Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#253      
thefalcon5
UNC currently ranks 53rd in torvik (were 4th). I can’t recall the exact Q1 cutoff for neutral sites but I think that’s pretty close. Hopefully they outplay their ranking. Don’t want to risk a Q2 loss.

I’m not complaining in the grand scheme, that’s just a nitpick. Considering the places this team can go, playing top talent in non conference is the correct move.
 
#254      
hooraybeer
thefalcon5 said:
UNC currently ranks 53rd in torvik (were 4th). I can’t recall the exact Q1 cutoff for neutral sites but I think that’s pretty close. Hopefully they outplay their ranking. Don’t want to risk a Q2 loss.

I’m not complaining in the grand scheme, that’s just a nitpick. Considering the places this team can go, playing top talent in non conference is the correct move.
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marquee matchups that continue to elevate the brand are definitely worth any possible short term set back
 
#255      
RabidDawgClassic
Dan said:
Illinois vs North Carolina in Nashville

Saturday, January 30th, 2027

https://twitter.com/x/status/2070168294485586325
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#257      
Combo
orangem said:
Athletics 2027 mock Sam Vecenie: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7368866/2026/06/25/nba-draft-2027-prospects-tyran-stokes/

Mirk #13
Coleman #18

No one else in top 48.
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IMO those both seem way too high IMO. Though the one from Jeremy Woo previously posted earlier seems too low (unfavorable) for some.

I think Vaaks is our most likely to get in 1st round. I just think his offensive skills will really be showcased with the way we play. But he's got to be reasonably decent defensively.

Mirk is a tough one to predict - he's an excellent college player, but with the lack of run-jump athleticism, I wonder if NBA execs will see his game translating. That said Jokic isn't much of a run-jump athlete and he's perennial 1st team NBA. And I consider Mirk a poor man's Jokic.
 
#261      
Fly Illini Fly!
Illwinsagain said:
I am all for our players advancing to their dream of playing in the NBA. But losing those 4, along with the twins.....YIKES!!!!! That will require some serious reloading.

ps- And I am a fan of our freshman class.
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With the amount of NIL we can offer, it's very unlikely we lose all 4. Sure it's possible; just very unlikely.

We can go through it with every team. In the NIL era, how many teams have had 4 guys with college eligibility declare for the draft? For instance, 2024 Duke was stacked, but they only had 3 (Kon, Cooper, and Maluach).

None of our guys are seen as lock first rounders (as seen with that mock).
 
#263      
bbpeoria
Combo said:
IMO those both seem way too high IMO. Though the one from Jeremy Woo previously posted earlier seems too low (unfavorable) for some.

I think Vaaks is our most likely to get in 1st round. I just think his offensive skills will really be showcased with the way we play. But he's got to be reasonably decent defensively.

Mirk is a tough one to predict - he's an excellent college player, but with the lack of run-jump athleticism, I wonder if NBA execs will see his game translating. That said Jokic isn't much of a run-jump athlete and he's perennial 1st team NBA. And I consider Mirk a poor man's Jokic.
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Agree with all of this and I love both Coleman and Mirk but I don't see top twenty right now...maybe later. Vaaks may be the talk of the country at times this year.
 
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