Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Please, please, PULEASE - can't wait for October to get here . . . . .
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Please, please, PULEASE - can't wait for October to get here . . . . .
He is so plug and play:
Crazy to see 6-7 kid with that thick build that can move like that. Think he is a better shooter than he showed last year (mainly
question how good their system was for him to get good looks consistently). Hope he can improve the rebounding & defense.
We might have to revisit my comment that he's the best offensive player in the portal at some point. Seems like a scalding hot take right now, but just hypothetically, if:
Vaaks puts together 16/5/5 on a F4 level team
Blackwell is right there scoring-wise, but without the assists
Haggerty averages 20+ but A&M doesn't do much
Then there's a pretty good argument for it.
I think he was close to the ideal pickup for us to play PG. Obvious concern is defense, but offensively he looks like the whole package.
I mean he made 2.9 threes per game on 35%. I mean sure you could say the % goes up but he showed a ton of shot-making.
That's the #1 priority.
16/5/5 is very unrealistic.
Other than Ayo, we haven't had a guy average 15+ / 5+ / 5+ in what 50 years? Even Keaton Wagler couldn't do it (5 assists).
The rebounding especially he hasn't shown to warrant confidence he'll get 5 per game (though I think he'll improve).
Him averaging 16 is probably more realistic than averaging 5 assists or 5 rebounds; however, I see him as the 2nd or 3rd scoring option on this team. Saying he'll get 16/game likely means he's 1st. I'm sure we'd be happy if it plays out that way, but Andrej is the most proven guy at the moment (with David not too far behind).
Fans always overstate player's scoring in the offseason; truth is there's only so many points and shots to go around. It's not unlimited. Usually what's happened at Illinois is one guy emerges as the 17ppg+ alpha, while the other top scorers remain in the 10-14 range.
14/4/4 is alot more realistic, IMO. That's still assuming he improves as a rebounder.
.....
As it pertains to Blackwell, he'll likely average more points, as he's Duke's top scoring option. (but they have so much depth, he might not end up THAT far ahead)
He's also a better rebounder than Vaaks. 5.1/game compared to 2.5 for Vaaks last season.
However, Vaaks will average more assists, as he's our go to facilitator.
.....
I absolutely think he's a made-in-lab fit for our offense. There's just so many quality pieces, that the stats won't be completely off the charts (unless he emerges as that Wagler type alpha), though they'll still be very good.
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Pretty good intel:
I thought KJ went 16/5/5 but maybe I’m rounding something up in my head, you’re right that it’s heavy lifting to get there. Mainly skeptical the rebounding would get there… some of those passes he makes I have no clue how he only averaged 3.2 assists.
KJ was 15/5.7/4.7
Agreed on the passing. Providence used him more as a scorer, but his ball screen ability is very good.
High confidence our staff will be able to unlock his floor general qualities.
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Yes Vaaks is a very good passer.
He didn't have a KJ type turnover rate either.
It's just unlocking the assists, which comes from a more constructed environment/offense.
He didn't have a KJ type turnover rate either.
It's just unlocking the assists, which comes from a more constructed environment/offense.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
I apology in advance for another 9th man post, and I believe another poster has already alluded to this, but:
Not all 9th man opportunities are created equal.
On some squads, the 9th man could be the 5th man if he beats a few extra guys out in practice.
This team is just too well established for that.
It brings back 5 players who started 19 or more games on last year’s Final Four team + a consensus 5 star recruit and one of the best transfers in the country.
All 5 starters are 30 minutes a game guys (Vaaks, Coleman, Andrej, Mirk, and Tomi). None of those guys are leaving the court any more than they have to. That leaves 50 minutes per game for the entire bench.
Throw in Z and Davis who would both start on two thirds of B1G teams. They’ll get 20 minutes per game each. 10 minutes a game go to your top 50 recruit and barring injuries, that leaves a grand total of 0 minutes for your 9th man (outside of cupcakes).
Not all 9th man opportunities are created equal.
On some squads, the 9th man could be the 5th man if he beats a few extra guys out in practice.
This team is just too well established for that.
It brings back 5 players who started 19 or more games on last year’s Final Four team + a consensus 5 star recruit and one of the best transfers in the country.
All 5 starters are 30 minutes a game guys (Vaaks, Coleman, Andrej, Mirk, and Tomi). None of those guys are leaving the court any more than they have to. That leaves 50 minutes per game for the entire bench.
Throw in Z and Davis who would both start on two thirds of B1G teams. They’ll get 20 minutes per game each. 10 minutes a game go to your top 50 recruit and barring injuries, that leaves a grand total of 0 minutes for your 9th man (outside of cupcakes).
