Illini Women's Basketball 2024-2025

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Illini Women's Basketball 2024-2025


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These are Shauna's recruits now so no excuses. Hopefully our first McDAA in a long time will have immediate impact. JMO Transfer portal adds were uninspiring. None had significant minutes with their prior program.

My goals
1. Finish in top 3rd of B10 (getting tougher with 4 good PAC12 teams joining). We were 8th out of 14 last year.
2. Make NCAA tourney
3. win 22 games and cut losses to single digits. 19-15 last year. 14-15 before 5 wins in WBIT.

Coach Green:
- Europe trip is about bonding, new players learning the coaching style, and having a special experience
- Coaching staff has been busy this summer on the recruiting trail (didn't name names). Has hosted official visits.
- Irene Noya Catoira has high basketball IQ, is picking up English language and American culture.

No mention of whether Europe trip games will be broadcast

More please. They deserve a few threads on Loyalty. May not be enough interest but there is lots to be excited about this team. Too many don't know what they are missing with Illini WBB,

Champaign Toast said:

Coach Green:
- Europe trip is about bonding, new players learning the coaching style, and having a special experience
- Coaching staff has been busy this summer on the recruiting trail (didn't name names). Has hosted official visits.
- Irene Noya Catoira has high basketball IQ, is picking up English language and American culture.

No mention of whether Europe trip games will be broadcast

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I am really looking forward to seeing this 24-25 women's team jell. They are returning an experienced squad that has impressed when they are playing well and added some really nice players in Beery Wallace, Vasconcelos, Irene Catoira, Brown-Haggar and Zenere. I have watched video of Catoira and she definitely has ability and size to be a surprise dead-eye 3-level scorer for Illini. If Wallace, Shoup-Hill and Bollin are also shooting well, Illini are ready to be more competitive. Vasconcelos gives the Illini an inside intimidator and scorer unlike any they have had before, especially with her size. Illini women's game is ready for another leap.

We are returning a lot from a team that finished very strong last year. Talent is at least now in the top half among B1G teams. I see no reason they shouldn't compete for a Top 5 B1G finish and an NCAA tourney berth this season.

GrayGhost77 said:

We are returning a lot from a team that finished very strong last year. Talent is at least now in the top half among B1G teams. I see no reason they shouldn't compete for a Top 5 B1G finish and an NCAA tourney berth this season.

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I'm not certain but we have to be at least a top3 in returning production. We are seasoned 20 game winner..The transfers were not necessarily Kiki Iriafen,but they will allow the starters to cut down minutes and the new size is a new dimension I'm looking forward to seeing... A burger girl on the wing is an upgrade...one small caveat is every transfer we have had earned roles and a couple were ALL B1G selection once or twice... We have added 3 or 4 good to very good teams to the league..IMHO,we are a 25 win team with at least a tournament semifinal game prediction with no less than 2 NCAA tourney wins...I don't think that's the ceiling given our experience talent or coaching...But I did have 2 cups of caffeinated orange and blue potion...lol

Fan Since '70 said:

I am really looking forward to seeing this 24-25 women's team jell. They are returning an experienced squad that has impressed when they are playing well and added some really nice players in Beery Wallace, Vasconcelos, Irene Catoira, Brown-Haggar and Zenere. I have watched video of Catoira and she definitely has ability and size to be a surprise dead-eye 3-level scorer for Illini. If Wallace, Shoup-Hill and Bollin are also shooting well, Illini are ready to be more competitive. Vasconcelos gives the Illini an inside intimidator and scorer unlike any they have had before, especially with her size. Illini women's game is ready for another leap.

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Since we have added to the team with the goods we already had,I'm hoping there is a huge uptick in attendance for the recruits to see...This is a big year to redefine the program..

This overseas trip is coming at a great time to help the team to jell and to reward those who have stuck around after helping Coach Green bring the program back. Hopefully there is a lot of coverage of the games.

It's Game Day. Go ILLINI

Alright I wish we had some info on the game, other than we are up 34-26 at halftime. I didn't think I would be this starved for WBB info in August.
I'll admit last year I was critical of team play early in the season. It was never officially said but I think Cook was injured and it effected her game more than we will ever know. Compound that with Jada Peebles injury and we lost multiple close games we could have, should have won. Those two being injured just changed our season so much.

