Illini Basketball 2024-2025

#51      
21ChampaignSt
the juiceman cometh said:
Has any team ever has the level of roster turnover we had this offseason and been ranked higher than the #26 ranking we essentially have? Just two returning players, one of whom averaged just 7 minutes per? This actually appears to be a high level of trust in our program from the national media.
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Kentucky and Arkansas both have less returning than we do. Although a few Arkansas players played together at Kentucky, so they shouldn't count.
 
#52      
hoopsfan47
Second place is 1st loser said:
Based on what?

As a fanbase we have no clue what to expect. What is the national media supposed to think outside of the face that we lost an All American, two other All Conference players and 86% of our production.

The fact that we're at #26 is pretty much blind faith that BU can pull this together.
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Fully agree. That most everyone is taking the Illini lightly shows to me only one thing that has been a known fact for many decades. That is when trying to put together a new team with 10 new faces, there is a steep hill to climb and many hurdles to jump in order to achieve consistent efficiency....at both ends of the court.

I could care less how this team is ranked at the moment. They will have the opportunity to face 2 top five teams and many more top 40 teams which will provide them with all the credibility necessary to achieve respect. If you want it....go earn it...with my full support in getting there as has been the case for almost 7 decades.
 
#58      
Illinicpa14
Not sure how much you trust kenpom either - look at Rutgers in there at #63 lol with the #1 defense. Some poster said the good news is that by Christmas, weā€™ll have the ranking we deserve with this schedule.
 
#59      
the juiceman cometh
21ChampaignSt said:
Kentucky and Arkansas both have less returning than we do. Although a few Arkansas players played together at Kentucky, so they shouldn't count.
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Fair about UK. I agree Arkansas doesn't count - played together and with same head coach

So OK, if you want to gripe about being ranked 3 spots below UK, have at it. Other than that, I don't really blame the voters for wanting to see the team in action before voting where maybe our talent alone would put us.
 
#60      
Illini2010-11
I don't take any stock in pre-season rankings, so I will not complain about Illinois being ranked at 26, especially given such roster turnover.

My only gripe: UCONN won two straight championships in an era where that is almost unheard of. They should have started as #1 as a plain default, even if they lost a lot of talent.
 
#61      
illiniguy24
Second place is 1st loser said:
Based on what?

As a fanbase we have no clue what to expect. What is the national media supposed to think outside of the face that we lost an All American, two other All Conference players and 86% of our production.

The fact that we're at #26 is pretty much blind faith that BU can pull this together.
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I get your point but you could argue the same for multiple other teams in the bottom of the top 25
 
#72      
NarrowJ
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1845902596122259570
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Losing Oh No GIF by Star Now
 
#75      
Ga65
HensonHall71 said:
In the spirit of over analyzing a 46 sec clip - there was a lot to get excited about from that - Kasparas was doing Kasparas things, creating offense, great passes, it's clear the offense will flow through him this year. We have shooting galore this year and they seem to be moving the ball well and passing, just to hear Brad say he was happy with the ball movement and passing must mean they are ahead of where he expected them to be

Defense is a whole other issue given we only have 2 decent defenders individually (Ty and Kylan) so we're going to have to make up for some deficiencies on that end - but who cares about defense anyway when you are hanging 90 every time out!
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Brad said that KJ is suffering from tendentious and he has been resting him. Believe his minutes will be managed.
 
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