Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
But this is the first year Andrej has stayed at a program for more than one season. That makes me think legit improvement is possible.
Tomi was hurt/sick a good part of last season. I think a return to his first-year production or even better is possible.
Mirk - I sort of agree. His lack of run-jump athleticism might cap him. But it's his second year in the program and I think he'll still be very productive. I think Keaton showed us last year that you don't need to be a great run-jump athlete to be really good..
I think this years team has as high a ceiling as last year’s team, maybe higher.
For our returning core:
Sounds like Mirk has taken a leap which isn’t uncommon for a 19-20 year old. I forget which announcer said it last year but he said Mirk was like a poor man’s Cam Boozer and I think that was fair last year. If he improved his athleticism (and the dunks in traffic on the hype videos seem to indicate he has) and if the game slows down for him just a little bit, he could put up something like 18/9/4.
Andrej is older it’s true but this is his first time playing a second year in the same system. Not crazy that he would take a step up. I will admit I was ambivalent about Ben coming back but what a revelation he turned out to be in his second year.
Tomi was playing himself into shape most of the year last year so if he has a full offseason to actually focus on conditioning, he’s a top 3 center in the BIG.
Z looked like an nba player the first half of the year and then faded which has been his MO in college. That suggests to me he’s worn down as the season went on. If he really is up to 260 lbs and he’s able to sustain his first half performance for the entire year I think he gets drafted.
And for our newcomers:
For Vaaks, based on his production last year on a dysfunctional team, not unreasonable to think he will be somewhere between Kasparas and Keaton in our big lead guard role, which is a damn good player.
And based on what I saw at FIBA, Quentin is the absolute perfect player to slot next to our big lead guard, at a minimum. Will do all the little things, rebound, play his a** off and oh, by the way, won the 3 pt contest at the Iverson. Still wouldn’t shock me if he’s our best player/highest draft pick next summer.
Look at the way Brad is scheduling, should tell you all you need to know what he thinks of this team.
For our returning core:
Sounds like Mirk has taken a leap which isn’t uncommon for a 19-20 year old. I forget which announcer said it last year but he said Mirk was like a poor man’s Cam Boozer and I think that was fair last year. If he improved his athleticism (and the dunks in traffic on the hype videos seem to indicate he has) and if the game slows down for him just a little bit, he could put up something like 18/9/4.
Andrej is older it’s true but this is his first time playing a second year in the same system. Not crazy that he would take a step up. I will admit I was ambivalent about Ben coming back but what a revelation he turned out to be in his second year.
Tomi was playing himself into shape most of the year last year so if he has a full offseason to actually focus on conditioning, he’s a top 3 center in the BIG.
Z looked like an nba player the first half of the year and then faded which has been his MO in college. That suggests to me he’s worn down as the season went on. If he really is up to 260 lbs and he’s able to sustain his first half performance for the entire year I think he gets drafted.
And for our newcomers:
For Vaaks, based on his production last year on a dysfunctional team, not unreasonable to think he will be somewhere between Kasparas and Keaton in our big lead guard role, which is a damn good player.
And based on what I saw at FIBA, Quentin is the absolute perfect player to slot next to our big lead guard, at a minimum. Will do all the little things, rebound, play his a** off and oh, by the way, won the 3 pt contest at the Iverson. Still wouldn’t shock me if he’s our best player/highest draft pick next summer.
Look at the way Brad is scheduling, should tell you all you need to know what he thinks of this team.
This is what happens when a shower thought skips the shower....or when a GPS confidently guides you into a body of water.
I have said since we lost. Our offense will run through Mirk. Man, is in shape and ready to run over hot coals.
This team with Vaaks addition, 1 or 2 of our freshman will be factors. Mirks improved shape running quarterback, we will be fun to watch. Andre will be good, as long as him and Vaaks don't fight over who chucks it up 15x a game. We're golden, will miss Boswells leadership, but after he broke hand wasn't close to 100%. Keaton was a baby face assassin. I do predict Tomi and Z will be even better this year and actually for the whole season.
stlrunner
jakeyjakey
- St Louis, MO
I couldn't help but notice you didn't offer up your ninth man in the trade though...
Great new arena.
If Illini ever play an NCAA tourney game there - or a nonconference (Gonzaga plays premium non cons there a lot) opponent, highly recommend to anyone to make the trip and weekend out of it
If Illini ever play an NCAA tourney game there - or a nonconference (Gonzaga plays premium non cons there a lot) opponent, highly recommend to anyone to make the trip and weekend out of it
But Iowa did?
stlrunner
jakeyjakey
- St Louis, MO
Sure...I'll bite...
