Most of his minutes inflation came with Boswell out.
For my minutes breakdown, I have him at 19.
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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For my minutes breakdown, I have him at 19.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I kinda wish he’d stop telling people his secrets.
Secrets don't exist at that level outside of injuries. Schematic and stylistic stuff that's on video for more than two weeks is dissected and game planned for. Heck, adjustments made at halftime address it. Now, being able to stop it is a different issue al together. It happens in EVERY sport. A really, really good team can tell you exactly what they're doing and still execute and beat you.
Brad is not breaking any news to any coaching staff that's worth a salt.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
I feel like his minutes are a little more a product of what the other guys end up being or not being because he’s a more known quantity at what he does or doesn’t do.
Idk if the lineups and minutes can play but I’d love to see big Z get closer to 21-22 minutes; just felt him playing well contributed so much to winning. If he can regain the 3 shot for spacing alongside the rim protection and running the floor just think it opens us up. I also just feel a lot better about the defense if he’s on the floor…but I’m not sure if there’s ever a way to have him/tomi/Mirk on at once…just would love to see more then 80 minutes out of those 3 guys.
The 2020-21 pre-season is an interesting comparison...
We were #8 in that year's pre-season AP poll, and T-#10 in pre-season odds (according to covers.com archives). But our pre-season odds were +1400, which is right around (if not slightly better than) where we are now.
That year, Gonzaga and Baylor were #1/2 in the pre-season AP and had the highest odds at +800 with a lot of teams close behind, while this year Duke and Florida are more like +600-700 and Michigan is around +800, then there's a gap before UConn and Illinois, so this year's odds are more top-heavy. Hopefully they're wrong about those top teams and/or us.
Side note: that season edged this past one as our highest KenPom/Torvik finish of BU's tenure. Right or wrong, the tournament can be a painful way to measure a season.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
As long as they don’t play in any pick up games, we should be good!
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Really hard to not be super excited for this season. Still crazy to me we are coming off a final four and are essentially a consensus top 5 team in the country.
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