Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#1,177      
Combo
HoopsterMan said:
Vaaks is 6'7" wing type player. He is not a traditional ballhandler in the way you'd expect, where they can create off the dribble and break pressure off the dribble. Expecting SF's to become your ballhandlers is a recipe for disaster. As of now, it's Coleman, a freshman.
Click to expand...
Have you actually watched him? He most definitely can create off the dribble - he's not that different than our last 2 PGs in that regard. Breaking a press by himself is not his forte, but with the way our team passes, I think we'll be alright with that.

While there are tendencies with height vs position, it's not the defining factor. A 6'6 kid can play PF if he has the skills and a 6'7 kid can play PG if he has the skills.

The biggest concern by far with Vaaks is defense.
 
#1,178      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
HoopsterMan said:
Vaaks is 6'7" wing type player. He is not a traditional ballhandler in the way you'd expect, where they can create off the dribble and break pressure off the dribble. Expecting SF's to become your ballhandlers is a recipe for disaster. As of now, it's Coleman, a freshman.
Click to expand...
You clearly haven’t watched him, as he can do all those things.
 
#1,182      
EmeraldCityIllini
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
We lost our top 2 defensive players in Humrichous and Boswell.

In the backcourt, going from Keaton and Boswell TO Vaaks and Coleman. That's a worse defensive pairing.

In all likelihood, we won't be better on defense because the personnel got worse.
Click to expand...

I don’t think it’s crazy to think Coleman could be better than Keaton on defense - especially considering the energy burden put on Keaton offensively.

Boswell versus Vaaks sure - but Vaaks is bigger and that’s the style we want.

Mirk should take a jump defensively

Andrej did take a jump.
 
#1,183      
Fly Illini Fly!
PepeSilvia said:
Then for the rest of the roster:

Vaaks is every bit as athletic as Wagler but he's also taller and significantly stronger. I think it's very possible that Vaaks could end up being equal to Wagler on that end.
Click to expand...
Wagler was a good defender. He was a net positive on that end.

Vaaks was the worst defender on the one of the worst defenses in P5.

…..

A lot has been made about Providence being “dysfunctional,” but they were actually the 32nd best offense and 2nd best offense in the Big East. That’s definitely good enough to make the tournament.

It’s defensively where they were bad (170th).

They also didn’t rebound well, 193rd in Opp. OREB%.
 
Last edited:
#1,184      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
EmeraldCityIllini said:
I don’t think it’s crazy to think Coleman could be better than Keaton on defense - especially considering the energy burden put on Keaton offensively.

Boswell versus Vaaks sure - but Vaaks is bigger and that’s the style we want.

Mirk should take a jump defensively

Andrej did take a jump.
Click to expand...
It’s not Coleman and Keaton. It’s Coleman and Boswell.

It’s Vaaks and Keaton.

Vaaks is PG. Coleman is SG.

But regardless of positions, we’re judging the unit as a whole. This year’s backcourt tandem is definitely worse defensively.
 
#1,185      
NarrowJ
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Wagler was a good defender. He was a net positive on that end.

Vaaks was the worst defender on the one of the worst defenses in P5.

…..

A lot has been made about Providence being “dysfunctional,” but they were actually the 32nd best offense and 2nd best offense in the Big East. That’s definitely good enough to make the tournament.

It’s defensively where they were bad (170th).

They also didn’t rebound well, 193rd in Opp. OREB%.
Click to expand...

Providence was really talented on offense, the trio of Vaaks/Edwards/Sellers combined for 50 ppg on nearly 60 TS%

However, they were most certainly dysfunctional defensively and had no rim protection behind them having one player taller than 6-8

Finished 15-18 overall and 7-13 in a pretty blah conference

I know he was horrid defensively but I'm hoping some combination of Fletch, coaching and being more engaged on a better team will help (a lot like watching Andrej's film last offseason: he made some defensive plays in some clips that show me he has potential on that end)
 
Back