Stojakovic - I'll start by saying that "he is who he is" isn't even accurate. End of the season Andre wasn't the same as beginning of the season Andrej. The guy who in November and December would get pulled to the bench because he wasn't putting effort on defense and the glass became our best defender in the tournament. Sure, there were the injuries, but I do think it took him about half the season to buy into what his role on this team should be, which is focus on all the other areas of teh game other than scoring, and that th rest would come into place. Come March...it clicked, and he really saw the benefits of that fall into place, and seemed to really buy into being a team player. So...yeah...I think there is still some more growth there for Andrej.
Counterpoint to the argument that Boswell didn't take that year 2 leap...I think part of that is that his role changed with the emergence of Wagler being the absolute beast that he was. His 3 point shot never really came around, and I honestly don't really think he was the same defensively after his hand injury, but...he was an ultimate team player, team leader, and his decision making with the ball was vastly improved. He had 2.1 TO per game in 24-25, and cut it 1.1 TO per game in 25-26. His points and assist totals remained around the same both season. He was expected to become the true lead guard his senior year, but he ended up really serving a more similar role as he did his junior year because Wagler was better than anyone imagined.
Mirk - I will say this...I have this weird fear in the back of my mind that Mirk's sophomore All-American hype triggers some bad memories of all the hype surrounding Curbelo's sophomore year where he'd get the keys and be able to truly shine...but I don't think this is really the same scenario. For one, I think Mirk is wired WAY differently than Curbelo. Mirk is just an insane competitor, and you can see from the development of his body, his decision to stay in Champaign all summer and skip playing for the national team, etc...he just seems primed to take that next step forward. Will he shoot better than 38% from 3...seems unlikely, and he may even drop a bit. But he will continue to be an elite rebounder, have more usage and develop his game at the rim, an dhopefully improve on defense. I just think he can be a monster and hard to guard for a lot of teams.
Tomi being the comp to Mirk is a bad argument. Tomi's role had to change quite a bit this past season, plus he was also hurt and then out of shape, and out of rhythm, and adapting to the role. We saw him finally start clicking into it in March. So...I don't think this is a fair comparison.
All that to say...is it guaranteed that Mirk will be a 1st Team All-Big Ten, or All-American, or anything he's being hyped up to be? No...there are never guarantees. But...it seems weird to think we shouldn't be excited about ALL the signs that point to the potential for him to have a monster season.
He drastically improved last year. Like leaps and bounds
Your Stojakovic point remains the most hysterical part here. Year 2 transfer jumps are so eminent for so many players, every year.
Go look at Tarris Reed’s stats, first year at UCONN compared to the next.
Go look at Joshua Jefferson’s stats, first year at Iowa State compared to the next.
Go look at Mark Mitchell’s stats, first year at Missouri compared to the next.
Go look at Terrance Shannon’s stats, first year at Illinois compared to the next.
Go look at Mark Sears’s stats, first year at BAMA compared to the next.
Go look at Tristen Newton’s stats, first year at UCONN compared to the next.
There’s just so many examples, that we don’t have the time to list them. EVERY ONE of those guys follow your “senior” criteria.
…..
Even within our program, Jake and Ben got a ton better their second year here.
It’s just unfortunate Boswell had the injury. His AST to TOV increased from 1.6 to 2.7. His 3pt% increased from 24.5% to 30.7%. His points per 100 possessions increased from 21.9 to 24.9.
…..
Andrej averaged 13.5 points in 26.3 minutes last year. Multiply that exact scoring rate by 32 minutes and you get 16.4pts.
He’ll be our top defensive stopper, and should make improvements to that 3pt% (FWIW, he shot the exact percentage that Boswell did in 2025; I’d gladly take 30.7% from Andrej next year).
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The worst thing Keaton Wagler did to me was make be start believing in off-season hype again.
Alex Legion to Austin Hutchinson and everyone in between broke my caring about offseason reporting on practices.
Now its got me thinking Mirk is the best player in CBB. Still unsure if I’m happy or annoyed at this change in mind.
Alex Legion to Austin Hutchinson and everyone in between broke my caring about offseason reporting on practices.
Now its got me thinking Mirk is the best player in CBB. Still unsure if I’m happy or annoyed at this change in mind.
Everyone keeps talking about how great Mirk will be, but I pause with him being our leading scorer because:
Your Stojakovic point remains the most hysterical part here. Year 2 transfer jumps are so eminent for so many players, every year.
Go look at Tarris Reed’s stats, first year at UCONN compared to the next.
Go look at Joshua Jefferson’s stats, first year at Iowa State compared to the next.
Go look at Mark Mitchell’s stats, first year at Missouri compared to the next.
Go look at Terrance Shannon’s stats, first year at Illinois compared to the next.
