Yes, but are you tracking barber shops on the south side of Chicago?
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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Never said that he wasn't. I was just being more tongue in cheek that that is not his most prominent offensive ability.
Eh... 2 different guys with possibly 2 different injuries (or varying severity).
Boswell averaged 30.0 mpg and Andrej 26.3 so of course they played together. They were in the starting lineup together for 20+ games and according to on/off data our 3 most used lineups included both players. So I think you are wrong.
Do you have a stat on how many at the rim Keaton made?
Wagler’s 2 point percentage was legitimately, his only weakness (at least at the college level).
He did not lack courage, and would drive in undeterred…. just didn’t get enough of them to drop, percentage wise.
His FT rate however, was terrific.
He did not lack courage, and would drive in undeterred…. just didn’t get enough of them to drop, percentage wise.
His FT rate however, was terrific.
THIS is my point with Vaaks.
Keaton didn't make as many as you'd ideally hope, but he was able to get those looks thru his aggressiveness.
If Vaaks is able to get those looks, I think he makes more than Keaton considering: 1) his 2pt percentage was already higher last year. 2) we ALWAYS improve our transfer's 2pt percentage. 3) he's alot bigger, stronger, older than Keaton.
That's what would really elevate him to lottery pick status, IMO. In addition to getting a bit better defensively and on the glass (which I think will happen).
I will note, Boswell's improvement in this area was especially encouraging.
In 2024, he shot 41.5% from two on 3.9 attempts. The following year at Illinois, he shot 56.7% from two on 5.3 attempts (and last year 54% on 5.4 attempts).
.....
Also, KB's free throw rate of 12.3% was literally the worst on Arizona's roster. Even worse than the walk ons; literally the worst on the team.
At Illinois, it was 43.3% in 2025 and 41.5% in 2026. Both very good.
.....
For the comparison -- Vaaks at Providence shot 51.7% from two on 3.9 attempts. Vaaks's free throw rate at Providence was 29.5%.
I'm not sure what a leap necessarily looks like, but almost certain both those numbers will go up for him.
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It's different because Boswell came from one of the best teams in the country. Usually those guys can take those leaps, with a greater role.
Vaaks came from one of the worst power conference teams. Those guys tend to have their statistical leaps more capped, because we've already seen what they are in their highest usage roles (on a bad team, no less).
2 point percentage and free throw rate could increase, as those are efficiency metrics.
Not sure about 2 point attempts increasing. In a high usage role, on a bad team, we've already seen how that's probably not his game.
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Playing with an injury can limit your physical endurance. So, playing super high minutes might not be an option to begin with.
Also, different player's injuries are different. And different players deal with injuries in a different manner.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Big part of the of Vaaks’ low rim rate at Providence was a clogged lane. Playing in a 5 out offense should increase his rim rate here.
MLT’s shared the stats on one of the Werner podcasts, but rim rate is usually one of the stats that improves the most by incoming transfers.
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source? legitimately curious. i admit the following could be AI slop but when queried it stated it was using synergy/torvik/hoop-math as sources-
For a freshman guard, 57.5% at the rim is very solid—well above average for an 18- or 19-year-old.
Of all offensive metrics in college basketball, rim finishing is the most strongly correlated with age and physical strength. Freshmen almost always experience an adjustment period as they learn to finish through D-I body contact and around college-level rim protectors.
NCAA Freshman Guard Rim Benchmarks
- D-I Freshman Guard Average: ~52% – 55% (lower than the overall D-I guard baseline of 55%–58%).
- Red Flag / Struggling Freshmen: Under 50% (common for raw or undersized point guards who haven't built an NBA/D-I frame yet).
- Good / Solid Baseline (Where 57.5% Sits): 55% – 59% (shows high-level touch and the ability to handle physical play).
- Elite / Lottery Prospect Territory: 60% – 65%+ (e.g., top-tier athletes or physically developed freshmen like Dylan Harper, Brayden Burries, or Mikel Brown Jr.).
Separately (from a different post), 2pt% 49% would seem to be high average to solid for a guard. In the context of his other numbers it seems a stretch to call this a weakness which implies a deficiency vs it not being his strength which it isnt. there are other reasons he was drafted 5th
Out of our 8 guys who played, his percentage ranked 7th.
The freshman guard aspect might be valid. Kingston Flemings was actually worse than Wagler, at 57.2%. And Acuff wasn't a ton better at just over 59%.
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I wish points (including FTs) per attempt at the rim was publicly available
Went back to the pod, and he mentioned 2 point percentage increasing, free throw rate increasing, turnover rate decreasing (all of which I think will happen).
He did not mention rim attempts or 2 point attempts. Did say Vaaks's "shot distribution" will likely be better.
Thanks for sharing. Absolutely robbed of 1st team AA status while he awaited vindication. His athleticism and skill were deserving of POY votes. Really shined in the post-season.
How often do we get to see a player that good play through their senior year?
That's a good insight from Vaaks last year - the thing that gives me confidence that he'll improve in both rim rate and % made at the rim is our offensive scheme
When we talk about how our scheme is so efficient and makes lead guards great it's because we have a pick and roll big who you have to stay connected to and shooters all around the arc, so the driving lanes are wide open. He's 6-7 220, he'll improve his finishes at the rim I'm sure.
I'll also say, last year teams started just leaving Andrej, Kylan and Big Z open from three and that hurt our ability to get to the rim. With a better shooting team this year which I think we'll be with Coleman and Vaaks and Big T regaining his form and Andrej just being back to his Stanford %, we become a better shooting team than last year
2nd to last item in the article:
99. David Mirkovic will win national player of the year. He was all kinds of fun as a freshman and by all accounts he has made a major leap this summer. He’ll have the team around him to do it as well.
^^^ Guess us "insane homer" fans here aren't the only ones that think he's capable
If this prediction comes to pass, I predict we win it all this year...I'm making my Detroit reservations now..
He was my favorite player ever at Illinois. Definitely Mt Rushmore of PGs at Illinois. DEFINITELY on the Mt Rushmore for clutch players.
Yes we did. We got absolutely r&)
: by the officials in the elite 8.It does not seem like the atmosphere is as electric as it used to be.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
1st or 2nd team All-American is very doable. To win player of the year, the usage will have to be there.
Last year, his usage was 23.3 and Keaton’s was 25.7. Meanwhile, his biggest competition for player of the year, Jeremy Fears, was at 27.1 last year and I could see that going up this year.
But this coaching staff has shown they’ll give our best players a ton of usage. TJ had a 27.9 in 2024, Kofi had a 30.7 in 2022, and Ayo was at 29.4 in 2021.
Not sure any of those teams had as much talent around their stars as we do this year, though.
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