Episode Details

Is this Illinois basketball team BETTER than the Final Four squad? Legendary Peoria trainer David Williams watched Brad Underwood's first practice of the season, with three NBA scouts in the gym, and gives Mike Cagley an honest, unfiltered report on the 2026-27 Fighting Illini.

We break down Quentin Coleman's Top 10 NBA Draft hype, whether Underwood can really play 10 guys, Andrej Stojakovic's breakout potential, Stephon Vaaks scoring and defense questions, the new freshmen, the international pipeline, and the 2027 recruiting class.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:20 Meet the Peoria trainer who stocks Division I rosters

01:00 Players he has trained including Quinton Kitt: the Illini 2027 signee who could be a top 30 player

03:00 First impressions of Illini practice: "Their ceiling is extremely high"

03:40 Quentin Coleman as a top 10 NBA Draft pick and the projected starting five

04:15 Can Brad Underwood play 10 guys?

05:15 Landon Davis impresses

06:00 Mirk's height, his 10 weeks off and how much better he moves

07:00 "This team is better than last year"

07:30 Brad Underwood in mid-season form: accountability and leadership

08:45 Competition for minutes, Vaaks vs. Lincoln Williams

10:30 Lincoln Williams: athleticism, strength coach Fletch and the shooting question

13:45 Andrej Stojakovic: sneaky athletic and a late first / early second round pick if he shoots

16:15 Stephon Vaaks: a Luka-like scorer who has to guard

17:30 Quentin Coleman's rebounding from the point guard spot

19:30 Tomislav Ivisic: health, strength and NBA draft stock

20:15 Jake Davis: "He looks like Thor" and the sixth-man shooter

22:00 Freshmen: Xavier Zens and Landon Davis

24:00 Murillo and Ethan Brown in the numbers game

25:30 "Point Guard U" and the nine-names-on-the-wall NBA draft talk

26:30 2027 recruiting: more top 30 targets on the way

31:00 The European pipeline: why Illinois keeps landing international players

32:00 Team chemistry, and how the staff finds players who fit the system

34:15 Why international players are great teammates and a growing trend

37:00 Final thoughts: Mirk and Coleman still shooting an hour after practice

39:00 How to contact David Williams for training

40:00 Illini Guys game-day football show and how to join IlliniGuys.com

42:00 Weekly radio show, wrap-up and "Go Illini!"

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