The Champaign Room - Illinois Basketball 2021-22 Season Preview A Fighting Illini community since 2012https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48193/tcr-fave.png2021-11-09T08:05:00-06:00http://www.thechampaignroom.com/rss/stream/224903322021-11-09T08:05:00-06:002021-11-09T08:05:00-06:00TCR Staff Predictions: Illinois Basketball’s 2021-22 Season
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<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>How do we think the Illini will play this season? </p> <h3 id="egeQCO"><strong>Tristen Kissack: Illinois 25-6 (15-5 Big Ten), Lose in Big Ten Championship, Lose in Final Four </strong></h3>
<p id="mXbNip">Man, it’s nice to have expectations. Without spending too much time talking about last season, Brad Underwood has stated how the exit in the Round of 32 left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. That alone should be enough to fuel this team to at the very least a 3-seed in this year’s tournament. This year’s roster is arguably deeper than last with the additions of Alfonso Plummer, Omar Payne, Austin Hutcherson and Luke Goode, who I expect to contribute the most of the freshmen. It should also be a much better shooting team from deep too. Pair that with a potential National Player of the Year at center and First-Team All-American wizard with the ball at the point, that’s the making of another fun season.</p>
<h3 id="UrnIiL"><strong>Stephen Cohn: Illinois 23-8 (15-5 Big Ten), Lose in Big Ten Championship, Lose in Elite Eight </strong></h3>
<p id="2w8hEj">Well, obviously last year didn’t end the way any Illini fan would have hoped for, so this year, in a very weird way, can only get better. While Illinois probably won’t enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed again, a favorable non-conference slate and the size and shooting to compete in the Big Ten should keep Brad Underwood’s team ranked all year long. If Kofi Cockburn plays like the National Player of the Year candidate he’s being made out to be, and Andre Curbelo can take care of the ball, this Illinois team won’t slip up in the Round of 32 to Loyola and has the chance to make a deep run into March. </p>
<h3 id="C7ouyu"><strong>Drew Pastorek: Illinois 22-9 (13-7 Big Ten), Big Ten Tournament Champions, Lose in Sweet Sixteen</strong></h3>
<p id="SbWg04">Illinois is arguably more talented than last year’s squad — despite the losses of Ayo, Giorgi, and Adam Miller. The 2021-22 roster also has the most depth of any of Brad Underwood’s previous teams. The early games should give BU a chance to really sort out his rotations and substitution patterns. Kofi’s suspension shouldn’t impact the team that negatively — maybe Marquette sneaks away with a win, but it’s not likely — and I think it will allow opportunities for other players to snag some early-season minutes and develop trust & confidence. </p>
<p id="AVMYVW">The Fighting Illini doing any worse than 9-2 in non-con play would be an eyebrow-raiser. I’m forecasting a loss to Arkansas in the final of the Hall of Fame Classic, as well as a defeat to either Arizona or Mizzou (ugh, I just upchucked a little writing that). I don’t believe the Illini are quite at the one-seed level this year, and I’m totally okay with that as long as they get off to a quick start, finish the year strong, and at least get to the second weekend of the Big Dance. As we saw last season, winning is really f***ing hard, and winning when you’re <em>expected</em> to win is even harder. Illinois is predicted to finish top three in the B1G, which is totally fair and absolutely attainable. And while expectations for the Illini <em>should</em> remain high, I’m trying to take a cautious viewpoint — I’d rather be pleasantly surprised than be devastated in March.</p>
<h3 id="t0J4rC"><strong>Quentin Wetzel: Illinois 23-8 (14-6), Big Ten Tournament Runners Up, Final Four</strong></h3>
<p id="8DY5dM">Illinois is ranked 11th in the country. It was picked 3rd in the Big Ten. Expectations in Champaign are the highest they’ve been since… last year. That’s crazy. I mean, can we just take a moment to acknowledge how cool that is? Brad Underwood brought Illinois basketball all the way back to being championship contenders and then kept it there. Please clap for Brad Underwood.</p>
<p id="ZhTfyc">Anyway, I think this team’s ceiling is at least as high as it was last year. Kofi was better as a sophomore than Ayo was as a sophomore, and it’s quite possible he’ll be better as a junior too. And if everything goes right, Andre Curbelo could be an All-American this year. Replace Adam Miller with Alfonso Plummer, Giorgi with Omar Payne — both of which I think are upgrades (sorry Giorgi) — and Curbelo’s backup guard minutes with Austin Hutcherson, and the team could look pretty similar to a year ago. But add in Coleman Hawkins’ development and you have a real ceiling-raiser.</p>
<p id="fN5hgJ">That’s just the ceiling though, and there’s no guarantee Illinois will hit it. Kofi could continue to be unable to pass out of a double team, Andre Curbelo might still turn the ball over at the highest rate in the Big Ten, Da’Monte Williams’ shooting could (and probably will) regress. Or maybe Austin Hutcherson won’t be able to stay healthy and Omar Payne struggles to backup Kofi. There are a number of things that could keep this team from reaching its full potential.</p>
<p id="BdU1C6">The most likely outcome, I think, is that Illinois ends up being around a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament and 2nd in the Big Ten (I’d give Purdue the slight edge). And that’s a great place to be. But if everything clicks like it did last year… watch out, college basketball.</p>