Go look at Mark Sears’s stats, first year at BAMA compared to the next.
Go look at Tristen Newton’s stats, first year at UCONN compared to the next.
There’s just so many examples, that we don’t have the time to list them. EVERY ONE of those guys follow your “senior” criteria.
…..
Even within our program, Jake and Ben got a ton better their second year here.
It’s just unfortunate Boswell had the injury. His AST to TOV increased from 1.6 to 2.7. His 3pt% increased from 24.5% to 30.7%. His points per 100 possessions increased from 21.9 to 24.9.
…..
Andrej averaged 13.5 points in 26.3 minutes last year. Multiply that exact scoring rate by 32 minutes and you get 16.4pts.
He’ll be our top defensive stopper, and should make improvements to that 3pt% (FWIW, he shot the exact percentage that Boswell did in 2025; I’d gladly take 30.7% from Andrej next year).
1) Vaaks will be the highest usage player
2) Stoj averaged 3 less minutes per game last year and still scored more points.
Those are the three engines of our offense in whichever way. I’d expect all of them to be above 14/game.
Iowa vs Florida was a cautionary tale of what can happen if you assume a W and don't show up to play.
Florida was absolutely sleepwalking for about 25 minutes and got themselves down by 14 or 15 points. At that point, they started attacking with purpose, got the ball in the paint and a 14/15 point deficit was a 4 point lead by the 5 minute mark. Roughly a 20 point swing in 10 minutes.
At that point, however, it's a toss up. After you add in missed front ends(within the last minute and especially within the last 20 seconds) and some timely Iowa threes(especially in the last 5 seconds)....there you go.
Florida played with their food and got burned. That's the beauty of the NCAA Tournament. One and done. If those two teams played the next day, Florida by 25.
Florida's size and physicality would be an absolute nightmare for us, but could be offset by our bigs being able to play on the perimeter. That was our only chance to beat Michigan last year and the shooting required just didn't materialize. Morez had an absolute field day at our expense.
I'm with you here. Keaton was an absolute unicorn. We've seen hype videos EVERY summer of guys who were do to break out and, outside of Keaton, most of those that we were stoked about transferred. Lol
I remain cautious with carefully edited videos.
My big question with Mirkovic is does the 3 pointer stay the same?
Tomislav shot it 35.7% his first year, and dropped to 31.3% the following year. His shooting drop went alongside his scoring drop (though I do think Mirk will have more usage).
37.5% is an extremely high standard to replicate, especially for a guy in Mirk that wasn't known as a shooter coming in. If it drops to 34%, then no I wouldn't think he'll be our leading scorer. Vaaks will be right on that doorstep.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Vaaks is proven P5 starter. I trust the videos.
Coleman dominated in HS and Fiba U18. Doing the same in college right way may or may not happen.
Andrej, Tommy, David, Big Z and Jake are sure things.
Replacing an AA is always hard. we stumbled year after Ayo left, year after Kofi left, year after TSJ left, hard to guess what will happen this time,
Coleman dominated in HS and Fiba U18. Doing the same in college right way may or may not happen.
Andrej, Tommy, David, Big Z and Jake are sure things.
Replacing an AA is always hard. we stumbled year after Ayo left, year after Kofi left, year after TSJ left, hard to guess what will happen this time,
So 150-200 attempts is a large enough sample to call Boswell (and even far less attempts for Stojakovic) poor outside shooters, but not enough to call Mirkovic a good one. Little double-standardish but alright.
I do want to be mindful of sample size, but at the same time as we see in the case of Vaaks that extremely high volume/more attempts doesn't necessarily mean better sample; it could mean he was taking a lot of shot-clock bailouts or lesser advised shots in a subpar offensive system.
I do want to be mindful of sample size, but at the same time as we see in the case of Vaaks that extremely high volume/more attempts doesn't necessarily mean better sample; it could mean he was taking a lot of shot-clock bailouts or lesser advised shots in a subpar offensive system.
I think you hit it on the head with Mirkovic (though I vehemently disagree with your Stojakovic logic - it's an awful take).
I'm struggling to see where these monster improvements are coming from.
He shot 37.5% from 3 last year. Do we really think that goes up? I think its perhaps more likely that goes down.
His 3p attempt volume was also high, at 4.1 per game. That's a lot for a 6"9 power forward. We already have a ton of 3 point attempts booked between Vaaks, Coleman, and Tomislav.
His 2p percentage was 56%. That's likely the biggest area of improvement, but still, there's a cap to it. Kofi, for example, was at 59%. (I see Tomislav improved a lot, but his attempt volume was also very low, which helped)
All things considered, we're talking marginal improvements. Not exactly things that would make him the best player in the country. We also have lots of mouths to feed amongst our starters.
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