Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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How convenient.
It’s just a guess. Before last season many thought Tomi would be our best player.
Amazing that Keaton just made the right play EVERY TIME. Because we were a bad shooting team (but better than the year before), it cost him a lot of assists on missed wide open 3s.
Tomi needs to shoot a higher %.
Tomi needs to shoot a higher %.
illini were 62 percentile (30th of 79 power conference teams)
so far from bad, actually
agree tomi needs to hit more of em
We were 41st among power conference teams (in 3pt percentage).
And 144 nationally.
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ah yea i messed up my list... and its 87 power conference teams, not 79
so still firmly in the 'above average' percentile of pc programs and not a 'bad shooting team' not even close
Typo, 154
It's 79 teams between the Big East / B10 / B12 / SEC / ACC.
Among 79 teams we were 41st. That's not above average.
whatever i was looking at had this coming years pac12 included
after all of stat corrections they were average rather than above average
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But also "an above average p4 team" and "above average" are two different things.
Like you mentioned leading scorer doesn't necessarily mean best player. For example you have Luther Head as the leading scorer and he was probably the 3rd best of the guards though he was very very good.
I love Mirk but i guess it wouldn't surprise to see any of the starters be the best player.
The path for Stojakovic would through being very efficient as a volume scorer while also being the best perimeter defender and improving as a ball handler and playmaker(I think those would be bigger improvements than even shooting).
Mirk would be a combo of scoring, rebounding, and facilitating as a point forward. Vaaks would be with playmaking, shooting, and scoring much in the way Wagler was last year. Tomi felt a little bit sidelined last year but he could also make a case if he's scoring inside, knocking down 3s, rebounding at the clip he was his first year, and showcasing his passing ability and rim protection.
Coleman would probably the most surprising at the group because the rest of them are pretty established but Wagler did it last year.
Interesting why/how this is -- we focus so much on 3pt% of our transfers, but it's pretty noteworthy how so many of our newcomers have experienced an increase in 2pt%.
Andrej:
47.8% 2pt at CAL | up to 58.3% at IL
Zvonimir:
59.8% 2pt at ARK | up to 83.1% at IL (which led the nation)
Boswell:
41.5% 2pt at AZ | up to 56.7% at IL (2025)
Tre White:
51.5% 2pt at LVIlle | up to 58.7 at IL (2025)
Andrej:
47.8% 2pt at CAL | up to 58.3% at IL
Zvonimir:
59.8% 2pt at ARK | up to 83.1% at IL (which led the nation)
Boswell:
41.5% 2pt at AZ | up to 56.7% at IL (2025)
Tre White:
51.5% 2pt at LVIlle | up to 58.7 at IL (2025)
Vaaks is awesome. Skill set so translatable (obviously assuming the shooting stays as it was at Providence).
Winning a National Championship would help.
Also, maybe the staff is selling them on the idea that there will be significant turnover next year, that is, there will be at least 3 starters who will be leaving and maybe a fourth (Mirk). Of course, I also realize there will be transfers also vying for those positions.
Illinicpa14
- Chicago
I think there’s been some articles about how they seek out guys they feel they can clean up shot selection from an analytics perspective.
Pretty sure that’s also part of the calculus with Vaaks taking the next step.
Makes sense with Tre... he wanted to do a bunch of iso mid-range stuff (was said to be part of reason why he left; wanted more freedom/touches)
Also think it makes sense with Andrej... improved shot selection (less midrange) while also not having to be the late shot clock guy every possession
Boswell, probably also makes sense there... he got a lot stronger too which helps finish plays around the rim
Big Z is the most noticeable difference and that one I have no idea, because he was neither a bail out guy or took many mid-range shots at Arkansas
He shot 43 "non rim twos" at Arkansas, compared to just 10 this year at IL.
Yep that would be a big reason for it then
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
this video shows me that we have gotten a high quality addition to our already talented squad.....I look at this next season with a lot more enthusiasm after watching this clip and seeing how skilled Mr. Vaaks truly is......he looks like a certain 1st rd talent to me......he really really does............
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