Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#26      
Combo
LvilleILL1 said:
Working on more, but a few things:

1) Quentin Coleman does the "little things." Rebounding has stood out. He will play a major role this season.

2) Mentioned this last week but Stefan Vaaks was the early standout before national team duty. He will be back in a couple of weeks on campus. The size and shooting are extremely real.

3) Tomislav Ivisic is carrying himself in a different way this year. Have heard the work ethic is at a different level so far.

4) David Mirkovic will be the best player on the team. Improvements have been made, have heard he looks like a possible contender for National Player of the year.

5) Andrej is going to be Andrej again. I expect a very similar role to last year but with more consistent play. Will guard the other teams best g/w.

6) They are very excited about this freshman class. Have heard they have impressed at different points. A couple need to put some weight on which is a work in progress.

Some tough decisions are going to have to be made to round out the rotation. Great problem to have though.
Click to expand...
So we're winning every game 100-35! May need to add some NBA teams to the schedule.
 
#27      
21ChampaignSt
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Each year, we go in underrating Jake’s role.
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Agree. Jake was part of our best five man lineup last year.

The thing is, it's not about what Jake does, necessarily, it's about what having him on the floor allows everyone else to do. I would be so bold as to argue that every single player is better when they're on the floor with Jake. He gives everyone else space, makes himself easy to find for kick outs, never looks for his own shot, just takes them when they're open, rarely turns it over.

Now, that doesn't mean he's "better" than some of the guys he's in front of. Might not even be one of the top 8 or 9 picks if you were playing three on three or something - but he plays his role as well as any one.

Also, his hair.
 
#28      
RandyfromTuscola
LvilleILL1 said:
Working on more, but a few things:

1) Quentin Coleman does the "little things." Rebounding has stood out. He will play a major role this season.

2) Mentioned this last week but Stefan Vaaks was the early standout before national team duty. He will be back in a couple of weeks on campus. The size and shooting are extremely real.

3) Tomislav Ivisic is carrying himself in a different way this year. Have heard the work ethic is at a different level so far.

4) David Mirkovic will be the best player on the team. Improvements have been made, have heard he looks like a possible contender for National Player of the year.

5) Andrej is going to be Andrej again. I expect a very similar role to last year but with more consistent play. Will guard the other teams best g/w.

6) They are very excited about this freshman class. Have heard they have impressed at different points. A couple need to put some weight on which is a work in progress.

Some tough decisions are going to have to be made to round out the rotation. Great problem to have though.
Click to expand...

This is awesome. Thanks!

Any update on a premiere non-conference home game this year? These other games are great, but missing out on North Carolina, UConn, and Duke this year at home kind of stinks. I understand these are part of other agreements and a big non-conference game is better than none, but where is the love for the State Farm Center. Texas Tech home/home was nice, but that is not a premiere program that draws national attention.



DateOpponentLocationInfo
Mon, Nov 2Fairleigh DickinsonState Farm CenterLink
Tue, Nov 10at Texas TechUnited Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, TX)Link
Tue, Nov 17at DukeCameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC)Link
Fri, Dec 4UConnUnited Center (Chicago, IL)Link
MissouriEnterprise Center (St. Louis, MO)
Sat, Jan 30North CarolinaBridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)Link
 
#29      
21ChampaignSt
RandyfromTuscola said:
This is awesome. Thanks!

Any update on a premiere non-conference home game this year? These other games are great, but missing out on North Carolina, UConn, and Duke this year at home kind of stinks. I understand these are part of other agreements and a big non-conference game is better than none, but where is the love for the State Farm Center. Texas Tech home/home was nice, but that is not a premiere program that draws national attention.



DateOpponentLocationInfo
Mon, Nov 2Fairleigh DickinsonState Farm CenterLink
Tue, Nov 10at Texas TechUnited Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, TX)Link
Tue, Nov 17at DukeCameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC)Link
Fri, Dec 4UConnUnited Center (Chicago, IL)Link
MissouriEnterprise Center (St. Louis, MO)
Sat, Jan 30North CarolinaBridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)Link
Click to expand...
No wonder season ticket prices jumped again. Nothing but buy games this year.
 
#30      
Det_Illini_fan
RandyfromTuscola said:
This is awesome. Thanks!

Any update on a premiere non-conference home game this year? These other games are great, but missing out on North Carolina, UConn, and Duke this year at home kind of stinks. I understand these are part of other agreements and a big non-conference game is better than none, but where is the love for the State Farm Center. Texas Tech home/home was nice, but that is not a premiere program that draws national attention.



DateOpponentLocationInfo
Mon, Nov 2Fairleigh DickinsonState Farm CenterLink
Tue, Nov 10at Texas TechUnited Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, TX)Link
Tue, Nov 17at DukeCameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC)Link
Fri, Dec 4UConnUnited Center (Chicago, IL)Link
MissouriEnterprise Center (St. Louis, MO)
Sat, Jan 30North CarolinaBridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)Link
Click to expand...
We could wipe the slate clean on a couple dark days with wins in November and Early-December. Lord, beating Duke and UConn would be so cathartic. UConn more than Duke, since their fans suck so much, but man would I love a win against both.
 
#31      
Illini4Christ
LvilleILL1 said:
Working on more, but a few things:

1) Quentin Coleman does the "little things." Rebounding has stood out. He will play a major role this season.

2) Mentioned this last week but Stefan Vaaks was the early standout before national team duty. He will be back in a couple of weeks on campus. The size and shooting are extremely real.

3) Tomislav Ivisic is carrying himself in a different way this year. Have heard the work ethic is at a different level so far.

4) David Mirkovic will be the best player on the team. Improvements have been made, have heard he looks like a possible contender for National Player of the year.

5) Andrej is going to be Andrej again. I expect a very similar role to last year but with more consistent play. Will guard the other teams best g/w.

6) They are very excited about this freshman class. Have heard they have impressed at different points. A couple need to put some weight on which is a work in progress.

Some tough decisions are going to have to be made to round out the rotation. Great problem to have though.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your service to the Illini Familly. I noticed that you have given us the starting five and they sound like they can be national champions.

Keep filling our belly with the great information that you supply, but you know that an Illini fan never has a filled belly.

ILL
 
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