Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#301      
RockfordIllini
So I was already bullish on our chances next year and obviously I am even more so after Coleman’s FIBA performance. Obviously we need to see how the pieces fit/gel, but at least on paper Coleman looks to be a great complement to Vaaks. Vaaks looks like he needs the ball in his hands to be successful, and so if I was going to describe the ideal role to slot next to Vaaks, it would be a “move, cut, play with energy and hit open shots” type role, which is the role Coleman played to a T with FIBA.

I think we are going to be really really good next year.
 
#302      
HensonHall71
It will be great to have the whole team together over the summer practicing, we haven't had that in a long time. It can be the difference in how quickly the new pieces fit in and the team starts to play team defense
 
#303      
Combo
lstewart53x3 said:
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.
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I'd think Vaaks, Coleman, and Andrej would play 30+ PPG or real close to it. And I think Mirk would also. The thing is last year you had four Bigs (Ben the 4th) to give you 80 min/game. Unless we find someone (maybe JJ if healthy) to give us some minutes at the 4 and/or 5, Tomi, Mirk, and Z are going to play a lot of minutes. As our roster stands now, we will occasionally need someone other than the big 3 to give us a few minutes. That's why I wouldn't rule out Zavier or Morillo playing a few minutes here and there at the 4 (and please don't say I'm penciling them in as 4s which I'm not)
 
#304      
CoalCity
HensonHall71 said:
It will be great to have the whole team together over the summer practicing, we haven't had that in a long time. It can be the difference in how quickly the new pieces fit in and the team starts to play team defense
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At least Mirk and Vaaks are playing for their national teams this summer so the whole team wont be there for the entire summer. How the dates coincidence with practices starting, im not sure, somebody else will have to fill in that blank.
 
#306      
ChiefGritty
NarrowJ said:
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)
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Combo said:
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.
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Luka is actually very underrated in terms of the prospect he was, he was Euro LeBron and going #3 was one of the stupidest things that has ever happened in the NBA Draft, he was probably the most guaranteed All-Star to enter the draft in the modern era.

But after being mean about an over-hyped comparison yesterday, I want to stick up for our guy in this case. Vaaks is only approaching at 21 the level Luka reached at 18 against much tougher competition, but there really are similarities to their game and I absolutely believe Vaaks has the potential to become a good and impactful NBA player.

Though (and this is another comparison with Luka of course) he could give away all of the value of his genius for offense if he can't be competent at the other end.
 
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