Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

#679      
joeybcrazy13
Relaxed Mad Men GIF
 
#681      
hoopsfan47
Det_Illini_fan said:
i can get hate for this, but I get wary of Preseason no. 1 if we don’t pull in a Blackwell or strong guard in that spot. Purdue last year touted preseason no. 1 because it was essentially everyone coming back, and they were decent but struggled a lot and far from no. 1

I know the freshman coming in can be good, and we’ll be net positive from last year off development, but I think we need that “Yaxel” type piece to be head and shoulders above like ‘26 Michigan or ‘24 UCONN.

Just my two cents
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Good synopsis. With some thought, it seems like there is an unknown in the equation....how much better will the returners be over last season? That can and, if all healthy, should be a significant amount. But the loss of BH, Keaton, and BAM can't be easily replaced by Vaaks, Coleman, and Morillo. We know for a fact that freshman can fill some big holes quite well, but ours are not all top 15 kids, just talented kids that we hope can quickly adapt and play like vets at the B1G level. But applying historical precedent and common sense, that is not likely.

So I agree, one more addition of a strong veteran player is desirable thing....and John Blackwell is that desirable thing. But 20 year old kids can understand how money adds up...not so much the value treasured and cherished memories that come once in a lifetime.
 
#683      
Combo
Det_Illini_fan said:
i can get hate for this, but I get wary of Preseason no. 1 if we don’t pull in a Blackwell or strong guard in that spot. Purdue last year touted preseason no. 1 because it was essentially everyone coming back, and they were decent but struggled a lot and far from no. 1

I know the freshman coming in can be good, and we’ll be net positive from last year off development, but I think we need that “Yaxel” type piece to be head and shoulders above like ‘26 Michigan or ‘24 UCONN.

Just my two cents
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The key phrase in that article is "right now." A lot of top teams haven't finished adding pieces right now. If we stay put and other teams have significant additions, they'll move us down.

That said, I couldn't care less. Purdue had bragging rights to preseason #1 for 2025-26. When the FF finished, who cared?
 
#684      
Aillini32
March2TheArch said:
There is no Yaxel-like piece in the portal this year. There is a reason ‘26 Michigan and ‘24 UConn are often quotes. They’re rare.

Duke’s teams the last couple years were Natty teams that couldn’t get it done. Duke even beat Michigan this year.

I think we’re ahead of where Florida 2025, Baylor 2021, and Virginia 2019 were in the buildups to their season. That said, we’ve seen what preseason #1 did to Purdue.

There is no dominant team this upcoming year. It’ll be a roller coaster of a season. And we have to hope we peak at the right time like a Florida 2025 or UVA 2019.
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Florida and Virginia both had multiple pro guards
 
#685      
SkyysNotFalling
Det_Illini_fan said:
i can get hate for this, but I get wary of Preseason no. 1 if we don’t pull in a Blackwell or strong guard in that spot. Purdue last year touted preseason no. 1 because it was essentially everyone coming back, and they were decent but struggled a lot and far from no. 1

I know the freshman coming in can be good, and we’ll be net positive from last year off development, but I think we need that “Yaxel” type piece to be head and shoulders above like ‘26 Michigan or ‘24 UCONN.

Just my two cents
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Purdue being #1 didn’t really make much sense to me. They were a sweet 16 caliber team the year prior. Never really seen as title favorites. Most of the reasoning was having the preseason POY on the roster in Braden.

Illinois is a team that was an elite offense, a top 10 team on kenpom most of the year- really top 6-7 most of the way, who just went to a final 4. We are much more deserving.
 
#687      
Illinicpa14
Combo said:
The key phrase in that article is "right now." A lot of top teams haven't finished adding pieces right now. If we stay put and other teams have significant additions, they'll move us down.

That said, I couldn't care less. Purdue had bragging rights to preseason #1 for 2025-26. When the FF finished, who cared?
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I think they were always flawed going in unless you thought Braden was gonna be NPOY; still think Edey made all those guys look better then they were.