I expected that our two freshman guards Allen and Dolan would step up more than they did. Just goes to show it is not easy to play at a high level against the competition we scheduled last year and in the Big Ten. Have high hopes they will take the step forward to provide the depth we need at both guard positions this year. Sure sounds like Brown-Haggar is also going to be that guard that adds defense and experience if we are going to make the leap forward to top level of the Big Ten and Top 25 team as I would thing we are capable of.

My other complaint last year was against teams that had multiple talented big players we had no depth. First part of the year Hobby was good some games and not others. Last half of the year Hobby was often that dominate big that controlled the lane and held her own against top centers from other teams. We all know that when that happens Bostic can rebound and score with the best. More on Bostic in a minute. We have to have multiple forwards that can hold their own for us to win against top 25 teams. Can Shoup-Hill return to her role of doing that as we have seen in the past? Will Bollin provide more minutes and points off the bench as we all think she is capable? I think the answer is yes to both of those players. This alone will make us a top 25 team as most of us on this board have suggested.

The bonus to all of this is both Vasconcelos and Wallace. If both can provide help and contribute it will sure make for a deep and talented team. Hard to get too excited until the season starts as we are talking about a transfer in, much like Hobby was and a Freshman, maybe more talent than our two last year Allen and Dolan so I will only hope for the best.

Now the last two to comment on Adalia McKenzie, a true fan favorite as the style of play, non stop hustle, great effort and desire to win is what makes her that player than can carry a team on either defense or offence and sometimes on both ends of the court. As outstanding as she has been at times,, just think that she could have an even better year. Wow.

Then last but not least and we need sports writers, fans to sing the praise of Bostic. Here is a player that has lead the Big Ten in rebounding for three years. Yes three years, had many double doubles and against bigger players that get non stop praise from the media. Yet Bostic never once was player of the week last year, never has made first team Big Ten as they always give it to players who score points. Instead of leading re bounder, defensive stopper, shot blocker and the player that wins games for us. The fans, the band, all know and love her style of play yet outside of our campus she is seldom considered a top ten player. Make this her year. We have a team full of good players, good students, good people, good coaches. A great season is within reach.

50-41 end of 3rd, close final 67-65 we win!

Berry Wallace 10 points on 4-5 shooting including 2-3 from 3 point, 3 rebounds in 18 minutes. Not bad.

ptgrd23 said:

Berry Wallace 10 points on 4-5 shooting including 2-3 from 3 point, 3 rebounds in 18 minutes. Not bad.

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And only one of the high 22 team turnovers.

Any news on why Shay and Lety didn't play?

I'm almost sure if they play this team two days from now,it would be a much better result but as the coaches say just go 1 and 0 each time...Wow 22 turnovers...I'm glad this wasn't a B1G team...lol

The staff knows these are exhibition games and even said they are playing different rotations/players on purpose. Get a little rust off now on the court while more about team bonding and enjoying the sites off the court. I like the competitive nature of this team and glad the upperclassmen who have been around so long get to enjoy. Wish I was in the pizza making class!

I too hope we have a big jump in attendance this season. The staff is hard at it on the recruiting trail. Class of 2025 is so critical to continuing to build the program as the Fab Five depart. It’s time for us to start putting
six to eight thousand in SFC. Let’s go Illini fans. Between WBB and MBB teams we could be in for exciting seasons.

I am also looking forward to the season and hope I am wrong, but I am not nearly as enthusiastic about this season as some other posters. I would expect a solid middle-of-the-road performance. My basis is that we have gotten as much from current starters (Bryant, Cook, Bostic, Shoup Hill, Adalia ) as we can expect, and if we have another year of our starting guards taking 40% of the shots I just don’t see a lot of upside from last season, which ended great. Someone stated that they were disappointed with Allen and Dolan, Dolan was All Big Freshman from the coaches and I would have liked to see more of Allen. No doubt the Cook and Peoples injuries had an impact but it is part of the game and like almost every team we will have our fair share of injuries. Good teams do not make injury excuses. I am sure the out-of-conference schedule will be weaker this year to pad some wins but the addition of the West Coast teams will be a chance to get some quality wins. I know we took some lumps early last season but I think it made us better at the end of the season. I will hold judgment until the schedule is released but playing a bunch of cupcakes is not going to do us any good against some really good teams later in the season.

All in all, I think Illinois will continue to improve and be competitive in the BIG, Green has done an excellent job considering what she walked into. For a team that is trying to increase the fan base, I am surprised that the overseas games are not streamed and info about the trip has been limited.

The team will be improved, but the conference schedule has gotten a lot tougher with the addition of legit Final Four contenders USC and UCLA, both of which we face on the road (along with tOSU and Indiana).