An adult conversation about Underwood and Illinois basketball

Happy Thursday, Illinois Land!

Consider this not only my first basketball column of the 2023-24 season, let this also serve as a stern warning:

Illinois men’s basketball remains a mere 32 days away from playing a real game that counts.

The first such contest is the home opener on Monday, Nov. 4 against Eastern Illinois. The game does not have an official start time.

I don’t want to waste your time.

Let’s do something constructive instead, and have an adult conversation centered around the expectations of Brad Underwood’s squad.

I will do this from varying viewpoints.

Big Ten Media Days has come and gone. All-Big Ten Teams were voted on by coaches and the media. WIth a staggering 18 teams in the conference this year, the number of players on the “All Big-Ten Team” has expanded from the traditional five players to a preposterous 10.

Any “all-league” team in basketball is five players. First-Team All-NBA is five players.

That’s how many players play basketball at a time.

The participation trophy syndrome has reached the upper echelon of college basketball.

EIther way you slice it, zero Illinois players made the “Top 10” list. Michigan State — who is favored to win the Big Ten in Indianapolis — tied Illinois with that same number.

The fact that Illinois had no players on the list boggles the mind. As infuriating as it may be, it simultaneously doesn’t matter.

SEE: Marcus Domask, 2023-24. From “he better not be the second best player on Illinois” to “First-Team All-Big Ten” in a span of about 4 months.

Rather than pontificate the selling points of several Illinois basketball players — namely freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley — I’ll provide some in-depth, hard-hitting analysis.

TCR // David Pollack

It doesn’t matter. It’s a waste of everyone’s time. It’s all a guess, and not educated.

There are two logical arguments to dismiss Illinois players being left off the Top 10 list. This applies to postseason awards, as well. (BONUS: Third Point)

1. Illinois’ depth makes it impossible to pinpoint the top guy, particularly when the majority of the top guys are either international transfers, freshmen — or both. The Big Ten is notorious for “making freshman earn it,” whether that’s on preseason award lists or whistles during games.
2. Coaches and media (for that matter) don’t pay attention that closely to have the knowledge and/or ability to discern the varying skill level and project what will happen over the course of a 20-game schedule in the deepest conference in the country.
3. Brad Underwood will never win Coach of the Year in the Big Ten. This award is largely a narrative award. Illinois fields way too much talent annually to give the head coach any credit. Unless you’re Matt Painter and you’re picked to finish first and you finish first.

The third point in the list above begins to set the floor for this year’s Illinois squad.

Illinois has been picked fourth in the Big Ten, according to preseason polling. Not too shabby for a team with 10 new players.

TCR // David Pollack

A new internet argument has emerged distinguishing between “talent” and “depth.”

Some will testify that this is the most talented team Underwood has had to date. Others call that preposterous and say it’s not about talent, but speaks to extreme depth of the roster. Both things can be true. Both can be false.

I’ll answer this concisely.

Depth equals more talented players. It is neither, because it is both at the same time.

It would be like arguing over which is better: beef tenderloin or filet mignon.

Underwood is on a hot streak in recruiting dating back as far as when Ayo Dosunmu made the announcement at THAT press conference seven years ago.

I will do a roster breakdown by player, and their projected roles as the season nears over the coming weeks. It likely won’t fit into my allotted 1,000 words each column.

I think fourth place is a fair enough slot for Illinois basketball in 2023-24.

When I go to Vegas in less than two weeks, I’ll let my wallet do the talking for me.

Here’s a snapshot of just how unsure this team’s ceiling is for this season.

TCR // Jack Jungmann

A $100 bet on Illinois to win the Big Ten Championship this year, yields these payouts.

• BetMGM: +1000
• Ceasars: +600

It looks like I’ll be taking a stroll over to MGM to place this particular wager.

I’ll summarize the adult-in-the-room expectations for this squad succinctly.

I will not be shocked if Illinois wins the regular season — or postseason tournament for that matter — nor will I be shocked if Illinois finishes sixth.

First through sixth. That’s my floor and ceiling.

Assistant coach Tim Anderson left the program in the last month. An internal promotion filled that vacancy. This will have an impact on the season. No one knows what that will be.

Orlando Antingua is back, back again. This is a clear upgrade at the top assistant spot.

You know what, screw it.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Here’s my projected starting five (backups).

1. Kylan Boswell (Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn)
2. Kasparas Jakucionis (Tre White)
3. Ty Rodgers (Ben Humrichous)
4. Will Riley (Carey Booth)
5. Tomislav Ivisic (Morez Johnson)

Bench contributor: Jake Davis will play as often as he can put the ball in the hoop from three.

The only real dilemmas for me were Riley/Booth and Ivisic/Johnson. Underwood typically doesn’t start freshmen right away, but Riley is a special talent and Ivisic is 21 years old and both centers are technically freshman.

I would not be surprised if Johnson starts game one.

Expectations are high for Underwood’s team. As they should be, and as a fan, you would want them to be. The standard has changed.

Please take The Scientific Poll.

This is a month away. This is hard to believe. This is a new season.

This is Illinois basketball.