Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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This tells a lot. Great pieces that probably mean we'll be in every game. But no superstar probably makes a longer tourney run more of a challenge. I don't have evidence to back that up but my gut tells me that there's going to be a game or two where you just need an unstoppable guy. I just don't think AS gets to that level. Mirk actually might.
Going to be a great season.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I'm seeing a lot of reports of Stoj withdrawing from the draft. But this site has become my source or truth.
Confirm here, please?
Confirm here, please?
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As bona fide Final Four contenders after actually making it last year, I wanted to see how rare making it in back-to-back years. I was thinking it would be super rare historically, but it’s happened a surprising number of times since 2000! I’m on my phone, so I even could have missed one or two examples, lol.
UConn - 2023 & 2024
North Carolina - 2016 & 2017
Wisconsin - 2014 & 2015
Kentucky - 2014 & 2015
Louisville - 2012 & 2013
Kentucky - 2011 & 2012
Butler - 2010 & 2011
Michigan State - 2009 & 2010
North Carolina - 2008 & 2009
UCLA - 2006, 2007 & 2008
Florida - 2006 & 2007
Kansas - 2002 & 2003
Maryland - 2001 & 2002
Michigan State - 2000 & 2001
I’d guess those teams had super good retention … let’s go get the job done this time!
UConn - 2023 & 2024
North Carolina - 2016 & 2017
Wisconsin - 2014 & 2015
Kentucky - 2014 & 2015
Louisville - 2012 & 2013
Kentucky - 2011 & 2012
Butler - 2010 & 2011
Michigan State - 2009 & 2010
North Carolina - 2008 & 2009
UCLA - 2006, 2007 & 2008
Florida - 2006 & 2007
Kansas - 2002 & 2003
Maryland - 2001 & 2002
Michigan State - 2000 & 2001
I’d guess those teams had super good retention … let’s go get the job done this time!
Actually one of the biggest reasons I wanted Blackwell - good rebounder.
You hit the nail on the head with Coleman and here’s to hoping Vaaks is better on the boards than last year. Because physically, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be much better
So with Dre back, is are we done adding players?
top 5 pre season should be locked in now. let's goooo!
Great work. I just spot checked Duke. The last time they returned was 1992. Nothing easy about repeating.
Pretty notable given the ridiculous level of talent they've had over that period.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I think that’s why it’s difficult for them to return to the Final Four the following year — those great teams lose players to the NBA draft.
Some of these teams ended up winning it all the follow year excluding Florida and UConn who ended up as repeat champs.
Yes, most likely
The expectations will always be a tad impractical when it comes to a 5 star; especially at Illinois, since we've had so few (in the rec. rankings era).
If QC averages 10 points per game, I'd be more than thrilled. Those claiming it'll be 15-18 just don't understand the context of that, as it pretains to the other talented players on this roster. That's not a knock on him at all, our starting 5 is just really talented.
If he went to Wake Forrest, or a similarly abysmal roster, absolutely he could've averaged 17/game. I'm personally of the opinion that winning adds alot more essence to your resume.
If QC averages 10 points per game, I'd be more than thrilled. Those claiming it'll be 15-18 just don't understand the context of that, as it pretains to the other talented players on this roster. That's not a knock on him at all, our starting 5 is just really talented.
If he went to Wake Forrest, or a similarly abysmal roster, absolutely he could've averaged 17/game. I'm personally of the opinion that winning adds alot more essence to your resume.
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With Andrej back, we'll be the 8th Final Four team since 2020 to return over 50% of their minutes. Here is how the other teams fared. Not much to take away really. Kind of a mixed bag.
2025 Purdue
54% of minutes returned
Sweet 16
2025 Alabama
51% of minutes returned
Elite Eight
2024 FAU
90% of minutes returned
First round
2024 Miami
54% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2023 Villanova
65% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2023 UNC
73% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2022 UCLA
91% of minutes returned
Sweet 16
2025 Purdue
54% of minutes returned
Sweet 16
2025 Alabama
51% of minutes returned
Elite Eight
2024 FAU
90% of minutes returned
First round
2024 Miami
54% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2023 Villanova
65% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2023 UNC
73% of minutes returned
Missed the tournament
2022 UCLA
91% of minutes returned
Sweet 16
Welcome back Andrej. Since it's official, at last we can say that WE KNOW WHERE OUR VIC'S AT!!
The missed the tournament prevalence is a bit shocking. Wow.
Like how much would have to wrong for us to miss the tournament next year. It’s not even on the radar.
Not sure I'd call this a mixed bag...each of these teams fell well short of their FF performance the previous year
There is a lot to take from that.
Final four rosters in one year don’t automatically mean you’re going back to the FF just because of your roster. In this new age of CBB, unless you’re the 90s UNLV, Duke, Michigan type overwhelming talent laden teams, it’s a tough battle even with much of the team that took you there.
I just hope we fix our witnesses from last year as much as reloading/replacing our strengths.
I'd take Purdue's season in a heartbeat. Would mark our 5th banner in 7 years. Not often a program gets to do that.
Not that I disagree with some of this, but, if we apply this to last year at this time most would have been absolutely incorrect. The over all consensus of the board is that Tomi would be great and better than he was in 2024. Stoj would be killing it, and nobody thought KW would be our leading scorer.
Baskets aren’t necessarily like minutes per game. There are as many as you can take and make.
RichardKeenesCousin
Richard Keene's Cousin
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