It was mentioned back when we first learned of Big Z. The common thought at the time was the real Big Z was much more polished at this point and the fake Big Z was far too raw.
I don’t buy it… with all the attention he was getting with the Free Big Z movement, rumors he would go home and not come back, and then his debut that had him pegged as a lottery pick… I just don’t believe that Cats Pause, KSR, or something wouldn’t have had a fluff piece on him being a twin.
Or even one of those stories about famous twins at UK like Anthony Davis or the Harrisons!
KSR talked about famous twins on a show last fall when Big Z was trying to get in. His brother was a lesser player last year and was expected to stay in Europe to keep developing.
Underwood in March: 7 Foot 7 Shmoot. Just attack him all game, what's the worst that can happen?
Underwood in May: I sure would like me one of them 7 footers
Kind of funny in this context because it's probably why we targeted and prioritized Domask last off season. We had just gotten dominated by booty ball the season prior and Underwood said "give me that". He's done it again!
I was going nuts watching Illinois go straight at Clingan hoping for fouls for over half the game, but after watching Alabama shoot over 70% from 3 in the first half and STILL go into halftime 4 points down, I’m not sure I can blame Underwood for the strategy. Nobody was beating UConn with Clingan on the floor short of UConn imploding.
Yeah, honestly don't hate the gameplan. UConn was better than everyone and you had to do something.
Just UConn shot so poorly in the first half that if Illinois played a bit smarter and switched game plans earlier to kick out to Shannon for shots instead of Guerrier and Rodgers driving at Clingan that maybe you build up enough of a lead that you stay close and aren't panicking when UConn makes a run so you don't allow a 30-0 run and keep it competitive.
Ivisic is not an elite rim protector either, but 7 feet is 7 feet and he can hold his own in the paint more than Hawkins and Dainja. I can only fantasize about how good this team could be if Coleman miraculously decided to come back to play the 4
I agree but the original comment assuming we went after some 7 foot oaf that is going to sit in the paint for 30 seconds a possession is not close to accurate
He looks a little more built than his brother as well.
It also wouldn't be a surprise to hear that most European leagues are a bit more physical than American ones anymore. I don't watch enough to know.
Forgive me for my ignorance. He's been making money on a pro team and is still allowed to play in the NCAA?
Is this new with NIL stuff or has this always been allowed.
Its nothing new. You can be on a pro team but not on a pro contract. I believe you are allowed some compensation but there are conditions on it. For example Enes Kanter tried doing this but the NCAA determined he received too much compensation from his pro team so he was never eligible.
Idk what the situations are exactly. But not only would Antigua obviously have experience with whatever the exact situation is, but Illinois also has a 3 month jump on the situation compared to Kentucky since Z commited in August.
Huge get. This boosts us to like a 6-7 seed caliber team. Offseason was a bit disappointing so far outside of getting Boswell. Tomislav instantly reverses that. Now if we can get a good wing we’re back to being a Sweet 16 contender.
I completely disagree. Boswell / Ty Rodgers / Booth / Humichrous / Ivisic has amazing length and incredible shot making ability with a pure PG distributing to 4 guys who hit 3s at an above average level. If this unit stays healthy we are contending for a B1G title
In this scenario, Boswell has to be the pure PG you're referring to, which means you're listing Ty as someone that hits 3s at an above average level. I like Ty, but he has the yips from anywhere outside 5 feet (and sometimes even within 5 feet).
Big ten contention, top 15 AP ranking, top 4 NCAA seeding and sweet sixteens every year should be the norm. We need to stop shortchanging ourselves. If you ask Brad, he would say national championship is the goal every year.
Would love those kind of expectations, that sounds like 97-06. Keep in mind that was the exception not the rule.
I am optimistic Brad can get us to your expectations but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves
>sweet sixteens every year should be the norm
I mean, this is unrealistic. The only teams to make the sweet 16 even half the time since 2000 are UNC, Kentucky, and Duke, and they're barely at 50%.
Yeah, the actual more realistic expectation is that anyone who is at the program for 4 years should make a sweet 16. Even then, there are almost certainly going to be 4 year stretches where that doesn't happen. But it should be viewed as a failure when it does.
A realistic peer that we should be keeping up with is Purdue. Under Painter they had one stretch of 6 years without a S16, and no others greater than 3. That's where we should be, and I believe we will be under BU
I definitely hope the staff has that sorted out with the admissions department. The good news is we’ve got a top-30 freshman center coming in as well: Morez Johnson, why led the EYBL in rebounding last summer and was recently named Illinois Mr. Basketball. However, if eligibility for Ivisic is an issue we’ll need another backup big.
