Aug. 6—There's hardly been an offseason that's passed in Champaign without some word out of Ubben Basketball Complex about the next Illinois team playing faster. Has it actually happened? Not always.
Last year's Illini ranked 288th nationally in adjusted tempo, per Bart Torvik. Was Illinois quick into actions once it got into its halfcourt offense? Sure. Quick getting up and down the court? Not quite.
The 2024-25 Illini ranked highest in tempo, checking in at 17th nationally, but Underwood's Illinois teams have run the gamut in that metric. Last year's was the slowest, but for good reason.
Keaton Wagler dictated pace for Illinois in 2025-26. The freshman guard was at his best in a halfcourt setting, so that's how the Illini played.
"Keaton was elite in ball screens," Underwood said. "We were No. 1 in the country, he was, in points on ball screens. We figured that out pretty quick that he was very good at that."
#quick
Last year's Illini ranked 288th nationally in adjusted tempo, per Bart Torvik. Was Illinois quick into actions once it got into its halfcourt offense? Sure. Quick getting up and down the court? Not quite.
The 2024-25 Illini ranked highest in tempo, checking in at 17th nationally, but Underwood's Illinois teams have run the gamut in that metric. Last year's was the slowest, but for good reason.
Keaton Wagler dictated pace for Illinois in 2025-26. The freshman guard was at his best in a halfcourt setting, so that's how the Illini played.
"Keaton was elite in ball screens," Underwood said. "We were No. 1 in the country, he was, in points on ball screens. We figured that out pretty quick that he was very good at that."
#quick
3 months ago
