The hopes for Illinois Basketball are high despite plenty of roster changes. Even though they lost several key players through graduation and the transfer portal. The Illini have gotten stronger in building a very competitive roster for the 2024-25 season.
Head Coach Brad Underwood has turned the Illini into a yearly contender in the Big Ten. The team reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 when they lost in the National Championship Game. Illinois appears to be one of the top dogs for the Big Ten for the foreseeable future.
Illinois Big Ten Basketball Preview 2024-2-25: Illini Look Stout
Overall Illinois lost 11 players via several different avenues. They have to replace all of their top scorers, and coach Underwood appears to have understood the assignment. Illinois has added five transfers and a four-player freshman class. Ty Rodgers is the biggest returning contributor for coach Underwood, and he’s going to have to be a leader, for all the new faces.
Coleman Hawkins had been the face of the Illini for the last several years, and to think that he left in the portal is crazy. That loss along with the graduations of Terrance Shannon Jr who led the team averaging 23 points per game, Marcus Domask arguably one of the best three-point shooters in the country, Justin Harmon, and Quincy Guerrier, makes Illinois a whole new team this coming season.
New Additions Will Have to Step Up Fast
Illinois will need players to make a name for themselves quickly, as the team’s biggest bench players from last season are also gone, Luke Goode, arguably was one of the best six-man players the Big Ten had to offer in 2023-24. He left for Indiana and as previously stated, Rodgers is the one returner who played any significant time, and he spoke about how important his growth has been in the offseason in a video shared via Illinois Men’s Basketball X page.
New roles. Same goals.
The work starts now.#Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/1g3ISlTHeA
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) June 11, 2024
Illinois did add some hug pieces via the portal. They were able to snatch up Arizona’s Kylan Boswell and Notre Dame’s Carey Booth. As for the post, Illinois will have to start fresh. A pair of freshmen in the post Morez Johnson and Jason Jakstys will have to play right away. NCAA tournament hero Dain Dainja also left for greener pastures. Therefore the Illini don’t have any college experience at the center spot. The Big Ten can be unforgiving at the center position. Which could be a bit of an issue at first for Illinois.
New Look Schedule Has Plenty of Interesting Conference Games
Illinois will have its fair share of tests in this new Big Ten, with the likes of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA now in the conference.
They get the Trojans and Bruins in Champaign, along with another Big Ten favorite Purdue. However, road trips to Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, Rutgers, and Washington should be interesting. They get two games against Michigan State, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. Each has proven to be three very tough and hard-fought games between those teams. A closer look at the whole conference slate for Illinois is viewable on the team’s social media.
Big Ten opponents are set.#Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/I3bOMpVjGH
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) May 1, 2024
As for the non-conference, the Illini have three huge non-conference games worth highlighting as they face Alabama in Birmingham, before a home clash against the Tennessee Volunteers, and the annual Braggin’ Rights game with Missouri once again on the schedule.
Illini Can be a Top Five Team in the Big Ten
Illinois will have plenty of tough hurdles with a new roster and starting line-up. They do have one thing on their side as they are the winningest team in conference play, in the past five seasons. Behind a 69-31 record in that span and three Big Ten Championships in the last four seasons, Illinois has to be one of the top five teams in the Big Ten once again.