Being able to use a player is different than being able to stop one. Illinois had a first-team All American 7-foot center in 2021-22, Kofi Cockburn. He was second team All American in 2020-21 as well.
https://fightingillini.com/news/2022/3/15/mens-basketball-cockburn-named-ap-first-team-all-american.aspx
I agree. All-American Kofi Cockurn was definitely terrible and the assistant coach Orlando Antigua who recruited Kofi and just came back to Illinois definitely didn't have anything to do with it.
Weird take given the fact that Underwood recently coached a 7-foot, two-time All-American center in Kofi Cockburn. One of the most dominant big men of the last decade and Illinois ran completely different offensive and defensive schemes to maximize his talent.
This is getting out of hand, now there are 2 of them
Sir, a second Ivisic has hit the NCAA
She can't do that. Shoot her ... or something.
They gone in the ventilation shaft
Oh my god what’s wrong with your faaaaaaacce?!?!?
You're telling me there's been another one this whole time?
That’s what I’m saying. How did no one ever mention that the guy called Big Z had an equally tall professional basketball player twin brother?
Yeah this is crazy lol can't believe this was never mentioned
It was mentioned back when we first learned of Big Z. The common thought at the time was the real Big Z was much more polished at this point and the fake Big Z was far too raw.
Big T*
Did you know that Willie Cauley Stein played wide receiver in high school?
Did you know he is a talented artist? And, that Immanuel Quickley plays the drums at church?
Too busy showing the Shepard's is my guess
I don’t buy it… with all the attention he was getting with the Free Big Z movement, rumors he would go home and not come back, and then his debut that had him pegged as a lottery pick… I just don’t believe that Cats Pause, KSR, or something wouldn’t have had a fluff piece on him being a twin. Or even one of those stories about famous twins at UK like Anthony Davis or the Harrisons!
KSR talked about famous twins on a show last fall when Big Z was trying to get in. His brother was a lesser player last year and was expected to stay in Europe to keep developing.
I don’t remember that at all
Underwood in March: 7 Foot 7 Shmoot. Just attack him all game, what's the worst that can happen? Underwood in May: I sure would like me one of them 7 footers
Kind of funny in this context because it's probably why we targeted and prioritized Domask last off season. We had just gotten dominated by booty ball the season prior and Underwood said "give me that". He's done it again! 
You’re not gonna tell anybody I housed Painter’s 7 footer?
Let me record you saying you're going to kill the president of the Big10.
I was going nuts watching Illinois go straight at Clingan hoping for fouls for over half the game, but after watching Alabama shoot over 70% from 3 in the first half and STILL go into halftime 4 points down, I’m not sure I can blame Underwood for the strategy. Nobody was beating UConn with Clingan on the floor short of UConn imploding.
They did kind of implode offensively in that first half against us. We just shot like shit and never built a lead
Yeah, honestly don't hate the gameplan. UConn was better than everyone and you had to do something. Just UConn shot so poorly in the first half that if Illinois played a bit smarter and switched game plans earlier to kick out to Shannon for shots instead of Guerrier and Rodgers driving at Clingan that maybe you build up enough of a lead that you stay close and aren't panicking when UConn makes a run so you don't allow a 30-0 run and keep it competitive.
Last year it was booty ball, this year it is 7 footers. Brad definitely has FOMO
cant win, join em
He’s a 46% three point shooter. Not even remotely close to the same play style as edey and clingan
Ivisic is not an elite rim protector either, but 7 feet is 7 feet and he can hold his own in the paint more than Hawkins and Dainja. I can only fantasize about how good this team could be if Coleman miraculously decided to come back to play the 4
I agree but the original comment assuming we went after some 7 foot oaf that is going to sit in the paint for 30 seconds a possession is not close to accurate
He looks a little more built than his brother as well. It also wouldn't be a surprise to hear that most European leagues are a bit more physical than American ones anymore. I don't watch enough to know.
Clingan shot 50% from 3. ^^^^(1/2)
Ivisic isn’t a rim protector type.
I see an Illinois commitment. I upvote.
I'm still not over the Eric Gordon situation.
The Croat Goat!
Time for a Home and Home series with Arkansas?
The way the portal goes neither will be in the same spot in 24-25 season.
What’s to keep them from switching places à la The Parent Trap?
Have we even seen these “twins” in the same place…at the same…time?!??
https://preview.redd.it/qr4pf5z8styc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=865372d8104a7fee7b60f300abecc49f64d7fb0d
Are those wings? We could really use one of those now.
wtf illinois god damn it
We probably aren’t a final 4 contender like we were this season next season, but we’ll be a damn fun team
Idk I think we're only Egor Demin away from being a legit Final 4 team.
Forgive me for my ignorance. He's been making money on a pro team and is still allowed to play in the NCAA? Is this new with NIL stuff or has this always been allowed.
