Haven’t heard much about Landon Davis. Any info is appreciated.Stock up on our #9thMan:
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Sounds like he’s on pace to being the #8thMan actually. Which now begs the question, if our anticipated #8thMan is good enough to be our #9thMan?
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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Highly unlikely he's anywhere close to a rotation player. Likely behind Jakstys.
Have seen enough Illini teams to know that the #1 guy in August doesn't mean he is the #1 guy in January-April. But we may have several 1a,1b,1c, 1d guys on the team. Think we will have a loaded team in which multiple guys will have big games, it might be David/Tomi or Dre/Stephan, Q/Davis....but we have a team of guys that can be multiple things that it won't be necessarily an off night for one of these guys. Big Z will likely have several games in which he get 2 blocks and scores 4-8 points but impacts the game by shutting down the middle and getting key rebounds.
Good thing we have a twin 7 footer so we don't need Tomi to cross 25 mins a game.
If Tomi can bang in the paint and score inside he becomes a huge matchup problem for basically every team in the country because of how skilled of a passer he is.
Florida would really be the only frontcourt that could matchup with him and Mirk at that point.
I think that’s kinda silly anyway, who says he wouldn’t be in good shape at 280? Literally endless examples of guys over the years in the NBA playing 35-40 minutes per game at that weight and more. Same thing when guards average 34-36 minutes and people act like they can’t handle it or something.
Brook López is 7’1”, 280. He has played a whole lot of minutes…
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Jake said he’s bigger/stronger, but also in better shape than he was last year.
Of course… that’s why they’re in the NBA.
Tomi has struggled with the conditioning aspect and being able to play major minutes, without being gassed. Now that he’s put on even more weight, that’ll only become more apparent.
It further solidifies Z’s significance to our roster.
Yes, but he’s a starting center in the NBA. Its a different level of basketball.
The proof is in the putting with Tomislav. It was already a weakness; it just became an even bigger weakness.
The bigger issue is the foot-speed. It’s a big issue when it comes to our frontcourt.
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First, let's take everything with a grain of salt. Who knows what his actual weight was last year vs this year. Maybe last year he was 274. Maybe he's only 276 this year and they are rounding up.
Also, if he can do 25 mins, I think we're good. 20 mins maybe a little too low, but 25 would be just fine. Z can do 20 easily.
Ha, yep. Guys like Oliver Miller and Eddy Curry who played full seasons at 33-35 minutes per game while well over 300lbs were in the NBA because of their supreme athletic ability.
Go look at college players then. Or international players, doesn't matter. Like I was saying, there are literally countless examples.
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But the difference is with Tomi, it was already a pre-existing weakness. From that standpoint, it’s not going to get any better, and probably likelier to become an even greater weakness.
But the minutes aren’t where I’m concerned (unless Z gets injured).
He’ll be even slower than he was previously, and footspeed is going to be a problem with our frontcourt as a whole.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Jake Davis, who’s actually played with Tomi in practice, has said he’s in better shape than last year.
Coach David Williams, who’s been to a summer practice, said Tomi’s moving better than last year:
Illinois Basketball Update: The Illini Could Be LOADED This Season
I on the Illini · Episode
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The proof is in the putting
If his PUTTING is as good as mine, we will be good.
If the proof is in the PUDDING, maybe we can be concerned.
Just sayin.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
My god, dude! Do you have to find the negative in everything???
Current championship odds:
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Some people think that being pessimistic is inherently more intellectual than being optimistic … so it’s a habit to which they subconsciously cling, IMO. Not saying that’s PMABG, but MAN is he consistent.
How was it a pre-existing weakness? He played 27 mpg and 26 mpg across two seasons. He would’ve played more last year if we didn’t have a backup of Z’s caliber.
Adding muscle doesn’t automatically make you slower. Fletch did this purposefully. You posts read like he was hanging out with Matt Mayer drinking monsters and eating cheese poofs, and less like he’s a pro-level athlete on a state-of-the-art nutrition and physical fitness program.
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Why do you have to bring common sense into this discussion?.Jake Davis, who’s actually played with Tomi in practice, has said he’s in better shape than last year.
Coach David Williams, who’s been to a summer practice, said Tomi’s moving better than last year:
Illinois Basketball Update: The Illini Could Be LOADED This Season
I on the Illini · Episode
Your adding one minute to each of those seasons.
Regardless, there were many times he looked gassed running up and down the court. Given he's not a good athlete, that conditioning is something NBA teams will question come draft day.
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Tomislav is in fantastic shape. Moving a lot better than he was last year while also putting on some muscle.
He's been one of the biggest positive talking points.
He's been one of the biggest positive talking points.
what's PMABG?Some people think that being pessimistic is inherently more intellectual than being optimistic … so it’s a habit to which they subconsciously cling, IMO. Not saying that’s PMABG, but MAN is he consistent.
in just the small sample size of videos from this summer, both mirk and tomi look in better shape. we will see how that continues but neither were really here or healthy last summer so I'm optimistic. tomi was set to have a break out last year it got delayed but I think at the end of the season he was playing his best ball.Jake Davis, who’s actually played with Tomi in practice, has said he’s in better shape than last year.
Coach David Williams, who’s been to a summer practice, said Tomi’s moving better than last year:
Illinois Basketball Update: The Illini Could Be LOADED This Season
I on the Illini · Episode
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