OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Based on that trend, we would be ranked 0 (kind of like how Steve Jobs was Employee 0 at Apple after Wozniak got Employee 1 and Jobs got ticked off).
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Same! But I am taller than the typical one.
The biggest shift in philosophy — perhaps after Can Crocker’s arrival — is allowing teams to shoot more threes.
Graph of our 3pt attempt rate allowed on defense, every season since 2008:
2024 —> fewest threes allowed of any season. (80th best defense per Kenpom)
2025 —> few more threes allowed. (40th best defense per Kenpom)
2026 —> WAY more threes allowed. (20th best defense per Kenpom)
….
Allowing teams to shoot more threes, has coincided with less shots allowed at the rim.
Rim rate allowed (what % of the shot attempts you give up are at the rim):
2024 —> 113th
2025 —> 79th
2026 —> 4th
….
What’s also interesting is our 3pt% allowed (how well teams shoot threes against you):
2024 —> 196th
2025 —> 161st
2026 —> 37th
In past years — while we gave up fewer attempts, we did allow teams to shoot a higher %.
Now — yes we give up more attempts, but teams shoot a lesser %.
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Of all the years we have heard Brad talk about “positionless basketball”, I think this will be the one closest to that vision, to date. I think we will continue to hunt matchups that favor us. The primary focus of offensive initiation will hinge more on the defense than a consistent focal point of attack.
That’s the beauty of having a high degree of continuity. The guys know and trust each other. Ideally, with a group like this, you see a lot of ball movement, rather than one guy trying to penetrate the defense over and over again, every game.
Our spacing should be excellent, as should the chemistry. The bigs can shoot, pass, and post. The wings can penetrate, pass, and hit open shots. There are a bunch of ways this team will stress a defense.
I’m not worried about who is breaking a press. We won’t get pressed much. We have too many experienced guys, who can see over most double teams. Pressing will likely end up in easy baskets.
Rebounding should continue to be a strength. It led to a lot of our best offense last year.
For most teams, maybe it matters if they don’t have a “traditional PG”. Most teams don’t have multiple big guys who can be a threat legitimate pass/shoot 20+ feet from the basket.
Illinois does. When you have numerous guys who defy convention, conventional wisdom is less applicable.
Yes, but I also think it's insane to say Thornton&Mobley or Sandfort&Hoiberg was a better backcourt than Keaton&Kylan.
If we don't like Torvik, here it is using EvanMiya BPR:
Illinois —
Wagler: 9.84
Boswell: 7.00
Total: 16.84
Purdue —
Smith: 11.10
Loyer: 8.21
Total: 19.31
Nebraska —
Sandfort: 8.80
Hoiberg: 7.82
Total: 16.62
Ohio St —
Thornton: 10.19
Mobley Jr: 5.73
Total: 15.92
Wisconsin —
Boyd: 8.01
Blackwell: 7.17
Total: 15.18
Once more, Boyd & Blackwell are behind everyone else.
For Nebraska though I'd probably argue Sandfort played the 3 and the guards were Lawrence/Hoiberg.
Thornton was utterly outstanding and really props up that backcourt
Illinois —
Wagler: 9.84
Boswell: 7.00
Total: 16.84
Purdue —
Smith: 11.10
Loyer: 8.21
Total: 19.31
Nebraska —
Sandfort: 8.80
Hoiberg: 7.82
Total: 16.62
Ohio St —
Thornton: 10.19
Mobley Jr: 5.73
Total: 15.92
Wisconsin —
Boyd: 8.01
Blackwell: 7.17
Total: 15.18
Once more, Boyd & Blackwell are behind everyone else.
For Nebraska though I'd probably argue Sandfort played the 3 and the guards were Lawrence/Hoiberg.
Thornton was utterly outstanding and really props up that backcourt