Kasparas is the real deal. Can see why he is considered a 1st round pick in 2025. Love seeing Ty Rodgers, Gibbs-Lawhorn and Humrichous shooting well. Boswell can dish or score easily and complements Jakucionis on the court together nicely, with DGL a v.good backup. White, Booth and Johnson are leapers, scorers and great quality players. Illini are stacked as a team already right now with two future NBA players Ivisic and Will Riley still missing, but will join their teammates soon. With several future NBA pros and several more future pros that will be playing somewhere, this team is 'sick'. 2025-2026 Illini should become one of the best and most talented Illini teams ever.
Highly recommend watching this at quarter speed. What KJ was doing out there is even more impressive. Also good to see the facial expressions. They were having fun out there.
And Greg & Carter still can't see why we think this is the most talented roster top-to-bottom BU has had yet. It guarantees nothing when it comes to the W/L record. No one is saying this team is going to win more games than any other team, or that they're going to finish better than any other team. But if you cannot see this is his deepest roster, you just don't know what you're talking about.
I’ve been an Illini hoops junkie for 40 years and this roster that Underwood & Co have assembled may very well be the best-equipped squad in my lifetime to cut down the nets. Will they ultimately succeed? Who knows! But, on paper, it has fewer potential weak spots than any previous GREAT Illini teams: including 83-84, 88-89, 00-01, 04-05, 20-21 and 23-24, each of whom lacked something……either size at C, a true PG, scorers with size on the wing, shooters at every position, athleticism at every position, size at every position, depth at every position. This team has the potential to cover ALL those. The ONLY possible downside I see is perhaps a lack of NCAA tournament experience OVERALL. Likely learning curve early on due to emerging chemistry, brutal non-con schedule, etc, but come February and March……my goodness! Btw, Ivisic and Riley aren’t even on campus yet: One guy a 7 footer with pro experience who can shoot from 3, and the other the highest rated recruit in 20+ years. Buckle up!
Let’s hold off on the enthusiasm. Chemistry is a concern. The 22-23 team had lots of potential and talent, but the chemistry sucked. If some of the new guys are only focused on themselves, gonna be a problem
@jakobemathias Chemistry is a question, not a concern. Concerns don't become such until they're, well...concerning, lol. Nothing yet has given even a sniff of concern, so I'd counter by saying, be realistic, yes, but don't create non existent problems, either.
Right w/ya on that one. I REALLY felt that way heading into the 20-21 season. And i still say it was as big a chance as any in recent years to win it all. As good as they did that season I don’t know how it can be regarded as anything but a catastrophic failure. We had an NBA level talent, 6’5” superstar guard. Combined with a very mobile, coordinated 7’ (a legit 7’) big man in the middle who was an absolute monster on D, and at times unstoppable on offense. (He was at least unstoppable at getting decent attempts very close to the rim) Don’t wanna bash coach but I feel like a top tier Hi-Low coach (a B Self speciality) would’ve cruised fo the final 4 at the very least. Still not sure what happened or how we screwed that up.
@@Gee2deDubya I' love the Illini, been following both football and basketball forever. So don't get me wrong here - but need to be realistic. In the era of the transfer portal especially. It's a crap shoot whether they gel or not. Decades of following these guys have made me temper my enthusiasm. Now - what really needs to happen is to bring back the Chief and the true fight song. Who is with me on this?
I love to see Dra Gibbs- Lawhorn growing as a player
Sooo glad he didn't leave via the portal.
Ty’s jumpers are smooth! I expected something clunky.
I keep getting more and more excited for the season. What a crew they got together! 😎
Dude from overseas looks good!
Kasparas is the real deal. Can see why he is considered a 1st round pick in 2025. Love seeing Ty Rodgers, Gibbs-Lawhorn and Humrichous shooting well. Boswell can dish or score easily and complements Jakucionis on the court together nicely, with DGL a v.good backup. White, Booth and Johnson are leapers, scorers and great quality players. Illini are stacked as a team already right now with two future NBA players Ivisic and Will Riley still missing, but will join their teammates soon. With several future NBA pros and several more future pros that will be playing somewhere, this team is 'sick'. 2025-2026 Illini should become one of the best and most talented Illini teams ever.