Amen.
Imagine we’re in a Sweet 16 game tied going into the under 12 timeout in the 2nd half. You can bet your bottom dollar that our starting 5 will plan every possible minute from there to the end of the game. It’s possible BU subs out Tomi on a taken timeout at the 14min mark to give him extra rest through the under 12. But from there, Tomi will play out the closing stretch.
Think back to the key baskets Tomi and Andrej had to close out Iowa.
We need to stop with this 9th man nonsense. If one our core 7 rotational players (starters plus Z and Jake) get injured we’ll likely slot in Morillo or one of the freshmen into the higher leverage scenarios. But even then we’ll mainly ask them to be a plus defenders and passers to the best of their ability. Offensive usage will simply tick up for our starters.
There were moments I felt it was unnecessary for Keaton and Andrej to be going for tough acrobatic layups that made them susceptible in their air. We need to make it a point this year to balance risk and rewards on finishing through contact at the rim. Watch the Knicks in the final. Drive and kick.
I don't think this has ever happened at Illinois. At max we get 3 guys at 30min/game.
Last year it was 2.
blackdog
- Champaign
I saw a breakdown of Providence which showed their floor spacing and offensive system was pretty bad, leading to a lot of tough Vaaks shots because nobody was open.
Honestly, I think shooting 35% from 3 on over 8 attempts per game is a good shooting season. I expect the quality of looks to improve and the attempts to tick down as a result of him playing with way more talent, so the percentage should improve but you don't hit 8 threes in a game without being a great shooter.
I don't expect Vaaks to be a great defender but I also don't really see him being a doormat either. He doesn't necessarily look to have good lateral quickness but like you mentioned he's 6'7, long, and can move pretty well. Plus he has the frame to fill out and add weight/strength. I would bet on him being a lot more prepared on that end after a full off-season with Fletch.
Not really worried a ton about him rebounding. Anything he gives you there is a plus but there are only so many boards to go around and he's sharing the floor with the twins, Mirk, and Andrej plus Coleman is averaging a double-double for Team USA right now at 6'4.
The Cult of 9th man infection has spread!!
I guess it depends on who you bring in but if it's a quality guard he could absolutely become the 5th man by beating out Coleman. Even if you don't beat Coleman, you can be the first guard off the bench(generally a 20 minute role) by beating Davis and Morillo.
Listen I love Coleman but 5 star recruits don't always pan out as freshman. Harwell was in that range and was buried on Houston. Khamenia played a 20 minute per game role. Go back 2 years, and Jahlil Bethea has been terrible, Ian Jackson meh, and Derrion Reed basically did nothing as a freshman and was solid as a sophomore after transferring to Oklahoma.
Trey Mckenney was a 5 star and is a stud but came off the bench in a 20ish minute role. Illinois would just need to find a Roddy Gayle, or Burnett type of guard. Or for an Illini comparison, I would take Andres Feliz on this roster in a heartbeat(or Justin Harmon - would probably get buried but still love the effort).
Plenty of guys are still out there. Feliz was a JUCO transfer, Bennett Stirtz was playing D2 two years ago, and then all of the D1 portal guys too. Then there is always the European or reclassing option.
Got some shades of Luca Doncic to his game
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
The Cult of 9th man infection has spread!!
While this is certainly true, there's a perfect path to 30+ min of playing time for him. Who else to we have to start at the 2? He's going to be given every opportunity to be a big contributor. And he seems to have the attitude and work ethic to make it work.
Was going to say that but I had exceeded my hot takes quota for the weekend.
(and I know you don't mean he is anywhere near as good; the similarity in play style and size/body type are there)
That should go without saying. Though some people need you to qualify that he's a "poor man's" Luca Doncic.
Sort of like Mirk is a poor man's Jokic.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Yes, last year it was 2. With Mirk at 29.5, but I guess that doesn’t count?
Anyhow, Tomi might not get there due to conditioning (25.4 last year). But with Vaaks sliding into the Wagler role and QC sliding into the Boswell role (they averaged 33.9 and 30.1), they’re both likely to hit 30 minutes per game, especially once real games begin.
That gives you Mirk, Vaaks, and Coleman at 30. Andrej hit 26.5 last year and said he wasn’t fully healthy until post season play. So he likely gets there as well.
Apologies for my exaggeration and your important correction. We’ll likely have 4 guys play 30 minutes per game, not 5. That leaves Tomi’s extra 5 minutes per game for the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th man to split up. Maybe the 9th man gets 1 minute per game after all.