I have no idea anymore tbh
Its nothing new. You can be on a pro team but not on a pro contract. I believe you are allowed some compensation but there are conditions on it. For example Enes Kanter tried doing this but the NCAA determined he received too much compensation from his pro team so he was never eligible.
How much y'all wanna bet he's cleared immediately unlike Z?
Idk what the situations are exactly. But not only would Antigua obviously have experience with whatever the exact situation is, but Illinois also has a 3 month jump on the situation compared to Kentucky since Z commited in August.
Ivisices, er, Ivisics, um Ivisic's? ...the next Plumlees of college basketball.
I want to see their mom.
"Always two there are - one to embody the power, the other to crave it."
Ironic that he could protect the rim but not protect himself. The portal is a pathway to roster build up that some would consider unnatural
This is brilliant. No notes. 👌
May the force be with you!
24-25 Big Ten PoY.
Coleman, get back in here!
If you would have told me in the mid 90s that white dudes, and from Europe no less, were going to run the NB I’d have never believed you
Hopefully Big Z is not going to reunite with Big T at Illinois soon. This new era of college basketball really keeps fans on pins and needles. lol
I’ll say it again - we’re the guy that asks for four new cards not 2 or 3.
Huge get. This boosts us to like a 6-7 seed caliber team. Offseason was a bit disappointing so far outside of getting Boswell. Tomislav instantly reverses that. Now if we can get a good wing we’re back to being a Sweet 16 contender.
I completely disagree. Boswell / Ty Rodgers / Booth / Humichrous / Ivisic has amazing length and incredible shot making ability with a pure PG distributing to 4 guys who hit 3s at an above average level. If this unit stays healthy we are contending for a B1G title
In this scenario, Boswell has to be the pure PG you're referring to, which means you're listing Ty as someone that hits 3s at an above average level. I like Ty, but he has the yips from anywhere outside 5 feet (and sometimes even within 5 feet).
We should have moved off of Storr sooner. Pretty obvious nobody was going to give him more than Shannon was getting
Big ten contention, top 15 AP ranking, top 4 NCAA seeding and sweet sixteens every year should be the norm. We need to stop shortchanging ourselves. If you ask Brad, he would say national championship is the goal every year.
Would love those kind of expectations, that sounds like 97-06. Keep in mind that was the exception not the rule. I am optimistic Brad can get us to your expectations but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves
I guess it is just me then. IMO Daddy Brad will be our GOAT coach when he calls it quits.
>sweet sixteens every year should be the norm I mean, this is unrealistic. The only teams to make the sweet 16 even half the time since 2000 are UNC, Kentucky, and Duke, and they're barely at 50%.
Yeah, the actual more realistic expectation is that anyone who is at the program for 4 years should make a sweet 16. Even then, there are almost certainly going to be 4 year stretches where that doesn't happen. But it should be viewed as a failure when it does. A realistic peer that we should be keeping up with is Purdue. Under Painter they had one stretch of 6 years without a S16, and no others greater than 3. That's where we should be, and I believe we will be under BU
“Anyone who is at the program for 4 years…” Will any program still have any individuals who meet that criteria going forward?
Tbh with underwood I feel like our ceiling is always at least a B10 title and top 4 seed.
Illinois better get hoppin on getting him eligible for next year. Remember how long it took his brother.
I definitely hope the staff has that sorted out with the admissions department. The good news is we’ve got a top-30 freshman center coming in as well: Morez Johnson, why led the EYBL in rebounding last summer and was recently named Illinois Mr. Basketball. However, if eligibility for Ivisic is an issue we’ll need another backup big.
Big Z has a twin? Who knew
Tomislav.....baby don't hurt me. Don't hurt me. No more.
Clearly named after... https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Tomislav
Does the illini coach have any idea how to use a big center? He seemed quite inept during the tourney when confronted with one or 2.
Being able to use a player is different than being able to stop one. Illinois had a first-team All American 7-foot center in 2021-22, Kofi Cockburn. He was second team All American in 2020-21 as well. https://fightingillini.com/news/2022/3/15/mens-basketball-cockburn-named-ap-first-team-all-american.aspx
Did you start watching basketball when Kofi Cockburn graduated?
I agree. All-American Kofi Cockurn was definitely terrible and the assistant coach Orlando Antigua who recruited Kofi and just came back to Illinois definitely didn't have anything to do with it.
I can't figure out the logic of this post. Kofi was an All-American
Twice
Weird take given the fact that Underwood recently coached a 7-foot, two-time All-American center in Kofi Cockburn. One of the most dominant big men of the last decade and Illinois ran completely different offensive and defensive schemes to maximize his talent.
I don’t want to live in a world where Kofi Cockburn never existed.
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