Highly recommend watching this at quarter speed. What KJ was doing out there is even more impressive. Also good to see the facial expressions. They were having fun out there.
Looks good in 0.5 and 0.75 too!
And Greg & Carter still can't see why we think this is the most talented roster top-to-bottom BU has had yet. It guarantees nothing when it comes to the W/L record. No one is saying this team is going to win more games than any other team, or that they're going to finish better than any other team. But if you cannot see this is his deepest roster, you just don't know what you're talking about.
I like Sleepers, but they are barely more knowledgeable than a fan.
KJ already understands pace quite well, to be so young.
Wow, Dra looks really good.
And we still have two more ballers coming!
I’m wondering when Ivisic arrives, I’m most worried about him being a no show
Ty 👀
Oh… I am excited!!!
I’ve been an Illini hoops junkie for 40 years and this roster that Underwood & Co have assembled may very well be the best-equipped squad in my lifetime to cut down the nets. Will they ultimately succeed? Who knows! But, on paper, it has fewer potential weak spots than any previous GREAT Illini teams: including 83-84, 88-89, 00-01, 04-05, 20-21 and 23-24, each of whom lacked something……either size at C, a true PG, scorers with size on the wing, shooters at every position, athleticism at every position, size at every position, depth at every position. This team has the potential to cover ALL those. The ONLY possible downside I see is perhaps a lack of NCAA tournament experience OVERALL. Likely learning curve early on due to emerging chemistry, brutal non-con schedule, etc, but come February and March……my goodness! Btw, Ivisic and Riley aren’t even on campus yet: One guy a 7 footer with pro experience who can shoot from 3, and the other the highest rated recruit in 20+ years. Buckle up!
Let’s hold off on the enthusiasm. Chemistry is a concern. The 22-23 team had lots of potential and talent, but the chemistry sucked. If some of the new guys are only focused on themselves, gonna be a problem
@jakobemathias Chemistry is a question, not a concern. Concerns don't become such until they're, well...concerning, lol. Nothing yet has given even a sniff of concern, so I'd counter by saying, be realistic, yes, but don't create non existent problems, either.
Right w/ya on that one. I REALLY felt that way heading into the 20-21 season. And i still say it was as big a chance as any in recent years to win it all. As good as they did that season I don’t know how it can be regarded as anything but a catastrophic failure. We had an NBA level talent, 6’5” superstar guard. Combined with a very mobile, coordinated 7’ (a legit 7’) big man in the middle who was an absolute monster on D, and at times unstoppable on offense. (He was at least unstoppable at getting decent attempts very close to the rim) Don’t wanna bash coach but I feel like a top tier Hi-Low coach (a B Self speciality) would’ve cruised fo the final
4 at the very least. Still not sure what happened or how we screwed that up.
@@chriscastillo4275 matchups.
@@Gee2deDubya I' love the Illini, been following both football and basketball forever. So don't get me wrong here - but need to be realistic. In the era of the transfer portal especially. It's a crap shoot whether they gel or not. Decades of following these guys have made me temper my enthusiasm. Now - what really needs to happen is to bring back the Chief and the true fight song. Who is with me on this?
Our defense is in trouble. We can’t stop anyone!
I’m really exited about this team the possibility with the lineups is nice
Awesome. Way to go guys. I-L-L.
I-N-I 🧡💙
0:14 You have my attention, Sir.
0:34 I am all eyes and ears now.
It's going to be a special upcoming season. These guys buy into the game plan and they can go even further than last year's team.
I-L-L
Kaspa!!
Keep making these videos please
Best team ever!!!!! They never miss!!!🥰
I know right? Gonna shoot 100% from the field this year!
Yes barry. They shot 100%. How can anyone be so gullible
When's the next vid my peeps???
Ww 😢😢w