College Basketball 2025-2026

[bjam12]

23 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Right now sounding like most of the Illini with eligibility are coming back, there's a sense of unfinished business.  Besides Mirk, Andrej is the big one, come up with money and he probably stays.

Andrej is a big one to keep. I feel strong about Blackwell coming over unless he picks Michigan, but dad played for U of I so that helps. Blackwell and Andrej in the backcourt would be fun. 

[gflore34]

8 minutes ago, bjam12 said:

Andrej is a big one to keep. I feel strong about Blackwell coming over unless he picks Michigan, but dad played for U of I so that helps. Blackwell and Andrej in the backcourt would be fun. 

Apparently Blackwell has a high price tag, not worth it IMO.  Always thought he's more a product of Gard's system than actually good.

[bjam12]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

Apparently Blackwell has a high price tag, not worth it IMO.  Always thought he's more a product of Gard's system than actually good.

There's probably some truth to the last sentence but I think Underwood, despite some of his weaknesses has an in-game coach, does a nice job of changing his system to fit his personnel. I think Illinois is the favorite to land him. 

[sneakypower]

7 hours ago, scarey said:

Also, this just further reinforces that you can just throw money around and get a championship. 

I would guess of those teams, Purdue, NC State, Auburn, and Illinois paid less than $10 mill for their rosters meaning 75% of teams making it to the Final Four threw significant money at their roster.

I'm a fan of players being paid, but it really sucks to watch the wealthy get an advantage in any sport. I shouldn't be one to cry foul as Purdue reportedly spent $20 mill on their roster this year, but I don't think they throw that kind of money at it if they didn't need to dish out money to keep their home grown super stars.

"I’m ready for the IRS to come in and open up the books and show what people spent versus what the spin zone has said they spent,” May said.

the Pete Nakos report suggested Michigan enjoyed just a slight advantage over B1G contemporaries

Quote

I have to think it sucks cheering for a Morez Johnson, then watching him walk after a year.

not in the slightest! 😃

[UMFan83]

8 hours ago, scarey said:

A whole lot of douche in that locker room starting with May.

The former, whatever, they have been cocky and it’s one of those things where you love them because it’s your team but understand why it would rub people the wrong way. The May hate I don’t understand at all. His players love him, other coaches (besides Izzo) seem to love him, he seems to have really strong relationships with virtually anyone affiliated with basketball. I can’t recall him saying anything too controversial. He seems like a genuinely good dude, I don’t get it. 

[gflore34]

7 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

The former, whatever, they have been cocky and it’s one of those things where you love them because it’s your team but understand why it would rub people the wrong way. The May hate I don’t understand at all. His players love him, other coaches (besides Izzo) seem to love him, he seems to have really strong relationships with virtually anyone affiliated with basketball. I can’t recall him saying anything too controversial. He seems like a genuinely good dude, I don’t get it. 

I'm glad Lendenborg is done, mainly because he's really horsefeathers good and May is never going to find someone like him again.  Secondly, his sometimes chippy-ness and acting like he didn't touch anyone was getting tiresome.

[bjam12]

I hate the fact that two of my favorite coaches (McCollum and May) are in the Big Ten now. 

[gflore34]

Wonder if a different configuration will be tried for the next FF at Lucas Oil.  There was obviously a problem with the shooting sight lines, one side of the court more so than the other.  Playing these FF in non-basketball specific venues sucks.   

It's too bad the Bears don't have an indoor stadium. If I were Brad I'd make some sort of a deal to allow his team to shoot on portable hoops in some large non-basketball venue once or so a week.

Edited April 7 by gflore34

[mul21]

19 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Wonder if a different configuration will be tried for the next FF at Lucas Oil.  There was obviously a problem with the shooting sight lines, one side of the court more so than the other.  Playing these FF in non-basketball specific venues sucks.   

It's too bad the Bears don't have an indoor stadium. If I were Brad I'd make some sort of a deal to allow his team to shoot on portable hoops in some large non-basketball venue once or so a week.

I think the shooting issues for both Michigan and Illinois were a function of the offense UConn runs.  They're so much more active than most of the teams they play and don't run near as much of the high screen and roll that's so prevalent in college basketball right now.  All that chasing on defense really takes a toll on your legs and impacts shooting on the other end, even the layups.  I also think the amount of contact allowed in those 2 games was absolutely criminal.  The championship game especially was just a rugby match and the refs didn't set the tone early in either game to reduce the amount of grabbing and pushing.  Something I'd really like to see them do that UConn got away with constantly is the pushing off while driving with the off arm.  It was really obvious pretty frequently and never once did it get called.

