win- and when he shoots it well.. my goodness- icing on the cake at this point. I was one of his biggest critics last year, and I was likely too excessive in my dislike- but I've done a full 180 on him this year.
2) I didn't think Jake Davis belonged at this level and saw him as strictly a 9th or 10th rotation guy at best. He has more than proven his worth at this level and for this team (shooting, spacing, rarely turns it over, has become a leader, is tough, plays good d within his abilities). Again, he's helping this team win and I'll just say it- we need him back next year (never thought I'd utter those words).
3) I was pissed losing Morez, annoyed losing DGL, and still struggled with losing Hansberry... I'm over DGL and Hansberry at this point- and while it hurts seeing Morez tear it up at Michigan- I'm over that too. The cohesion of this team- the way everything fits together- the talent, shooting, passing, feel for the game, it all makes sense. This team wouldn't have the same flow/efficiency if Morez was on it... I think I'm sold on Mirk being more valuable for this team than Morez would've been. Maybe that's my Illini bias coming through- but give me the guy that is averaging 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and is shooting nearly 40% (He's made 43 so far) from 3 and we can run our offense through, also a freshman and also way cheaper...
Ps: Morez stats: 13.5 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 33.3% from 3 (he's only made 5 lol).
4) I'll wait to eat crow on Underwood- I'll give him credit, the team he's built this year is a heck of a lot of fun to watch, and really really good. But I need to see tourney results before I'll fully back down on some of my criticisms of Underwood. I will say this about him- I need to probably value Underwood more than I have in the past (and I do value him), but that probably needs to increase some.
5) I realized I needed to add a 5th one: I'll eat crow on Tyler Underwood.. I felt his original hire was nepotism and I still stand by the fact that he likely doesn't get that type of job right off the bat if it's not for his dad (aka, I'm not sure he had earned that type of role on his own merit at that point). However, at this point- there's nothing to say other than the fact that he's killing it.. No argument can be made against a historic offense- and it meets the eye test too.
1) Ben H has far exceeded my expectations this year. I'll stand by the fact that I think he was played more minutes than he should've been last year. However, his current minute allotment and role is PERFECT. He is bringing so much more value defensively and with rebounding than I could've imagined this year. He is doing the things that help a team win- and when he shoots it well.. my goodness- icing on the cake at this point. I was one of his biggest critics last year, and I was likely too excessive in my dislike- but I've done a full 180 on him this year.
2) I didn't think Jake Davis belonged at this level and saw him as strictly a 9th or 10th rotation guy at best. He has more than proven his worth at this level and for this team (shooting, spacing, rarely turns it over, has become a leader, is tough, plays good d within his abilities). Again, he's helping this team win and I'll just say it- we need him back next year (never thought I'd utter those words).
3) I was pissed losing Morez, annoyed losing DGL, and still struggled with losing Hansberry... I'm over DGL and Hansberry at this point- and while it hurts seeing Morez tear it up at Michigan- I'm over that too. The cohesion of this team- the way everything fits together- the talent, shooting, passing, feel for the game, it all makes sense. This team wouldn't have the same flow/efficiency if Morez was on it... I think I'm sold on Mirk being more valuable for this team than Morez would've been. Maybe that's my Illini bias coming through- but give me the guy that is averaging 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and is shooting nearly 40% (He's made 43 so far) from 3 and we can run our offense through, also a freshman and also way cheaper...
Ps: Morez stats: 13.5 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 33.3% from 3 (he's only made 5 lol).
4) I'll wait to eat crow on Underwood- I'll give him credit, the team he's built this year is a heck of a lot of fun to watch, and really really good. But I need to see tourney results before I'll fully back down on some of my criticisms of Underwood. I will say this about him- I need to probably value Underwood more than I have in the past (and I do value him), but that probably needs to increase some.
5) I realized I needed to add a 5th one: I'll eat crow on Tyler Underwood.. I felt his original hire was nepotism and I still stand by the fact that he likely doesn't get that type of job right off the bat if it's not for his dad (aka, I'm not sure he had earned that type of role on his own merit at that point). However, at this point- there's nothing to say other than the fact that he's killing it.. No argument can be made against a historic offense- and it meets the eye test too.
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DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Which naturally begs the question..........which Illini team was better? Oh --- I speculate you must be under 36 years old. (That would explain it.)
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Perhaps DGL will return in 2027. I think he'd be a natural fit chemistry wise.
20 PPG
34 Min per game
50% FG Pct
83% FT Pct
40% 3Pt Pct
Plus, he and I have already exchanged "greetings" in the football tailgate lot.
I know you didn’t compile the stats above for Keaton, but does anyone know how Mirk compares in the same categories? Maybe I should just go to the Champaign Room and ask there if I can. I think if KW weren’t here, Mirk would be a good candidate for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. So, just curious how he compares as well.
Edit: I looked at Mirk’s stats, but I don’t know how to project them as the Champaign Room did. Or what ranking he would be. Just comparing the current stats of each, it looks like Mirk will have more rebounds and not too far behind in 3-pt. percentage, but as for the other stats, KW is pretty far ahead.
Edit: I looked at Mirk’s stats, but I don’t know how to project them as the Champaign Room did. Or what ranking he would be. Just comparing the current stats of each, it looks like Mirk will have more rebounds and not too far behind in 3-pt. percentage, but as for the other stats, KW is pretty far ahead.
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Not knowing how any of this works, but does a kid like Wagler who explodes unexpectedly during the year have their NIL income adjusted mid year?
Yes, but not unilaterally, and not because of on-field/on-court performance under current rules. The specifics depend on the contract and state rules.
To understand how talented this roster is:
How many 6th man are there better than Andrej Stojakovic in college basketball?
I, personally, would continue to start Jake Davis.
How many 6th man are there better than Andrej Stojakovic in college basketball?
I, personally, would continue to start Jake Davis.
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