College Basketball 2025-2026

[bjam12]

15 hours ago, champaignchris said:

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. 

Ty seems like an elite teammate. 

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, bjam12 said:

Ty seems like an elite teammate. 

Michigan kept blabbing about their team wide chemistry all season.  Now, I know the idea of team chemistry doesn't mean much without actual good players, doesn't hurt though.  And, I believe the Illini may be building on good team chemistry along with good players.  I'd really like to see Underwood build his generational, once in a coaching life time team like May did last season.  Don't know if he'll be able match what May did but, something close should be enough to perhaps, get Illinois that championship.

Edited Thursday at 02:31 PM by gflore34

[jb10194]

If they land Blackwell, will there be a reason to even try to go a after a "pure" PG? At this point, it looks like Vaaks is that person since the freshman look to be more combo guards. I'm just not sure how many minutes would be left between Vaaks, Andrej, Mirkovic, Davis, and the twins if they land Blackwell, but a pure PG might not even fit their system.

[mul21]

22 minutes ago, jb10194 said:

If they land Blackwell, will there be a reason to even try to go a after a "pure" PG? At this point, it looks like Vaaks is that person since the freshman look to be more combo guards. I'm just not sure how many minutes would be left between Vaaks, Andrej, Mirkovic, Davis, and the twins if they land Blackwell, but a pure PG might not even fit their system.

Yeah, I don't think the system he runs needs a pure PG when everyone on the floor passes as well as most of these guys do.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Every time I get a little squeamish about the potential lack of a true PG, I remember that the last time we went that route it ended in an Elite Eight appearance. 

[gflore34]

Ty Rodgers to the portal, think he was informed there are not many avenues for playing time?  I have think the staff try to be honest and possibly encourage him to look elsewhere for a better fit.  I would have liked for him to stay, might be in his best interest to move on. 

[bukie]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

Ty Rodgers to the portal, think he was informed there are not many avenues for playing time?  I have think the staff try to be honest and possibly encourage him to look elsewhere for a better fit.  I would have liked for him to stay, might be in his best interest to move on. 

Can't fault the guy for not wanting to be the 10th man off the bench, when there are plenty of other P4 options where he could get significant playing time.

[gflore34]

6 minutes ago, bukie said:

Can't fault the guy for not wanting to be the 10th man off the bench, when there are plenty of other P4 options where he could get significant playing time.

Definitely plus coming off a major injury.

Edited Thursday at 05:03 PM by gflore34

[Irrelevant Dude]

A lot of people seem to be sad at Ty leaving.  I am neither surprised nor disappointed.  It was very unlikely he was going to be a meaningful part of anything Illinois does over the next 2 seasons and it didn't make sense for either side for him to be back.  For Illinois, why pay a guy who isn't likely to contribute?  For Ty, why stay somewhere there is no room in the rotation?

[champaignchris]

49 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Ty Rodgers to the portal, think he was informed there are not many avenues for playing time?  I have think the staff try to be honest and possibly encourage him to look elsewhere for a better fit.  I would have liked for him to stay, might be in his best interest to move on. 

Just call me the kiss of death. 

[Derwood]

It's an old meme, but it checks out:

[champaignchris]

Stojakovic confirms he’s coming back to Illinois. So that’s every rotation player with eligibility coming back except for projected lottery pick Wagler. 

They’re adding the guard from Providence and a top-40-ish freshman point from St Louis, with a possible additional high profile transfer (Blackwell). 
 

They’ll be pre-season top 3 assuming nothing weird happens between now and Halloween. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

18 minutes ago, champaignchris said:

Stojakovic confirms he’s coming back to Illinois. So that’s every rotation player with eligibility coming back except for projected lottery pick Wagler. 

They’re adding the guard from Providence and a top-40-ish freshman point from St Louis, with a possible additional high profile transfer (Blackwell). 
 

They’ll be pre-season top 3 assuming nothing weird happens between now and Halloween. 

Buddy of mine that covers college and nba hoops just said he has them at #1 even without Blackwell. 

[gflore34]

53 minutes ago, champaignchris said:

Stojakovic confirms he’s coming back to Illinois. So that’s every rotation player with eligibility coming back except for projected lottery pick Wagler. 

They’re adding the guard from Providence and a top-40-ish freshman point from St Louis, with a possible additional high profile transfer (Blackwell). 
 

They’ll be pre-season top 3 assuming nothing weird happens between now and Halloween. 

Indeed, if they lose out on Blackwell, they'll add someone else, have seen they're on an NC State transfer.  If not him, they'll bring on someone.

Edited Friday at 06:18 PM by gflore34

[gflore34]

3 hours ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Buddy of mine that covers college and nba hoops just said he has them at #1 even without Blackwell. 

Let Michigan be #1, let them deal with pressure, spotlight, all that horsefeathers.  Although, if one or both of Mara and Johnson declare for the draft.  It'd be hard for the Illini not to #1.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

16 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Let Michigan be #1, let them deal with pressure, spotlight, all that horsefeathers.  Although, if one or both of Mara and Johnson declare for the draft.  It'd be hard for the Illini not to #1.

Yep that was his caveat. He’s assuming both are NBA bound.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

5 hours ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Buddy of mine that covers college and nba hoops just said he has them at #1 even without Blackwell. 

 

https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/24481297/illinois-college-basketball-preseason-rankings-roster-retention-portal

[gflore34]

Guess the Illini are out of the Blackwell sweepstakes, I'm okay with this development.  Even though it's not my money I never thought Blackwell is worth the price tag.  He's more a product Gard' system than anything else, still, I'd like to see them add another player.

[bjam12]

5 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Guess the Illini are out of the Blackwell sweepstakes, I'm okay with this development.  Even though it's not my money I never thought Blackwell is worth the price tag.  He's more a product Gard' system than anything else, still, I'd like to see them add another player.

Yes. I feel like they are one impact player away from being a National Title Contender.

[mul21]

8 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Guess the Illini are out of the Blackwell sweepstakes, I'm okay with this development.  Even though it's not my money I never thought Blackwell is worth the price tag.  He's more a product Gard' system than anything else, still, I'd like to see them add another player.

They're freshman so you never know how they're going to contribute, but adding someone else on top of Coleman and Morillo seems like overkill.  I guess a real PG would be a nice thing to have but there just aren't any real holes in the roster right now