2024-25 Post Mortem and Looking Ahead to 2025-26

[Zippy87]

 

[Z.I.P.]

Is he Serbian, or Bosnian?  Big difference you know...historically!  So don't go calling him "Serb" if he's from Bosnia-Herzegovina!  😉  Either way...🤩!!!

[Z.I.P.]

I correct myself.  He's a Serbian national.  And he looks like the complete package!

https://share.google/images/o4D2FLB6mnqtJfiXT

[clarkwgriswold]

He was at the men's soccer game last night!

[NWAkron]

On 8/31/2025 at 10:05 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

The Serb is worth a couple OOC wins in my eyes, so if he's on campus, that's massive. 

Yes, he certainly locks down PSU-Shenango and Bucknell games.

[clarkwgriswold]

17 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

Yes, he certainly locks down PSU-Shenango and Bucknell games.

Concord is scanning the net for Serbian basketball video as we speak.

[Captain Kangaroo]

In any country outside North America they don’t have college-associated sports. Talented kids play in professional leagues. Yeah, some would come here for a free education, but it made more financial sense to stay in Germany, Israel, Serbia, etc.

 

Now that there’s serious money being doled out by colleges you will see an onslaught of foreign kids crossing the pond to play basketball. 

[pdt1420]

He’s got a look in his eye that he don’t mess around. 

[Illini Zip]

How many years of eligibility does he have?

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, Illini Zip said:

How many years of eligibility does he have?

 

 

 

 

 

(I don't actually know)

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

 

 

 

(I don't actually know)

3 years would be nice. Good use of the Serbian flag. 

[clarkwgriswold]

In today's college athletics universe, you can't count on a kid for any time past the current season.  If he's good, the scavengers will swoop in and try to steal him.

[Blue & Gold]

GoZips.com roster is updated w/ Stankovic but I don't think anyone was dropped off.

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

GoZips.com roster is updated w/ Stankovic but I don't think anyone was dropped off.

 

16 players are listed, which is 1 over the limit.

 

4 players 6'8" or taller. We had 2 guys at 6'8" last year. 

 

I'm also realizing most of the team wore platform shoes for measurements day. Tavari and Sharron are magically 6' this year. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[Illini Zip]

Poll: Who is the one player everyone is looking forward to seeing the most this year? It can be a new player or an improved player.

 

Rich Brisco really intrigues me, but if I’m picking only one it’s Eric Mahaffey. 
 

 

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, Illini Zip said:

Poll: Who is the one player everyone is looking forward to seeing the most this year? It can be a new player or an improved player.

 

Rich Brisco really intrigues me, but if I’m picking only one it’s Eric Mahaffey. 

 

Evan Mahaffey is going to be a menace in the open court. I think he's going to wreck havoc against MAC caliber players in our fast pace offense. He won't be our best player, but I think he will have the best highlight reel and most electrifying plays.

[Blue & Gold]

9 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

Poll: Who is the one player everyone is looking forward to seeing the most this year? It can be a new player or an improved player.

 

Rich Brisco really intrigues me, but if I’m picking only one it’s Eric Mahaffey. 
 

 

Earlier in the off season it was Eric Mahaffey but over the last couple of weeks the Serb has really piqued my interest.  Groce is gonna have his work cut out for him experimenting with all the potential lineups.

 

He probably won't play much this year but wait till you get a load of Josh Henderson 🔥🔥

[zippy5]

it's gonna take me a while to figure out which Mahaffey is which

[ZipsFan31]

the most exciting returner is Amani Lyles: he improved so much last season I think he could do it again this off season especially with the 3 pointer. 

 

the most exciting new guy is probably Evan Mahaffey, how does his game translate to mid major play. 

 

The big problem this season is I think we have 12 guys that would play serious minutes at other Mac schools. How in the world is everyone going to stay happy with maybe only playing 15 minutes or less. Groce has a good problem but I still think it is a problem. 

[HoopsFan03]

I would like to see Young get more minutes. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, ZipsFan31 said:

the most exciting returner is Amani Lyles: he improved so much last season I think he could do it again this off season especially with the 3 pointer. 

 

the most exciting new guy is probably Evan Mahaffey, how does his game translate to mid major play. 

 

The big problem this season is I think we have 12 guys that would play serious minutes at other Mac schools. How in the world is everyone going to stay happy with maybe only playing 15 minutes or less. Groce has a good problem but I still think it is a problem. 

 

1) Hopefully we remain healthy, but injuries are typically inevitable. The depth we have really protects against the problems last year's team faced when Harris went down early in the season. 

 

2) If we thought last year's pace was crazy, wait until this year. We're more athletic, more lethal from 3, and bigger. Being 12 deep, we're going to have hockey line changes.

[Let'sGoZips94]

14 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

Poll: Who is the one player everyone is looking forward to seeing the most this year? It can be a new player or an improved player.

 

Rich Brisco really intrigues me, but if I’m picking only one it’s Eric Mahaffey. 
 

 

 

Returning Minutes: Sharron Young - what leap can he take as a Sophomore?

 

Returning Redshirt: Rich Brisco - does he have the ability and athleticism to go with the 6'8" 240 lbs frame?

 

Newcomer: Big Stank - how does his game transition to the US?