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Illini Basketball 2026-2027
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Agree. I think we hear how deep the bench substitutions will be every year only for it to tighten up to 7-8 players with significant minutes. Coach, play as many or as few as you see fit, just bring home that National Championship.
Bringing Vaaks off the bench is a mistake imo. I think we got lucky to keep Andre this year after keeping him out of the starting lineup after his return from injury. . Could end up another Morez Johnson situation.
I’m skeptical as well. Just saying he’s not been that stubborn.
Stubborn isn't really the right word. It's more that guys at the end of the rotation to prove defensively and on the boards why they deserve extended time
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
I don’t disagree with any of that. My comment was very narrowly about using roster depth.
BUs (and Tyler) ability to adapt and transform is so underrated. Though you better be gritty and be willing to rebound..don’t think that will ever change.
He's definitely not stubborn. As you said, one of the more adaptable, flexible coaches I've seen at any level.
That said, I'm skeptical for two reasons - 1) the vast majority of coaches tighten up their rotation when the schedule gets tough, and 2) Brad is known for hyperbole (i.e. he throws lots of !!!! out there).
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Actions with 1-2 set plays to calm down a rattled team baby.
Joel Goodson
- 9th man conundrum
This is what happens when you have no idea who your 9th man is. You have to play two different 9th men.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
For team #RankingsMatter, the Texas Tech game is a sneaky big game for our non-con ranking.
Win that and even if lose both the Duke and UConn games, we’re still likely ranked 10-12 heading into our first conference game against Minnesota on Dec 8.
Lose to Tech and then lose to Duke and UConn, and we’re likely in the 18-20 range instead with a big hill to climb to get back into the top 10.
Win that and even if lose both the Duke and UConn games, we’re still likely ranked 10-12 heading into our first conference game against Minnesota on Dec 8.
Lose to Tech and then lose to Duke and UConn, and we’re likely in the 18-20 range instead with a big hill to climb to get back into the top 10.
Here's a mind teaser. If Mirk, Drej and Z aren't back before tomorrow, who's our 9th man? (We know Mirk won't be).
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
disagree. if we lose competitive, close games against highly ranked opponents, our ranking won’t suffer that much
If the #3 team loses to the #20 team, we could drop to #10. And then Duke and UConn losses depending on what happens around us could drop us 2-3 places each. That starts our B1G conference with us a 4 seed trying to lead frog potentially 12 teams to re-earn a 1 seed across the conference season. And if any of those top 4 ranked teams simply maintain a better overall record than us we may never climb back there. Only highly ranked teams in the B1G will be MSU and Michigan potentially the LA teams. Thats only 4 chances really to make meaningful ranking jumps. We could just stay hovering in the top 15 to top 5 range.
I know a lot of people have maintained optimism about the season. But OSOC is a thing. And we could lose our chance at a 1 seed early December barring a generational run in the B1G ala Michigan last year.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
In the analytics, sure, but if you stroll into December 5 without a signature win and a 5-3 record, you’re ranked outside the top 15 in the AP poll.
This is my fear without Mirkovic. Frankly if we don't have him for the first couple months our title hopes are probably close to dead. We could still win the conference and possibly have a good march run but usually national champions are dominant from the beginning of the season.
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