I think we have multiple paths even without Blackwell to be elite
1. Mirk takes a step forward
2. Andre takes a step forward
3. Either of the freshmen are better then expected
4. We keep the defensive intensity all year from the F4 run
5. Good shooting + offense Z I think also unlocks us more
6. Vaaks takes another step forward
I can easily see 2-3 of those 6 happening and at worst we’re a top 2 seed. Purdue didn’t have a good year and yet they still were a 2 seed with everything in front of them
 
#688      
Det_Illini_fan
March2TheArch said:
There is no Yaxel-like piece in the portal this year. There is a reason ‘26 Michigan and ‘24 UConn are often quotes. They’re rare.

Duke’s teams the last couple years were Natty teams that couldn’t get it done. Duke even beat Michigan this year.

I think we’re ahead of where Florida 2025, Baylor 2021, and Virginia 2019 were in the buildups to their season. That said, we’ve seen what preseason #1 did to Purdue.

There is no dominant team this upcoming year. It’ll be a roller coaster of a season. And we have to hope we peak at the right time like a Florida 2025 or UVA 2019.
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I’m an Illini fan, if were not head and shoulders above the rest, I’m nervous each game 😅
 
#690      
Curbelo Fanboy
Det_Illini_fan said:
i can get hate for this, but I get wary of Preseason no. 1 if we don’t pull in a Blackwell or strong guard in that spot. Purdue last year touted preseason no. 1 because it was essentially everyone coming back, and they were decent but struggled a lot and far from no. 1

I know the freshman coming in can be good, and we’ll be net positive from last year off development, but I think we need that “Yaxel” type piece to be head and shoulders above like ‘26 Michigan or ‘24 UCONN.

Just my two cents
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Purdue’s best player was an undersized pg who will be lucky to get an nba sniff. We have better talent to bottom.

I’m a nervous Nelly by nature but I have no concern with th pressure of being preseason top 1 or 2 or so. If u can’t handle that u ain’t winning it all anyway. Take it on. This team got a taste this year. They should be hungry for the big prize this year.
 
#693      
hoopsfan47
Illinicpa14 said:
I think they were always flawed going in unless you thought Braden was gonna be NPOY; still think Edey made all those guys look better then they were.

I think we have multiple paths even without Blackwell to be elite
1. Mirk takes a step forward
2. Andre takes a step forward
3. Either of the freshmen are better then expected
4. We keep the defensive intensity all year from the F4 run
5. Good shooting + offense Z I think also unlocks us more
6. Vaaks takes another step forward
I can easily see 2-3 of those 6 happening and at worst we’re a top 2 seed. Purdue didn’t have a good year and yet they still were a 2 seed with everything in front of them
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4 and 6 are the only two of the six that I have any doubt will prove true....and both have a high probability of proving to be true.
 
#697      
Altuve27
Illinicpa14 said:
I think they were always flawed going in unless you thought Braden was gonna be NPOY; still think Edey made all those guys look better then they were.

I think we have multiple paths even without Blackwell to be elite
1. Mirk takes a step forward
2. Andre takes a step forward
3. Either of the freshmen are better then expected
4. We keep the defensive intensity all year from the F4 run
5. Good shooting + offense Z I think also unlocks us more
6. Vaaks takes another step forward
I can easily see 2-3 of those 6 happening and at worst we’re a top 2 seed. Purdue didn’t have a good year and yet they still were a 2 seed with everything in front of them
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Really, really good list. Just to add to it, I think you’ll see more post-ups from Tomi. He unquestionably has that in his skillset. He helped us finish off Iowa with 2 late post-ups. I want much more of that.

Put teams in a bind as to whether they should double him or not.
 
#698      
GrayGhost77
Is it just me or does ZZ look a bit like Christian Laettner (obviously Laettner a bit taller)? If he plays even remotely to his level I think we'll be in good shape. Welcome to the O & B, Mr. Zens!
 
#699      
DReq
I have always thought the preseason and early season rankings were pretty meaningless. There is truly only one ranking I care about and that is the one that some out after the National Championship game. It is prestigious to get that number 1 ranking but it is a prediction by a group, some of whom are poorly informed and a bit biased. The proof is in the pudding (pudding = NCAA Championship) and I'd like a big bowl of that, please.
 
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