Illinois, with a record of 29-9 and a 14-6 performance in the Big Ten, made significant strides last season, culminating in a Big Ten tournament victory and a trip to the Elite Eight, a feat not accomplished since 2005. They ended the year ranked No. 6 in the final college basketball poll.
However, the team has seen substantial changes, with four out of five starters departing, including Terrance Shannon Jr., who was selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Coleman Hawkins, who contributed 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, has also transferred to Kansas State. Additionally, much of the bench depth has been lost.
In light of these departures, Coach Brad Underwood, heading into his eighth season, has worked to rebuild the team’s roster by bringing in talented transfers and fresh recruits. The Illini have consistently secured over 20 wins for five consecutive seasons, but the successful integration of the new players will be crucial this upcoming year.
Among the notable returning players is Ty Rodgers, a junior guard/forward standing 6’6″, who averaged 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season. As the only returning starter, he led the team with 87 offensive rebounds and has focused on improving his shooting to become a more versatile player. With many veterans having left, he is expected to step up as a leader both on and off the court.
Freshman Will Riley, a 6’8″ forward, is drawing attention as the highest-ranked recruit for the Illini since Dee Brown in 2002 and is being eyed as a potential first-round NBA draft pick. Another freshman, Morez Johnson Jr., stands 6’9″ and was honored as the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball. His ability to control the paint will be essential for the team, which is primarily composed of outside-oriented shooters.
Illinois has seen the exit of fifth-year players and starters Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier, and Shannon, along with the fourth-year Hawkins. Five new transfers have joined the team from the portal: Kylan Boswell from Arizona, Ben Humrichous from Evansville, Tre White from Louisville, Carey Booth from Notre Dame, and Jake Davis from Mercer. The freshman class also includes international talents Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic, alongside Johnson and Riley.
The Illini’s season kicks off at home on November 4 against Eastern Illinois. Their schedule features several challenging matchups against ranked teams, including No. 2 Alabama (November 20), No. 7 Duke (February 22), No. 12 Tennessee (December 14), No. 14 Purdue (March 7), No. 16 Arkansas (November 28), No. 17 Indiana (January 14), No. 22 UCLA (January 11), and No. 25 Rutgers (February 5).
Interestingly, this marks the first preseason since the 2018-19 season in which Illinois is not ranked in the AP poll, although they stand just outside at No. 26. Last season’s 29 victories were the third-highest in the program’s history, and the team boasts a diverse roster with players hailing from Canada, Croatia, and Lithuania.