Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#426      
Haven't seen it on here yet, but Scott Richey published some brief comments from Tyler Underwood on Mirk's progress:

Foot fracture and a pin is the most detail we’ve gotten on the injury thus far. Wishing Mirk a good long term recovery.
 
#430      
Yeah Tyler was on Saturday morning sportsline in Champaign. Loren Tate said he heard from people who know that when you put that pin in with a stress fracture it makes it even stronger.
I think the issue post-these surgeries is not necessarily re-injuring the same issue. But, rather, it’s rushing back to full contact and injuring an adjacent part of the body that’s atrophied during recovery.
 
#433      
I think the issue post-these surgeries is not necessarily re-injuring the same issue. But, rather, it’s rushing back to full contact and injuring an adjacent part of the body that’s atrophied during recovery.
I'm far from a doctor, so purely speculating... but I think some of the high-tech recovery things they're able to do now (underwater treadmill, etc.) paired with the relatively short duration of the recovery makes this less likely than if it was a more significant compound fracture or soft tissue injury where he was much more limited in movement for a more extended period of time.

I would imagine the goal now is to maintain as much strength and conditioning gained over the summer as possible during the 6-8 week recovery.
 
#434      
is the exhibition game vs. Cinti open to the public?
I believe historically when exhibition games were officially announced alongside the rest of the schedule, they were televised and open to the public. Again, someone smarter than me can correct me.
 
#435      
I believe historically when exhibition games were officially announced alongside the rest of the schedule, they were televised and open to the public. Again, someone smarter than me can correct me.
my actual question is: (when) can I buy tickets as I live in the Cinti area
 
#440      
Are exhibition games streamed or televised?
All exhibition games at the State Farm Center in the Brad Underwood Era have been broadcasted live, mostly on B1G+ streaming (the notable exception- the exhibition against Kansas in Oct 2023 was broadcast by BTN). I'd certainly expect the Baylor & UIC exhibition games to have a broadcast option.

The exhibition at Cincinnati depends upon the Bearcats/the Bearcats' media partners. Last season, Cincinnati did not host an exhibition game. But 2 years ago Cincy hosted Ohio State in a charity exhibition game and...

There will be no video streaming of the event

So stay tuned to see if we'll get a broadcast option for the Cincinnati exhibition game.
 
#441      
Agreed our ceiling was a 2 seed going into the BTT. Turned out better to be a 3 seed vs. Florida and Houston vs. a 2 seed in AZ or Duke’s regional. There was a clear big 3 last year. We avoided all 3 of them till the Final Four. Then even dodged one in the Final Four thanks to a recurring Scheyer choke. And we would have faced a hobbled Michigan in the final.

If not for a few rolls/bounces the other way (Solo Ball banking in that 3, the Demery OReb > Braylon 3, Andrej’s jammed layup, Andrej double FT miss, Kylan layup…), we could have spooked Michigan in the final as a team of destiny.
Don't know what you are smoking but I can drink your kool-aid, too. 🤣
 
#444      
Don't know what you are smoking but I can drink your kool-aid, too. 🤣

I mean we were actually favored by a couple points going into the UConn game (and it was was 4 point game with 90 seconds left) so no kool aid is really required,
What NarrowJ said plus Yaxel was hobbled in the final. His defense and penetrative offense were a big part of their win in Champaign. Michigan would still be favored. But Mirk having a rebound game after a poor showing vs. UConn would’ve made things interesting. We contained Tarris in the 2nd half who is a bigger offensive threat than either Mara or Morez. And Braylon, Demery, Solo arguably better than Cadeau, Nimari, McKenney, Gayle. Yaxel’s injury gave us a chance.

Edit: UConn defender Keaton’s 3ball well. Fully sold out knowing Tarris was back there. Yaxel checked Keaton in Champaign. Keaton hitting a few more 3s also changes the complexion of the game.
 
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#445      
What NarrowJ said plus Yaxel was hobbled in the final. His defense and penetrative offense were a big part of their win in Champaign. Michigan would still be favored. But Mirk having a rebound game after a poor showing vs. UConn would’ve made things interesting. We contained Tarris in the 2nd half who is a bigger offensive threat than either Mara or Morez. And Braylon, Demery, Solo arguably better than Cadeau, Nimari, McKenney, Gayle. Yaxel’s injury gave us a chance.

Edit: UConn defender Keaton’s 3ball well. Fully sold out knowing Tarris was back there. Yaxel checked Keaton in Champaign. Keaton hitting a few more 3s also changes the complexion of the game.
We outrebounded UConn who outrebounded Michigan. We were unbelievably cold from 3. But credit to UConn they tired us out and crowded us on the 3 line. The lack of a TSJ type slasher who could punish that or a low post threat like Kofi meant we didn’t have a second option when the 3s weren’t falling.

But Kylan bricked an absolute gimme layup and Andrej got very unlucky on a couple. We were also uncharacteristically poor from the free throw line.

As such, I don’t think there was much wrong with our offensive or defensive schematic. But it’s clear physical and multi-action team (Ala UConn) take out our legs by the final qtr of games. Something the coaching staff needs to solve. Perhaps that involves having a deeper rotation - and allowing our bench to get time in low stakes non-con games.

Additionally, TSJ and Kofi went back up strong off rebounds. We often kick out and re-initiate offense. Michigan got all of those free throws by just being strong in the paint.

I know that the Underwoods having fallen in love recently with the Balkan Five professional offense. But you saw in the Michigan vs. Arizona game, Michigan’s frontline bullied Pete, Krivas (who lacks Mara’s skill) and Awaka through sheer size and physicality. I imagine Florida would not have fared any better. Duke’s Boozer was the only big who not only stood up to but actually won the contest vs. Michigan.

I hope Quinton Kitt can become an MF’er like the Field of 68 guys like to call them ala Yaxel and Morez. When shots aren’t falling or plays are breaking down, you sometimes just need a big, strong player to go do something. This was TSJ 2024 and Kofi 2022.

I believe we are trying to land some of these long, athletic guys like Kamissoko, Wabbington, Betts. We need to start landing guys like that. Can’t win as just Guard U. Mara/Krivas/Condon. That’s an essentially starting 5 piece. Someone who can bang down low and finish at 60% 2p% rate on volume.
 

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