This was asked awhile back and caused hoopla. Wagler is the best of the bunch, but Vaaks & Coleman are undoubtedly a better offensive duo than Wagler & Boswell. On paper we are a better shooting team than last year, which is a scary prospect for opponents. If Cam Crocker earns his paycheck this year, watch out
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Quite small? Not that easy to replace a consensus All American whose jersey will be in the rafters. It's these same unrealistic opinions that come out with the sky is falling posts after we lose games (i.e. Nebraska).
For example, I think Andrej had a very good year. Yes there were ups and downs, part of it were the injuries. For 80% of the year, you would've thought he was a bust reading this board, including posts calling to remove his minutes entirely. That's because folks just assumed to transfer his 17.9 points/game from Cal onto Illinois. It just doesn't work that way.
Do I think Vaaks and Coleman will be good? Absolutely. But the expectations need to be in context. And if they exceed them, great.
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I definitely think the statistical output of Vaaks-Coleman can outperform them, though I don’t think I’ll be shocked either way if they do or don’t. Both look very strong offensively and it wouldn’t be crazy to see them achieve a greater output. Defense I think has only been the biggest question mark, but I feel better about teaching someone defense than teaching them how to hit a contested shot. I also think there’s more to a being a great player than just what translates to the stat sheet; so don’t take this all to mean I believe the two will pass or eclipse two of our more memorable players in recent years. If they do? Excellent! We will truly be spoiled then to go back to back with stellar lottery pick freshmen.
Might be pretty close on the points and assists numbers but I dont think the rebounds will be close. Keaton and Kylan were both very good rebounding guards
Talking about numbers, last year's team had multiple players end up in the program's record books with top-10 single season numbers:
Wagler - #3 for points in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game with his 46 against Purdue)
Mirk - #7 for rebounds in a season
Big Z - #3 for blocks in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game, and he's only 30 blocks away from getting into the top-10 Illini all time)
Just something I thought was cool. Carry on.
Wagler - #3 for points in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game with his 46 against Purdue)
Mirk - #7 for rebounds in a season
Big Z - #3 for blocks in a season (also tied for #2 in a single game, and he's only 30 blocks away from getting into the top-10 Illini all time)
Just something I thought was cool. Carry on.
Watching Big Z swat people was so much fun, and he turned into a heck of a lob asset. Hoping they can work this offseason on having a unit of him, Tomi and Mirk for some minutes, especially with how much zone we ended up playing.
You're definitely not thinking that through. Sure it COULD happen, but we're referring to likelihood.
The number was 30.2 points. So we're saying each gets 15? Or... Vaaks 18 and Coleman 12?
Absolutely those guys are capable, but the question becomes whose points are you taking down? Mirk? Stoj? Tomi?
There's one ball. Only so many baskets to go around.
It's what happens every off-season when we bring in quality newcomers. People quickly rush to the shiny new toy, but forget about the most important part, which are the returners. Looking at our scoring rates from last year, the two obvious scoring alphas are Stojakovic are Mirkovic (especially Stojakovic). Vaaks could work himself into that, since he'll play a ton.
I personally, would be pleasantly surprised if Stojakovic isn't the leading scorer. He's pretty clearly the most proven guy amongst the group -- just natural scoring talent. Mirk will likely be that 14/10/4 guy who's impact on the team is significantly more than the points.
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Rebounding will be the toughest thing for the new guards to replicate.
I assume Vaaks' rebound total will go up, simply based on our offensive rebounding philosophy, but who knows? Keaton got about 38% of his rebounds last year on offense. Vaaks, about 20%. Providence was a good defensive rebounding team (top 50), but an average offensive rebounding team.
Coleman averaged 6.1 Rebounds last year. Keaton averaged 6.6 his senior year. Q is a couple inches shorter, but quicker and a better jumper. Hard to say how it will ultimately translate, but it suggests he could be a plus there.
Hopefully more minutes in the TWIN Tower formation will lead to fewer opportunities for guards...
I assume Andrej will get more than 9 shots a game, and Vaaks will get fewer than 16, but he should get better looks. (he definitely likes to shoot...) Neither guy will likely be a 40% 3 point shooter like Keaton, but they should both be better than the 30% Boswell made.
I have to believe getting the ball to Mirk will be a bigger part of our gameplan too.
The new guys won't necessarily have to replicate the production of our backcourt last year for the Illini to be as good or better than the 25-26 version. The guys around them should all be better, and have a better feel for playing together out of the gate.
Just like Wagler was our shooting guard this past year
