And 2nd in assists and 3rd in rebounds.
Going into the season, we though our best players would be Stojakovic, Tomi, and Kylan. Those guys have been good (when healthy), but Keaton is easily our best player now.
Illinois 91, Missouri 48 Postgame
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Going into the season, we though our best players would be Stojakovic, Tomi, and Kylan. Those guys have been good (when healthy), but Keaton is easily our best player now.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Al dente orribile?
Me either, I didn't watch on TV because I was at the game... just going by what others have said
Big Z averaging 2.3 blocks in 17.3 minutes is sure something.
If he can keep that up in B1G play, it significantly raises the Illini's ceiling.
Sleepers did an excellent podcast about this before the Missouri game. Offensively our most efficient lineup has Keaton, Mirk, and Jake Davis in it. Ben can be interchanged for Jake pretty easily as they offer the same skillset offensively. Jake and Ben aren't great off the dribble like Andrej and Kylan are so the ball sticks way less when they are in the game. Missouri also went to a bit of zone when both Jake and Ben were on the floor which was mind blowing to me because it allowed for a couple of easy three point attempts especially when Jake, Ben, and Keaton were hitting like they were last night.
There has been a little griping about the emphasis on efficiency metrics lately as well as some skepticism about their value.
You can't game the system with efficiency metrics. Bad teams can't fake their way to efficiency and good teams aren't inefficient.
As fans, these services are great. Not because we see them as the end goal but because they allow us to understand, ok how good are we really? How do we project?
For additional context, in the last 10 years that have had a tournament, there have been 34 teams with a KP NetRtg above 29. Here are their tournament results:
19 Final Fours
8 Elite Eights
2 Sweet 16s
4 second rounds
1 first round
Pretty good odds that a team as efficient as ours will at least make the second weekend. IF we can maintain this level of efficiency.
*There are 9 teams right now with a NetRtg above 29. That's a TON. The analytics have revolutionized the game and the metrics are getting inflated because of it. So, a rating of 29+ isn't quite what it was 10 or even 5 years ago but it's still really really good.
Great year for Illini sports, awesome Braggin’ Rights win. Let’s keep things rolling in 2026!
Unpopular opinion... but I'd rather have Ty for the entirety of the 2028 season than for one month in 2026, not even at 100%.
Either way, him putting that work in to get back is so contrary to the Tucker Devries/Rodney Rice of the world.
Honestly just can’t believe how good that kid is
Bonus points for playing a style that’s very appealing as well
It was a 43 point victory. A perfect opportunity to give him some run if you don't necessarily trust him.
Turnovers happen. Nobody is ever going to get into a rhythm or play with any confidence if they get pulled after every turnover.
Maybe Petrovic never figures it out this year but you are going to need a guard to give you some minutes off the bench at some point so why not see if he can settle in a game you're up a ton so you could potentially use him going forward and if he doesn't then see what you have in Lee.
I know everyone will look at the shooting, scoring, etc... to me literally the three most important things with him: 1) doesn’t turn the ball over 2) one of your best rebounders 3) one of your best defenders. As the PG, that ITSELF is enough value to keep you on the court every game, regardless of the game to game variance of shot making.
Where this differs from KJ a year ago (which I know everyone's skeptical of) is that two of the three aspects I mentioned were not nearly up to par with what we've seen from Wagler (turnovers and defense).
Now add in the scoring, shot making, shooting 43% from three.... now you've got one of the best players in the conference.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Could be wrong, but I believe the only way you can get a second redshirt (medical redshirt) is if you miss two seasons due to injury.
If you miss one season due to a regular redshirt and the next due to injury, you don’t qualify for medical redshirt.
Kyle's been way too wordsy.
This 100%.
And it’s extra impressive (and rare) to check all three boxes so effectively at such an early age.
He has been hurting since Tennessee game injury. Sit him, physical therapy, and rest. We need everyone and he is huge.
But what if his playing time why he is displaying those qualities now?
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
BOY! I. Had. Fun. Last. Night.
StL with the fellas after a blowout W at the Enterprise Center has become one of the true highlights of my year.
StL with the fellas after a blowout W at the Enterprise Center has become one of the true highlights of my year.
I just thought it was me, but I keep thinking he's finishing a thought and he just keeps going....
I'm hoping with experience he improves. I think he's trying very hard to replace LaTulip and he'd rather say too much and provide value than say too little and provide no value.
Yeah, I actually like what he brings. And agree that he'll likely improve with experience. It's just something I've noticed more and more each time I watch.
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