Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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LFG!!!
All I am looking to get from Mirk is improvement in efficiency in all facets. It can be slight, but what in the world should expected from him at an elite level? He showed his value as a teammate last year, especially in the clutch and keeping the team out of long scoring droughts. With the talent this team possesses in the returners and adding another all-around team player like Coleman, no one has to be a super star. But they all have to use their talents when others are shut down...which always leaves opportunity for someone...and there will be a someone of talent to pick up that opportunity and run with it at all times. We will see, but I expect, just as was the case last season, to see talents shine and team play to be spectacular most of the time. The big upside will be if we can get both Ivisic brothers healthy, confident, and aggressive at both ends. Their potential has seen glimpses of success and is spectacular, but those glimpses must become steady performances every night for another FF march...er...April. (See what I did there?)
I just want to see Mirk take that sophomore jump in confidence and consistency...he does not have to be Larry Bird...just Birdesque when needed. In hindsight, in view of what we saw last year...that will be just fine.
I sat through the John Groce years just for some randoms who will not make any noise to get them instead
Gross then and now!
Dan
Admin
Cincinnati exhibition (Oct 17) public tickets go on sale Wednesday 9:00am CT.
Game has been listed as a 7pm ET tipoff, but they've recently added "Tipoff Subject to Change" on their schedule page so who knows.
https://www.ticketmaster.com/cincin...hio-10-17-2026/event/1600652FC74CA78A#tickets
Game has been listed as a 7pm ET tipoff, but they've recently added "Tipoff Subject to Change" on their schedule page so who knows.
https://www.ticketmaster.com/cincin...hio-10-17-2026/event/1600652FC74CA78A#tickets
Continue to think Mirk is on track for November 2nd.
Expecting a big year from Andrej Stojakovic. Think he could end up being the 2nd most impactful player on the team.
The Ethan Brown buzz has gotten louder the last couple weeks. Think he can get spot minutes this year if needed. Sounds like Stefan Vaaks has really started to come on strong in practice as well.
Expecting a big year from Andrej Stojakovic. Think he could end up being the 2nd most impactful player on the team.
The Ethan Brown buzz has gotten louder the last couple weeks. Think he can get spot minutes this year if needed. Sounds like Stefan Vaaks has really started to come on strong in practice as well.
Do you live nearby?
this solid Intel.Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
So on the replay of that Anderson shot you are one of the 20 people in the building that can be heard yelling!! What a moment. On the replay there is a split second right as the ball is going thru the net where there is a dead silence in that building such that the TV picks up the sound of the swish of the ball. And then you hear the few Illini fans & team going nuts. An ALL TIMER.
Appreciate you Lville!
8th grade me is somewhere in that photo.
So besides Brown, who else is impressing to the point that key minutes could be an option?
My guess... Lucas Morillo. The back injury probably set him back a month but I think/hope we'll hear a lot more on him in October.
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We basically played an 8-man rotation last year. And our top 7 is spoken for at this moment.
Frontcourt (PF/C, 80min):
- Mirk: 30-35 min
- Tomi: 25-30 min
- Z: 20-25 min
- Jason J / Landon Davis: Spot minutes in blowouts, foul trouble or strategic breathers
Wing (SF, 40min):
- Andrej: 25-30 min
- Jake: 10-15 min (to keep Andrej fresh for when we're in a scoring drought and to close out games)
- Williams: Spot minutes in blowouts, foul trouble or strategic breathers
Backcourt (PG/CG/SG, 80min)
- Vaaks: 30-35 min
- Coleman: 25-30 min
- Jake: 5-10min
- Brown / Morillo: Spot minutes in blowouts, foul trouble or strategic breathers
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I'm going to assume our front court is healthy by conference season so I'd expect limited/non-existent minutes for Jason and Landon by then.
Jake is capable of playing 20min a game. High motor. I therefore doubt Lincoln gets much tick. The only way he'll see the floor is if he can emulate Kylan's defensive tenacity and passing. That's asking a lot of a true freshman. His shooting will be the biggest limiter in our offensive scheme. Once again, imagine he'll be pretty limited in our high stakes non-con games and in B1G play (outside games like Northwestern and Penn State).
This team does need more initiators to ease the burden for Vaaks and Mirk. Given Quintin's knock-down shooting, slashing and festiness on the boards, we'll want to keep him off-ball.
Therefore my guess would have to be Lucas Morillo. I believe he or Brown will be the most important freshman besides Quintin.
There is only ball to go around and we are stacked with shooters, so my guess is Lincoln is going to get some tick. Let's be honest, Kylan was not a knock down shooter, but had incredible grit / fire on D and was a good distributor. Depending on Vaaks D, there could easily be a slot for a lock-down defender and energy guy, especially one that can attack the rim.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Yeah nice thing is Ethan is a natural 2. Lucas a natural 1. And Williams and natural 3. I think they could bring different things to the table.
Not only that but I hear their 15th man is even better than our 14th man!But USC’s got an 11th man
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