College Basketball 2025-2026

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, UMFan83 said:

Definitely not another Yax out there most likely. It will be interesting to see who goes to the draft but Trey McKenney is a top 30 prospect who is playing very well as a true freshman in a backup role, Cason is another reserve that has stepped up in key moments. Gayle has been in a role that’s probably beneath his ability (though he has flaws). It would be hard to say they’ll be as good as this year but their depth will help them and in this new reality of college sports Yax leaves but that’s $3m in NIL they can use in the portal. 

In these days of the wild west that is the portal I don't it's safe to assume Cason or McKenney will stick around.

[sneakypower]

sounds like Cason tore his ACL last night 

[UMFan83]

5 hours ago, gflore34 said:

In these days of the wild west that is the portal I don't it's safe to assume Cason or McKenney will stick around.

True it’s not safe to assume anyone will stay these days.  Michigan has a pretty big war chest though and McKenney has been given a permanent role as a freshman with a clear path to a larger role next year so I’m not super concerned. Cason was recruited to FAU by Dusty and then brought to Michigan when he took the job and now has a torn ACL so I’d expect him to stay. I could see someone like Gayle hit the portal since he’s already done it once and his role is probably less than he was expecting. 

[scarey]

I had a feeling this was going to be a Purdue loss. Jake Diebler has been a very mediocre coach at Ohio State, but he's managed to go 3-0 against Purdue. Each of those matchups have been against a Purdue team that was ranked number 11 or better.

I hate being a Purdue fan.

[gflore34]

16 hours ago, scarey said:

I had a feeling this was going to be a Purdue loss. Jake Diebler has been a very mediocre coach at Ohio State, but he's managed to go 3-0 against Purdue. Each of those matchups have been against a Purdue team that was ranked number 11 or better.

I hate being a Purdue fan.

Hey, at least you had a FF and finals appearance, as an Illini fan I know a FF is not even remotely possible.  For us it's a horsefeathers miracle if Brad manages to make it to the second weekend.

[The_Achiever]

It hurts to say but this Illinois team is cooked.  Tomi can't move, shoot or defend and I think Andrej is checked out because Wagler supplanted him as "the guy" and he's already looking for his next team.  

Depth is already a problem and we're leaking oil.  I think it'll be over for us quickly in March.  This team is dead. 

[gflore34]

11 minutes ago, The_Achiever said:

It hurts to say but this Illinois team is cooked.  Tomi can't move, shoot or defend and I think Andrej is checked out because Wagler supplanted him as "the guy" and he's already looking for his next team.  

Depth is already a problem and we're leaking oil.  I think it'll be over for us quickly in March.  This team is dead. 

Par for the course, I believe we're seeing the ceiling of Underwood' program.  Illinois will never reach beyond the occasional S16 during his tenure.  Problem is, with consistently winning 20 games and making the tournament, he'll never be replaced with an upgrade.  So, I guess we'll have to settle for what we have for next 10 or so years.

[The_Achiever]

I so want him to get over the hump.  While many coaches complained about NIL and the portal, he just went harder and searched further for good players.  No complaining, always working to improve the roster.  He's re-established the program after it fell apart under Weber and Groce.  

Making the second weekend of the tourney this year will feel like a massive win considering how we're looking right now.  

[Rex Buckingham]

You two are ridiculous. This Illini team still has an incredible offense and have had some tough losses lately, but the only two teams in CBB without any real bad losses this year are Michigan and Duke, and even Michigan had a near-miss with an absolutely wretched Penn State team. 

It's been a disappointing string of results, but I fully expect this offense to carry the Illini through the first weekend, and then we will see if they will play any defense or if it will be a series of shootouts til our hearts are broken again or we beat the odds and win it all

[gflore34]

One possible good note is I believe the opposition is going to give Tomi and Bosewell easy open looks from 3.  They'll keep shooting regressing to the mean on someone and hit 6-8 between them.  Hopefully, it's in a big game.

[gflore34]

On 3/2/2026 at 11:22 AM, The_Achiever said:

It hurts to say but this Illinois team is cooked.  Tomi can't move, shoot or defend and I think Andrej is checked out because Wagler supplanted him as "the guy" and he's already looking for his next team.  

Depth is already a problem and we're leaking oil.  I think it'll be over for us quickly in March.  This team is dead. 

Andrej was certainly not checked-out last night, sounds like Brad light a fire under his ass in practice.  I'll give Brad credit for that, a checked-in Andrej does make this Illini team a lot more dangerous.

[The_Achiever]

I hope I'm wrong, glad they were able to get right a bit against a bad team.  Even if Andrej intends on moving on after the season it will behoove him (and anyone else) to play as well as possible for the rest of the season.

Hopefully take care of Maryland and secure a 2 seed.  

[gflore34]

On 3/1/2026 at 12:50 AM, UMFan83 said:

True it’s not safe to assume anyone will stay these days.  Michigan has a pretty big war chest though and McKenney has been given a permanent role as a freshman with a clear path to a larger role next year so I’m not super concerned. Cason was recruited to FAU by Dusty and then brought to Michigan when he took the job and now has a torn ACL so I’d expect him to stay. I could see someone like Gayle hit the portal since he’s already done it once and his role is probably less than he was expecting. 