<h3 id="XOZNNi"><strong>Jeff Horwitz: Illinois 23-8 (14-6) Big Ten Tournament Runners Up, Sweet Sixteen</strong></h3>
<p id="mzjevE">This is the most talented frontcourt I’ve seen in 20 years of watching Illinois basketball, and it might be their best frontcourt of all time. The talent is belied by the inability to play Kofi Cockburn and Omar Payne at the same time. However, I could see Brad Underwood occasionally using a more pro-style lineup with Austin Hutcherson and Coleman Hawkins at the stretch four. Add Da’Monte Williams’ outsized defensive ability, and it’ll be extremely difficult for opposing teams to get points in the paint.</p>
<p id="hG4Z41">The loss of Ayo Dosunmu looms large. The loss of Adam Miller hurts too, but it’s neutralized by the backcourt’s continued development, as well as the addition of a healthy Hutcherson. The Illini will be able to come out more aggressive this year with Andre Curbelo taking over the point from Trent Frazier. It’ll also allow Trent to flourish as a shooter, and he’s as good of a backup point guard as I can recall. Illinois was 15-2 with Jacob Grandison in the starting lineup last year, and he still might have to battle it out with Hutcherson. This team is stacked, and it’s going to be another great year. A Final Four would be amazing, but if Illinois wins a Big Ten championship and makes it to the second weekend of the tournament, I’ll be happy.</p>
<h3 id="pnyRxd"><strong>Matt Rejc: Illinois 20-11 (12-8), Big Ten Tournament Semi-Finalist, Elite Eight</strong></h3>
<p id="lz5aSg">Few college basketball seasons are smooth from start to finish, and I believe this one will be no exception. I foresee some real growing pains in the non-conference and early conference slate as this new team starts to gel against quality opponents. Obviously the biggest change this season will be the absence of Ayo Dosunmu, who bailed the Illini out in many games last season. Someone else will need to fill that void if the Illini want to reclaim the degree of dominance that they exerted especially late in games last year. I think someone will, and it’ll probably be Andre Curbelo, but it’ll take time.</p>
<p id="X2Q5T5">Making the tournament shouldn’t be in doubt, but I do expect the Illini to fall out of the rankings at some point this season. That said, I think they’ll ultimately end up around where they are now in the polls. Once this team gets going though, I do expect them to make some real noise in the NCAA Tournament from an 7-5 seed spot.</p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/9/22771297/tcr-staff-predictions-illinois-basketballs-2021-22-season-fighting-illini-ncaa-big-tenTCR Staff2021-11-07T08:00:54-06:002021-11-07T08:00:54-06:00Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Austin Hutcherson
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<p>It’s finally time for Hutch to show what he can do.</p> <p id="ZvriWh">FINALLY. After two long years of waiting, Austin Hutcherson will be donning a Fighting Illini uniform in a regular season game. The coaches and media have been raving about the D-3 transfer since he came to Champaign, but after sitting out 2019-20 due to NCAA rules and redshirting last year due to a back injury, the 6-foot-6 Hutcherson is ready to go.</p>
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<p id="f76d9O">Look at that! Actual highlights! </p>
<p id="GaoHjV">I’ve been an unofficial Austin Hutcherson stan since he announced he was committing to Illinois back in the summer of 2019. It seems like eons ago. And Hutch isn’t just some dude. The NYC native was an absolute baller at Division III Wesleyan. From <a href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2019/8/2/20750532/illinois-fighting-illini-mens-basketball-2020-recruiting-profile-austin-hutcherson">TCR’s initial write-up</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="p9QULz">Hutcherson led the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in scoring last season [2018-19] with 20 points per game ... In two seasons at Wesleyan, he scored 847 points in 54 games, and was a 41 percent three-point shooter for the Cardinals.</p></blockquote>
<p id="ZSJctW">I love that Brad Underwood and his staff have dedicated themselves to looking anywhere and everywhere to find talent, from foreign-born transplants like Kofi, Giorgi, Andre Curbelo Andres Feliz, BBV, Samba Kane and Greg Eboigbodin, to under-the-radar in-state guys like Jermaine Hamlin and Brandon Lieb, to players like Jacob Grandison and Hutcherson who shined at a lower level and wanted the chance to prove their worth on a bigger stage. </p>
<h2 id="HFYYFX"><strong>What to Expect </strong></h2>
<p id="a9JXaJ">Even though he’s a neophyte to Big Ten — or Division I — hoops, Hutcherson obviously has a skillset that suits this Fighting Illini roster well. He can score from all three levels, he rebounds and passes well, and has positional versatility. </p>
<p id="jSv9k2">With a logjam at guard and Kofi shelved for the first three games due to suspension, it wouldn’t shock me to see Brad Underwood roll Hutcherson out to split minutes at the hybrid “4” spot alongside Grandison, Coleman Hawkins or Da’Monte Williams.</p>