[Old Style]

[gflore34]

2 hours ago, mul21 said:

I think the shooting issues for both Michigan and Illinois were a function of the offense UConn runs.  They're so much more active than most of the teams they play and don't run near as much of the high screen and roll that's so prevalent in college basketball right now.  All that chasing on defense really takes a toll on your legs and impacts shooting on the other end, even the layups.  I also think the amount of contact allowed in those 2 games was absolutely criminal.  The championship game especially was just a rugby match and the refs didn't set the tone early in either game to reduce the amount of grabbing and pushing.  Something I'd really like to see them do that UConn got away with constantly is the pushing off while driving with the off arm.  It was really obvious pretty frequently and never once did it get called.

Good points regarding the possibility of tried legs.  Though, it did appear all teams had more trouble shooting on one side, think it would have been going left on the screen. 

Early in the game vs. Illinois Wagler drove to hoop and his jersey was very clearly grabbed, of course, no call.  It chaps my ass the talking heads praising UConn for their "defense and physicality"  on Keaton.  No, they hacked the horsefeathers out of him and were allowed to because, the chicken-horsefeathers officials wouldn't make any calls.

Edited April 8 by gflore34

[sneakypower]

Michigan's best player playing on one leg really killed a lot of what they like to do offensively

he had been 59% from 3pt the previous 10 games and UConn basically freely welcomed him to take jump shots, missing all 5 including an airball on the last attempt

[gflore34]

There was a bit on the Big Ten network in which they were discussing the Big Ten' recent dominance across the sports spectrum.  Mentioned the possibility of more NC's in hockey, baseball and lacrosse (more so on the women' side).  When they said baseball I immediately thought no horsefeathers way, not even a remote possibility.  Forgot UCLA and traditional college baseball power USC are now members so, I guess baseball is a possibility. 

[gflore34]

Illini get a commitment from Stefan Vaaks appears to be highly rated, had a multitude of good games last season.  If they retain their core, like where it's headed for the Illini.  Illinois, with Mirkovic, will have the Big Ten' unicorn next season, not Michigan, not Purdue, not Michigan State, Illinois.

Edited April 13 by gflore34

[champaignchris]

6 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Illini get a commitment from Stefan Vaaks appears to be highly rated, had a multitude of good games last season.  If they retain their core like where it's headed for the Illini.  Illinois, with Mirkovic, will have the Big Ten' unicorn next season, not Michigan, not Purdue, not Michigan State, Illinois.

6’7” 2 guard. Fits what Illinois wants to do offensively like a glove. Has three years of eligibility left, but will be gone next year if he shows even a modicum of desire/ability to play defense. 

[Tryptamine]

Supposedly the Illini are still in on Blackwell even after this. If they were to land him, next year's team would unquestionably be in the top 3 favorites to take home a national championship. 

[gflore34]

27 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Supposedly the Illini are still in on Blackwell even after this. If they were to land him, next year's team would unquestionably be in the top 3 favorites to take home a national championship. 

Not sold on Blackwell, don't think he's worth the money.  The staff is sold on him, so, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.

[jb10194]

Has there been any news on Ty Rodgers recently? I’m not sure we can expect anything from him at this point, but wondering how he fits if he can somehow get healthy.

[Rex Buckingham]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Not sold on Blackwell, don't think he's worth the money.  The staff is sold on him, so, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.

It's not my money... spend it

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Rex Buckingham said:

It's not my money... spend it

Apparently he's meeting with the Illinois sometime soon.  Read something about meeting in California at Peja' house, Underwood, Mirkovic and Andrej there as well to help with the sell.

[champaignchris]

It’s officially official that Mirkovic will be back with Illinois next year. 

[champaignchris]

On 4/13/2026 at 8:32 AM, jb10194 said:

Has there been any news on Ty Rodgers recently? I’m not sure we can expect anything from him at this point, but wondering how he fits if he can somehow get healthy.

All indications seem to be that he’ll be back at Illinois next year. No idea how or if he’ll be able to contribute next year.
 

At this point, I think it’s more a personality/loyalty/culture thing than anything else with him. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

4 hours ago, champaignchris said:

It’s officially official that Mirkovic will be back with Illinois next year. 

The twins and Jake just announced they’re all returning too.

Let’s get Stojakovich and Blackwell to round out the week.

[Irrelevant Dude]

17 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

The twins and Jake just announced they’re all returning too.

Let’s get Stojakovich and Blackwell to round out the week.

It would have been hard to imagine next year's team being better than the Final 4 team, but add Stojakovich and Blackwell and they are almost certainly a better team and easily a Top 5 preseason rank.  Even with just Stojakovich and no Blackwell, they will still be in the conversation as a Final 4 contender.

[champaignchris]

1 hour ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

The twins and Jake just announced they’re all returning too.

Let’s get Stojakovich and Blackwell to round out the week.

If anyone is tempted to read anything into Stojakovic not announcing the same time as the other three, Jake and the twins all have the same agent, which is why they all announced together.