Every off-season we do this.
Illini Basketball 2024-2025
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Like the "positionless" idea about it here...
and def. think this could work great in certain situations...
but Ben coming off the bench is just...I just don't see it. Right now looking at it, he'll most likely be the leading scorer and might be just as much a lock to start as Kylan tbh...
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To be fair, this team is currently undefeated
I tend to agree. With such a young team, it's hard for me to imagine the 5th year guy doesn't start.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
And yet also winless.
But yeah. Let's pump the brakes a little bit. We will be talented, no doubt, but I expect growing pains in the beginning. That said, should be electric to watch by the time February/March rolls around.
We will be talented but there are plenty of other talented teams out there. Over the years Duke, Kentucky, et al have rolled out rosters with way more talent than our 2024-2025 version looks to have and some years those teams have been mediocre.
You have to have a decent level of chemistry for the talent to coalesce into a quality team and it's for from guaranteed that we'll be able to achieve that.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
1. I am glad we are back to the point where we have some fans saying overly optimistic things like this. It seems like a lifetime ago in some ways, but our fans WERE this cocky and optimistic circa 2006, and the pessimistic "woe is us" that dominated many of our fans' psyches until we finally broke through to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond this season was 1,000 times worse.
2. With that said ... we should all just be ecstatic if next year's team comes close to replicating last season's success, let alone rewriting Illini history to this extent!!
Oh my Illini brethren who are of little faith. Just kidding.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
With all that said, since Lou Henson arrived on campus over 4.5 decades ago, it seems incredibly clear that it's really not very hard to win at Illinois if you are a good coach.
- Henson took over a mess and had a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight within 5 years. Within a decade, he had a Final Four and had established a top 10 program.
- Kruger walked into a below average situation and had a Big Ten championship in his second season, as well as laid the foundation for a #1 seed Elite Eight team by the time he left.
- Self took over a program in a good spot and had a Big Ten championship, a #1 seed and Elite Eight in his first season. He would end his tenure with 2 trips to the Second Weekend and 3 total Big Ten banners. Weber obviously eventually went downhill, but to be fair to him he delivered about the best 2-year span any fan could ask for in 2004 and 2005.
- Underwood walked into the worst situation the program had seen in decades. By year 3, he had us back into the top 25. Year 4 brought a BTT championship and #1 seed. It took him until year 7 to break through to the Elite Eight, but along the way he hung 3 Big Ten banners.
As I have said many times, our fans like to pity themselves too much. We are very lucky.
- Henson took over a mess and had a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight within 5 years. Within a decade, he had a Final Four and had established a top 10 program.
- Kruger walked into a below average situation and had a Big Ten championship in his second season, as well as laid the foundation for a #1 seed Elite Eight team by the time he left.
- Self took over a program in a good spot and had a Big Ten championship, a #1 seed and Elite Eight in his first season. He would end his tenure with 2 trips to the Second Weekend and 3 total Big Ten banners. Weber obviously eventually went downhill, but to be fair to him he delivered about the best 2-year span any fan could ask for in 2004 and 2005.
- Underwood walked into the worst situation the program had seen in decades. By year 3, he had us back into the top 25. Year 4 brought a BTT championship and #1 seed. It took him until year 7 to break through to the Elite Eight, but along the way he hung 3 Big Ten banners.
As I have said many times, our fans like to pity themselves too much. We are very lucky.
This was before some of the buzz has been coming in but...I think I'm planting my flag that Kasparas is gonna be the real deal.
Even from some highlights and getting to watch him in a few full games. He's 6'5 200lbs, can shoot, looks to be a better passer then many thought and he plays at great pace.
I think he is going to be REAL good, and maybe the best of this bunch.
Even from some highlights and getting to watch him in a few full games. He's 6'5 200lbs, can shoot, looks to be a better passer then many thought and he plays at great pace.
I think he is going to be REAL good, and maybe the best of this bunch.
DB11Headband
- Chicago Burbs
Right there with you
MDchicago
- Lake Norman NC
Take the larger point, but Henson didn't make the NCAA tournament in any of his first 5 years. He got his co-Big 10 title and E8 run in his 9th season and a F4 run in his 14th season with the Illini.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
One possible scenario that I feel is pretty realistic:
Lose Humrichous, lose one player to the draft, lose two non-starters to the portal, lose one surprise player who starts to the portal. That gives us 7 returning players. Add Fears, one more freshman, and three transfers in - one starter to replace the starter who transferred and two depth pieces.
That’s a top 10 preseason team.
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I don't see the Illini as the type of program that loses a starter to the portal. At least a starter in good standing, not a Jayden Epps/Skyy Clark situation.
I know some other schools have deeper pockets but its not like you see other schools plundering Baylor or Creighton.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Over the past 4 years, we’ve lost 8 players to the portal who played more than 20 minutes per game; Ace, Belo, RJ, Skyy, Epps, Dain, Goode, and Hawkins. So I’m just playing the odds. In fact, based on recent history, we’re more likely to have two starter level players transfer out than zero.
Do I think it’s possible someone like Riley has a good, not great year, and a team like Alabama offers him $2m to stay in college and instead of match, Brad decides to grab 2 players for the same price? Absolutely.
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I don't really think any of those guys that left Illinois wanted to keep outside of maybe Hawkins.
RJ was bad and got recruited over, Skyy was bad and quit, Epps was bad then demanded more money wand was told to take a hike, Dain hardly played for most of the year and wasn't going to be more than a backup, Goode got recruited over, and Hawkins wanted to stay in the draft so the Illini moved on and filled their roster.
I guess it's technically possible but I don't see a guy leaving that Illinois really wants to keep and in an integral piece.
Yeah, IIRC Groce and Henson's first 5 years were pretty similar. Groce nay have had the edge. Henson turned it around in year six.
Now ducking.
Henson's first recruit to Illinois was Tom Gerhardt, a De La Salle Meteor. After 4 years of sitting on the bench, Tom became an asst coach at Parkland, and also was coached by me on my intramural basketball team (we killed everyone except Utrows, a perennial IM power who's center was a NAIA All-American/psych TA). Let that sink in.
texillwek
🔶🔹🔸🔷
It's ok to let people daydream.
Let’s not overlook the Fletch effect in that Booth needs to put on weight. Maybe he took that into consideration when choosing Illinois even tho they continued to go after bigger fish? Spend a year getting Fletched and coming off the bench and grab a starting spot the 2nd year.
Steven Bardo said if you are an Illini Fan, this is the Golden Age of Illini Basketball. As Loren Tate said, if you keep knocking on the door, it will eventually open. We are getting closer to that being a reality.
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