This is simply pointing out how good Ivisic really is. He is our second leading scorer and leading rebounder. No wonder we are struggling without him.

I have said it all year, and I will die on the hill that Ben Humrichous is not good enough or consistent enough to play at this level.

EVERY GAME, Illinois opens with a play to get Ben a 3 point look. He doesn't hit them. He is an incredible liability on defense, there's a reason he guards the 5 now. Brad sees it. Other teams see it. We as fans see it. He doesn't justify being on the floor against high major opponents, let alone starting.

But the worst offense was putting him on the floor for the last play of regulation and the start of overtime. Will and DGL brought this team back from the edge of hell, and you repay that by throwing Humrichous back in? And then creating the first look for him in OT?! Nobody was within 20 feet of him on the final inbounds play, it was 5 guarding 3. Everyone sees it Brad, just admit it and move him to the bench. Will Riley plays better when he's in the flow of the game anyways.

The dude is awful. Like awful awful.It’s insulting to Morez and DGL that he’s still starting while DGL puts up 17 off the bench. Does he have dirt on Brad?

Either KJ's arm is still bothering him or he's playing at a level worthy of a benching. Brad is putting in that statue Humrichbust instead of DGL, the only guy who looks like he gives a crap? And let's not even mention the excrable shot selection. What the absolute hell is going on? Ever since USC, we've looked like complete crap.

Feel like we press the panic button after tonight. This Nebraska team just isn’t any good… Hope we can right the ship before March.

What even are we?

At half, 9 / 32 from the field. Shooting 16% from 3.

Who right now is not in a total slump? Do we actually only have 1 effective scorer? Morez getting his 2 fouls quick is the most obvious issue. Illinois is WEAK and is dreadful without an interior game. Ivisic out, and Morez not playing extensive minutes due to early fouls. Well, DEATH.

Morning Illini!

My family and I are traveling from Georgia to Illinois to go to the game on Sunday vs Ohio State.

What can we expect in terms of:

What time the doors open?

Can fans get in during warm-ups and shoot around?

Opportunities for pictures with the players?

Are they selling NIL merch at The Assembly Hall? (SFC... I know I know)

Anything else to consider?

Thanks in advance.

GO ILLINI!

Your #18 Fighting Illini take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers at 7:30PM in Lincoln

Imagine if Kofi had used his remaining two years of eligibility. He could’ve been on LAST YEAR’S team. Potentially a Naismith award winner

Which team would be better, last year's team with KJ or this year's team with TSJ?

Edit: adding them to the roster, not replacing each other.

As of current, kind of mid. When I see home games for MSU, Purdue, or over to the SEC with home venues like Tennessee, or Auburn recently…their environments are MUCH louder and consistent through an entire game, and amping their student section up only takes about 2 straight buckets and they light up full volume. The orange Krush has not added too much the home environment and sometimes I forget they’re even there when we’re trailing by 12, looking to cut the lead to 10 with, 5 minutes to go. Eh.

Overall C+

#18 for AP, #10 Net, #10 Ken Pom

I think at least for me I know who this team is. Incredibly talented but also brutally inconsistent. Neither a Final 4 or a first weekend exit would surprise me.

At their best they can beat anyone. At their worst, they can be beaten by any tournament capable team.

Go Illini - let's see more of that ceiling this year.

Edit : Regardless of outcome I'm incredibly grateful that our team is relevant every year. 10 years ago, it was hard to care about Illinois basketball.

To all who were writing the Orange & Blue off already, find a rock and hide under it!

          GO ORANGE & BLUE!!

Illinois vs Northwestern in Champaign

Before I get started, let me just say that I am not being overly critical of Underwood. When he retires, he could end up the best Illini head coach of all time. He’s that good.

He’s fantastic at acquiring talent and scouting, domestically and internationally. He’s a great basketball mind, that constantly changes sets and looks on offense. He teaches toughness and fight in our players that shows up on the court.

His biggest detriment, is that he is stubborn. He has an idea of what he wants this team to look like and he sticks with it. Granted, he has made changes, but they are usually far too late into the season. I think if he’s willing to accept that he has to be malleable to different situations and be willing to make changes in-game to propel us to a national title. It’s the last step in my eyes.

For example, last night you have your best defensive big man out with an illness. That hurts a ton, but is it a reason to lose to an inferior team? No. We saw Brad try to adjust and run a 2-3 zone for a few sets, but it was clear the team never practices that. There in lies the problem. He HAS to have this team ready to give different looks than their normal sets in case of emergency. If we run an effective 2-3 most of the night, we limit dribble drive penetration for layups, and easy paint touches for their bigs. We force MD to shoot which they showed isn’t their strength.

Going backward to the Loyola game a few years back, he refused to change up the defensive switch on a high ball screen. Leaving Kofi on an island where Loyola feasted on us. The great teams of all time can adjust to those things. They can have Kofi stay home and bring weak side help, or they can have their guards fight over the top of those screens and make Loyola beat you with the three.

Last year we made a great run to the elite 8. We run into a buzz saw with UConn. But they ran the P&R at will with Clingan. If you practice that and go away from your base defense and have a weak side defender come and either cut off the roller or double the post entry, sure they can kick it out for a three, but that’s making them work more than a one on one of Hawkins or Dain vs. Clingan down low.

I’m not a coach, I know this is all a lot more complex in real life. But, it’s clear that we run our actions in practice and say “here’s our game, we aren’t changing, beat us at it” which some teams do.

I think if Brad can adapt his looks on both sides of the ball to limit the strengths of the other teams, we have the talent year in and year out to win titles.

Bummer. That is all.

Look at what they did to Hurley in the beginning of the year. The refs will get their revenge.

2024-25 Men's College Basketball Freshman of the Year Rankings

“He is the straw that stirs Illinois’ drink, and he's going to be the reason the Illini either make a deep run or get bounced early in the dance.”

Your #17 Fighting Illini take on the Maryland Terrapins at 8pm on FS1 in Champaign