Nominal positions are worthless in the era of positionless basketball.
The Brad Underwood era has aligned perfectly with the rise of social media sports discourse.
In other words, the Brad Underwood era has aligned with the volume elevation of the dumbest corners of sports fandom.
It’s unfortunate because the Underwood era has been largely a colossal success for the university at large and the men’s hoops program specifically.
But does that matter to many online?
Of course not, because they have to show up in the conversation with takes inspired by eschewing cold cuts and veggies for Elmer’s glue in their sandwiches.
Here is a short list of some of my favorite dumb takes from the Underwood era.
Morez Johnson should stay at Illinois, rebound, play defense, and shut up. How dare he go to Michigan? He’ll never win anything.He will never hit a three-point shot in a game. He is nothing but a rim runner.
Underwood can’t coach. He should be fired, and we should hire Sean Miller.
Will Riley shouldn’t be shooting the ball. He’s not going through a slump; he sucks.
Kasparas Jakucionis NEEDS to come back to college. He commits too many turnovers, and he won’t ever be good in the NBA until he plays another year in college.
Keaton Wagler needs to add more weight before going to the NBA. Skinny players don’t make it in the pros.
And while all of those takes made me want to drink cleaning solution, there is one dumb take that was perniciously pervasive in 2024 and is rearing its head again.
Illinois needs a point guard.
Really? Illinois needs a point guard?
Why?
Brad Underwood’s system is ostensibly “positionless.” It exists so players can fill the roles that best suit them and take full advantage of their best skills. In other words, the nominal point guard as identified in the program or on the broadcast is functionally irrelevant. It’s a label.
Yes, Illinois needs capable ball handlers.
Of course Illinois needs facilitators who can trigger the offense.
And yes, it would be nice to also have a tip of the defensive spear who can interrupt an opponent getting into the flow of their offense.
None of those role needs are synonymous with being a point guard.
And Illinois’ roster has players who have all of those skill sets on full display and ready for tactical deployment.
If you need another reminder, I bring you the legendary Skip Bayless vs. Jalen Rose argument that ended with Bayless, who compared himself as a prep hooper to “Pistol” Pete Maravich, being called “Water Pistol Pete Jr.”
“You are your skillset.”
Jalen could have ended Bayless’ career right then and there, but with the rise of the internet, witless hot takes became currency, and Skip was the Federal Reserve.
So back to the Illini. In 2024, the Illini were ripped by a segment of fans for not having a “point guard.” The nominal “in the media guide” point guard was Ty Rodgers.
Yes, Ty was a capable ballhandler and passer for the Illini. He initiated defense, though he struggled with smaller players. But Ty functioned more like what traditional basketball fans think of as a “power forward.” He excelled on the glass and focused less on shooting (which is like saying cannibals focus less on salads) and more on making an impact at the basket.
Ty being a point guard in name didn’t all of a sudden turn him into John Stockton, Scott Skiles, Mark Price, or whatever point guard from the past gave Illini fans wet dreams that year.
Ty being in a starting lineup with Terrence Shannon Jr., Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins, and Quincy Guerrier was more of a confirmation of Underwood’s focus on positional size and…wait for it…switchability. The notion of being able to fill multiple roles on both ends eliminates the titular need for positions.
The entire starting lineup was savvy and between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-10. So they brought defensive versatility along with their varying degrees and compositions of offensive skill.
One could argue that Domask handled the ball more than Rodgers did. The “booty ball” mentality of getting downhill was the focal point of the offense. Well, that and Terrence Shannon Jr. being arguably the best player in all of college basketball.
That team no-point guarded itself into the Elite Eight.
So what’s the new kvetch?
ILLINOIS DOESN’T HAVE A POINT GUARD. THEY NEED SOMEONE TO REPLACE KYLAN BOSWELL. VAAKS IS A SHOOTER, NOT A BALLHANDLER.
Illinois needs ball protection, facilitation, and shotmaking. They don’t need someone to replace Boswell, since Boswell deferred a lot of those duties to Keaton Wagler.
In the big picture, Stefan Vaaks has a lot of untapped potential as a facilitator. He can handle the ball and make shots off the bounce and off catch-and-shoots. If Marcus Domask could operate as a primary ballhandler, so can Vaaks.
Quentin Coleman was built to score. He proved it as a senior at Principia. His explosive offensive gifts project to pair nicely with Vaaks and Stojakovic. He can handle the ball and score off the bounce, even if he’s not the main/only/primary ballhandler.
The ability to bring Lucas Morillo off the bench (or perhaps in the starting lineup) creates yet another player who can shoot, pass, and get to the bucket.
Coleman and Morillo bring significant basketball IQ to the Illini, along with their massive physical talent.
Also, don’t forget that 6-foot-9 David Mirkovic demonstrated the ability to defend at the rim and run the offense from the high post and the top of the key. His versatility and passing ability mean that a second-year leap for him likely includes more on-ball responsibilities and playmaking.
Furthermore, not to pile on, Tomislav Ivisic may be the most gifted passer returning to the Illini.
So with a roster loaded with versatile offensive weapons who can do everything a point guard needs, why exactly does Illinois need to go out and get somebody else?
Would the intangibles of a veteran guard be helpful in practice and in some games? Of course.
But at this point in time, any addition is a luxury.
The John Blackwell-sized hole in the roster
By the definition of people who see basketball as linear, Blackwell isn’t a point guard either. So by that logic, wouldn’t Illinois have needed both Blackwell and another guard if the Illini legacy had pledged to the orange and blue?
Illinois has enough depth, talent, and skill to rival the top programs in the country. They are returning more than 60% of their offensive productivity, even while losing Wagler and Boswell.
Yet somehow, the perception from significant chunks of the fan base is that this roster is not enough. They also say Illinois doesn’t have a point guard, so the gifted roster is somehow deficient.
Underwood can’t win anywhere besides on the basketball court, on the recruiting trail, in the transfer portal, in family life, in Super Soaker shootouts, in usage of the word elite, in pronunciation of the word “league,” and every other place besides in the empty minds of the unwashed masses.