Here's something interesting - Aggregate 2026 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Pre-March Madness rankings - Wagler is probably one and done for Illinois.  Think there's a better than average chance Mara and Johnson are likewise for Michigan.  By the way, Gayle is listed as a SR, was he granted another year of eligibility? 

[sneakypower]

yeah Gayle's gone after this year but he'd fallen out of the rotation quite a bit with McKenney & Cason emergence

we'll obviously be forced to rely on him more now

[gflore34]

19 minutes ago, sneakypower said:

yeah Gayle's gone after this year but he'd fallen out of the rotation quite a bit with McKenney & Cason emergence

we'll obviously be forced to rely on him more now

Cason has to be a tremendous loss, thought he came up big vs. MSU and was definitely a factor vs. Illinois. Gayle can be good, he's capable.

[UMFan83]

4 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Here's something interesting - Aggregate 2026 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Pre-March Madness rankings - Wagler is probably one and done for Illinois.  Think there's a better than average chance Mara and Johnson are likewise for Michigan.  By the way, Gayle is listed as a SR, was he granted another year of eligibility? 

I've heard Mara and Johnson are hoping to be closer to middle of 1st round to leave but we'll never know until the season ends.  I'd bet at least one stays but we'll see.  Yeah brain fart on Gayle, he's done

[UMFan83]

3 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Cason has to be a tremendous loss, thought he came up big vs. MSU and was definitely a factor vs. Illinois. Gayle can be good, he's capable.

It's a gut punch for sure.  People are saying not a big deal that the backup PG is out, but he was becoming a very important piece and really hitting his stride the last month or so.  Looking over the roster there are probably only 3 players I would have wanted to see out the rest of the year less than Cason, and yes that includes Cadeau, the starting PG. (Yax, Mara, Morez being the 3).

[gflore34]

16 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

It's a gut punch for sure.  People are saying not a big deal that the backup PG is out, but he was becoming a very important piece and really hitting his stride the last month or so.  Looking over the roster there are probably only 3 players I would have wanted to see out the rest of the year less than Cason, and yes that includes Cadeau, the starting PG. (Yax, Mara, Morez being the 3).

I thought if Michigan has a weakness it would be the back court.  Cason being out certainly doesn't help.  I think they'll be fine but, as you know, any weakness has a way of showing up in the tournament.  Take the Illini, they'll may be okay until the face a team with a quick PG and a couple of good shooters, in which case, they're toast.

[scarey]

Fitting end to the Purdue seniors' careers. They have to watch Wisconsin chuck no look 3 pointers all game and then have Nick Boyd throw the ball at the rim between his legs over and over down the stretch to lose their final game at Mackey.

Some impossibly stupid foul calls too.

I never could have imagined this season to be so frustrating/disappointing/infuriating.

The only thing I can hope for at this point is they can get enough games between the Big Ten tournament and the NCAA tournament to give Smith the shot at the all time assists record. If they're lucky enough to win two games in the big dance, they're gonna have to lose to Duke in the sweet 16. He needs 47 assists to pass Hurley. He's probably going to need 5 games to do that.

[Tryptamine]

This Illinois team is going to be lucky if they get to the sweet 16. Unless Wagler is going off, they're just so damn mediocre.

[gflore34]

50 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

This Illinois team is going to be lucky if they get to the sweet 16. Unless Wagler is going off, they're just so damn mediocre.

I've been down on them as well.  However, 15-5, 24-7, is far removed from mediocre, ordinarily 15-5 would win the Big Ten, it's pretty horsefeathers good.  Today Maryland was allowed to foul Wagler on every possession, grabbing, holding, hand checking, you name it.  While Thomas did foul out he committed far more than 5 fouls, don't think this kind of hacking of Wagler is going to be allowed in the tournament.  They also shot terrible from 3 again today, that makes the last 4 where they've been awful.  That's not going to continue.

[Tryptamine]

Nebraska with the hard choke to get to OT, same guy misses back to back 1 and 1s with under 30 seconds to go.

[gflore34]

27 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Nebraska with the hard choke to get to OT, same guy misses back to back 1 and 1s with under 30 seconds to go.

Was really hoping Iowa could pull it out, wanted the Illini, provided they and MSU both win their first round matchups, to face MSU again.  Good chance they'll get another crack at Wisconsin which is good as well.

[gflore34]

Fears up to the nonsense again: 

Izzo defending him, I'm so sick of Izzo, what a horsefeathers ass.

Edited March 9 by gflore34

[mul21]

15 hours ago, gflore34 said:

I've been down on them as well.  However, 15-5, 24-7, is far removed from mediocre, ordinarily 15-5 would win the Big Ten, it's pretty horsefeathers good.  Today Maryland was allowed to foul Wagler on every possession, grabbing, holding, hand checking, you name it.  While Thomas did foul out he committed far more than 5 fouls, don't think this kind of hacking of Wagler is going to be allowed in the tournament.  They also shot terrible from 3 again today, that makes the last 4 where they've been awful.  That's not going to continue.

Yeah, it was pretty clear by about 5 minutes into the game the refs were going to allow it to be a rugby match.  The poor shooting from 3 was definitely a bigger issue though and like you said, I don't expect that to continue.  I am concerned about Tomi though, he just looks a step slow and the 3s just haven't been falling for him at all lately.