Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#377      
Brosky
I think as good as Coleman is, we can't sleep on Morillo. A 6-7 pg who can dial up the three is very intriguing. Hell, for all we know Brown and Landon might be frontrunners in the lineup.
 
#378      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
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.
 
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#379      
21ChampaignSt
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
 
#381      
BWA
21ChampaignSt said:
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
Click to expand...
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.
 
#382      
bluemountain
21ChampaignSt said:
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
Click to expand...
Not sure I'd call this a mixed bag...each of these teams fell well short of their FF performance the previous year
 
#383      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
21ChampaignSt said:
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
Click to expand...
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.
 
#384      
HouTexIllini
Fly Illini Fly! said:
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 whose impact on the team is significantly more than the points.
Click to expand...
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.
 
#385      
RichardKeenesCousin
bluemountain said:
Not sure I'd call this a mixed bag...each of these teams fell well short of their FF performance the previous year
Click to expand...
yeah.... basketball is hard. This makes me scared. But, for now.......
New York Islanders GIF
 
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