Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#326      
If he’s not the best AD in the country, it doesn’t take long to call the roll of those better.
We have a really good one and I love the way he handled the TJ Shannon situation. But, the University of Texas has Chris Del Conte who has done extremely well and they’ve won three consecutive Directors Cups for the best athletic program based on performances of the teams throughout the program. The coaches he’s hired since he was hired in 2017 have won 15 NCAA championships.
 
#327      
I'm on the record that I think Vaaks is gonna be...awesome...not just good, but awesome.

I think the sky is the limit and he's a no doubt NBA draft pick next year. I think he's going to be that good.
 
#330      
We have a really good one and I love the way he handled the TJ Shannon situation. But, the University of Texas has Chris Del Conte who has done extremely well and they’ve won three consecutive Directors Cups for the best athletic program based on performances of the teams throughout the program. The coaches he’s hired since he was hired in 2017 have won 15 NCAA championships.
Not really disagreeing with you, but 1) Texas has significantly more resources and 2) has Texas been any better relative to history and expectations in football and men’s basketball?
 
#331      
Morillo is a top 50ish recruit and so was Ty who didn't do much as a freshman. So I wouldn't necessarily even expect Morillo to give the production Harmon did.

Maybe he will, but top 50 guys aren't always ready to produce as freshman(some top 10 guys aren't).
Ty Rodgers 247 59 rsci 57
Lucas Morillo 247 47 rsci 47

Ty didn't put up numbers, but he played rotation minutes. Other top 50ish recruits the last 25 years played a similar or greater role as freshmen..

Kofi Cockburn was 247 46 rsci 43; Deron Williams was rsci 48; Andre Curbelo was 247 47 rsci 45.

Others: Brandon Paul rsci 49; Kendrick Nunn 247 55 rsci 57; Leron Black 247 43 rsci 46; Brian Randle rsci 53

The 247 ranks are composite
 
#333      
Ty Rodgers 247 59 rsci 57
Lucas Morillo 247 47 rsci 47

Ty didn't put up numbers, but he played rotation minutes. Other top 50ish recruits the last 25 years played a similar or greater role as freshmen..

Kofi Cockburn was 247 46 rsci 43; Deron Williams was rsci 48; Andre Curbelo was 247 47 rsci 45.

Others: Brandon Paul rsci 49; Kendrick Nunn 247 55 rsci 57; Leron Black 247 43 rsci 46; Brian Randle rsci 53

The 247 ranks are composite

But don’t you know we must always imagine the worst case scenario?

But, if it were me, there are much more entertaining things to discuss if we have to play devils advocate. What if Vaaks blows out his knee playing for the national team? What if Andrej quits basketball to become a male model? What if Brad takes an assistant job with Dusty in Dallas?

We are leaving a lot of meat on this bone.
 
#334      
Are there anymore games soon he's playing in?
The game where the recent highlights are from was a preparatory friendly for Estonia's World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Slovenia: Friday (July 3), 11:00 AM Champaign time
Czech Republic: Monday (July 6), 9:00 AM Champaign time

I don't know if that's allowed here, but I can probably find a stream link if there is interest.
 
#335      
The game where the recent highlights are from was a preparatory friendly for Estonia's World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Slovenia: Friday (July 3), 11:00 AM Champaign time
Czech Republic: Monday (July 6), 9:00 AM Champaign time

I don't know if that's allowed here, but I can probably find a stream link if there is interest.
Yes please!

Edit: younger me would have a hard time contemplating that older me would ever care about Estonian basketball. 😂
 
#336      
The game where the recent highlights are from was a preparatory friendly for Estonia's World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Slovenia: Friday (July 3), 11:00 AM Champaign time
Czech Republic: Monday (July 6), 9:00 AM Champaign time

I don't know if that's allowed here, but I can probably find a stream link if there is interest.
There is no link. (from what I've checked)
 
#337      
Not really disagreeing with you, but 1) Texas has significantly more resources and 2) has Texas been any better relative to history and expectations in football and men’s basketball?
Resources wise, absolutely, Texas does have big pocketed donors, but they also generate a lot of money. The credit of the appreciation and increase in revenue is due to Del Conte facilitating the move to the SEC

Their Big12 departure put them at a near 50 million deficit as they paid buy-out to their other SEC schooled except Oklahoma in revenues from the conference. They still won a couple of softball NCAA titles, volleyball, golf, and swimming, and diving. Add back-to-back WCBB final fours.

In Regards to recent history, in football, they were just on the outside of the CFP last year after two consecutive years of making it before it expanded. However, until then, you’d have to go back to 2007 when Texas was doing well at football, looking a lot like the Illinois basketball program from 2007 until Underwood took over. Texas basketball is kind of up and down. They won the Shaka Smart sweepstakes over Illinois and are on their third coach since him, so that should be telling how things are going. You could argue resources got them Sean Miller and they just made the S16 and will be F4 caliber next year.
 
#338      
There is no link. (from what I've checked)
The links open pretty much at game time usually in Euro games, I'll keep you posted.
Might be worth noting that in the game against Slovenia, Stefan Joksimovic (17 y/o) will most likely get game time for the opponents. Has been discussed as a very promising Euro-NCAA prospect for the 2027/28 season unless he breaks out this season.
 
#339      
Resources wise, absolutely, Texas does have big pocketed donors, but they also generate a lot of money. The credit of the appreciation and increase in revenue is due to Del Conte facilitating the move to the SEC

Their Big12 departure put them at a near 50 million deficit as they paid buy-out to their other SEC schooled except Oklahoma in revenues from the conference. They still won a couple of softball NCAA titles, volleyball, golf, and swimming, and diving. Add back-to-back WCBB final fours.

In Regards to recent history, in football, they were just on the outside of the CFP last year after two consecutive years of making it before it expanded. However, until then, you’d have to go back to 2007 when Texas was doing well at football, looking a lot like the Illinois basketball program from 2007 until Underwood took over. Texas basketball is kind of up and down. They won the Shaka Smart sweepstakes over Illinois and are on their third coach since him, so that should be telling how things are going. You could argue resources got them Sean Miller and they just made the S16 and will be F4 caliber next year.
Just think of what Josh would be able to accomplish with Texas size resources. Del Conte is a VG AD, but he has a much easier path for his sales pitch.
 
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