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.

Just call me the kiss of death.

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.

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.

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

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.

Looking at the QBs available in free agency and the number of teams looking for bridge QBs or spot starters while their main guy rehabs, if there was ever a year to cash in Bagent for a 3rd round draft pick, this is the year.

Was coming to ask the same thing. Looks to me like no one thought Durbin was going to be able to repeat his numbers from last year and the Brewers decided to sell high as they could despite the hole it creates for them at 3B. Fangraphs now has the Cubs up by 5 games in the division, which is moving out of “margin of error” territory.

Wagler is an 18 year old (actually turned 19 today) 6’6” point guard who can shoot. Just last year, Illinois had an 18 year old 6’5” point guard who ended up the 20th pick in the NBA Draft in Jakucionis. Even taking into account that Jakucionis was limited by an injured hand during the second half of the year, I think Wagler is a better player in almost every respect.

I’ve been trying to restrain my praise for Wagler thus far this year. I want to compare him to some pretty heavy names and I keep telling myself I’m being unrealistic. Not any more. This is now officially his team The kid is Steph Curry plus 4 inches. Savor him while you can Illini fans, and hope your favorite NBA team drafts him.

That loss sucked, but they have a ton of young talent on the defensive side of the ball that gelled in the last half of the season. if they get a good portal qb, they’ll be a dark horse big 10 champ candidate next year.

Solid win to complete a solid season for the Illini. Things continue to head the right direction for the program.

He should pass Bob Avellini for #9 this year. With relatively good health, he’ll be top 2 or 3 in team history in every major qb counting stat by the expiration of his rookie contract.

Yup. They’re still have a chance for a very good (relative to Illinois) season. They’re one win away from tying the school record for most wins in consecutive seasons. Like ever. 130-whatever seasons of Illinois football and they’ve never totaled more than 18 wins in consecutive seasons. (10 in ‘89 and 8 in ‘90.) they’re going to back-to-back bowls for the first time in 14 seasons and have made 3 bowls in 4 years for the first time in 31 seasons. Bielema set the school mark for most wins by a coach in his first 5 seasons. Recruiting looks solid and the vibes are good. This is very, very easily the best shape the Illinois program has been in for 30+ years.

Petrovic will start when fully healthy. He’s the ball handler they desperately need. At full strength, it should be Petrovic, Boswell, Stojakovich, Mrkovic, and T. Ivisic 1 through 5 as your starters. Davis, Humrichous, Z Ivisic, Wagler and Lee will make for a ridiculously strong, deep and big bench. (I think they’re pleasantly surprised by how good Wagler has been.) Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be a while before Rodgers can play.