<p id="TP8FtY">While he hasn’t played a competitive college basketball game in two-and-a-half years (!) it’s clear the coaching staff has big plans for Hutcherson. And by all accounts he hasn’t just been <em>waiting</em> to play, he’s been <em>preparing</em> to play. Hutch bet on himself by transferring to Illinois. Now it’s time to see if that pays off. FINALLY.</p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/7/22754164/illinois-basketball-player-preview-austin-hutcherson-jacob-grandison-brad-underwoodDrew Pastorek2021-11-05T09:05:00-05:002021-11-05T09:05:00-05:00Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Jacob Grandison
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<figcaption>Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We’re expecting big things from the Holy Cross transfer. </p> <p id="K4YRGB">Jacob Grandison really started to find his niche on this Illini team down the stretch of last season, making key hustle plays that sparked runs to help wins games. He was rewarded by the coaching staff, seeing more than 20 minutes in 9 of the final 11 contests last season. </p>
<p id="gYsRt2">The Holy Cross transfer didn’t have many offensive opportunities last season with the presence of All-Americans Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, but he made the most of his opportunities and secured a starting role with his maturity, energy, fit in his role, and knack for heady, winning plays. </p>
<p id="o2amYo">He also had a rather unique offseason, getting to be a part of the Finnish national team along with his younger brother Lucas, who played on the U20 team. For Grandison, partaking in this opportunity was about more than basketball, rather <a href="https://herald-review.com/sports/college/illini/illinois-jacob-grandison-joins-finnish-national-team-for-pre-olympics-tournament/article_8440c715-65eb-5c71-b7c7-50e83984fbaf.html">“it’s just an opportunity for me to show who I really am... It’s nice to finally be seen as a more full, complete picture, as my story has kind of been underground.”</a></p>
<p id="VGYa0E">Don’t expect this to be any kind of vacation for him however, as <a href="https://herald-review.com/sports/college/illini/illinois-jacob-grandison-joins-finnish-national-team-for-pre-olympics-tournament/article_8440c715-65eb-5c71-b7c7-50e83984fbaf.html">“he’s been waking up every day at 4 a.m. to get three workouts in before noon, and he plans to continue that unrelenting work ethic overseas and when he reunites with the Illini.”</a> </p>
<p id="opslGu">Hopefully, this self-exploration with the Finnish national team and continued dedication to his craft will position Grandison for a significant leap in production coming into his senior year.</p>
<h2 id="BK6L3e"><strong>What to Expect</strong></h2>
<p id="EZZniK">I expect Grandison to continue helping the Illini in their winning ways with his hustle, smart playmaking, and ability to thrive in his role offensively and defensively. His opportunities offensively should grow this season given the presence of many young newcomers and the loss of Dosunmu. </p>
<p id="CH9URT">He may face some significant competition as the season wears on however, as Underwood has played the second forward spot more by committee in his time with the Illini with Coleman Hawkins, Omar Payne, and even Da’Monte Williams all likely seeing time at that spot as well this season. If Grandison can continue to hit at the rate that he did last year (41.5% on threes, 95.7% on free throws, and 52.6% from the field) but in a more prominent role, it will be hard for Underwood to take him off the floor. </p>
<p id="mulg4M">His 6-foot-6 frame also gives Underwood more flexibility to use him in different positions and sets on both ends of the floor. </p>
<p id="NhDyZi">Unlike last season, Grandison comes in as the incumbent at the position this season, which should favor him, especially early on. He also has the familiarity with returning teammates Cockburn, Frazier and Williams and two years under his belt in Underwood’s system. With his high character, basketball savvy, and versatile skillset, Grandison should be in for a breakout season with the orange and blue to help keep them in the running for a Big Ten title.</p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/5/22762927/illinois-basketball-player-preview-jacob-grandison-fighting-illini-ncaa-big-tenBilly Lawton2021-11-04T08:05:00-05:002021-11-04T08:05:00-05:00Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Trent Frazier
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<figcaption>Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The ultimate Illini is back for one last dance.</p> <p id="nWvpd7">August 21, 2016.</p>
<p id="S56XyD">That’s the day Trent Frazier <a href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2016/8/21/12565308/trent-frazier-illinois-fighting-illini-basketball-recruiting-news-rumors-point-guard">committed to Illinois</a>.</p>
<p id="XOrVhk">The world looked a lot different back then. Barack Obama was still president. Lovie Smith had yet to coach a game at Illinois. Peyton Manning had just won a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>.</p>
<p id="EnvrOZ">A lot has changed in five years, but one thing that hasn’t is Trent Frazier’s commitment to Illinois basketball. Trent could have decommitted when Brad Underwood replaced John Groce — the coach who recruited him — but he stayed. He could have transferred in search of greener pastures when Ayo Dosunmu’s arrival bit a chunk out of his role, but he stayed. He could have walked away from college basketball entirely after giving four years to Illinois, but he stayed.</p>
<p id="16BV4J">Trent Frazier never owed anything to Illinois basketball, but he’s given four years (and counting) to the program anyway. And he helped bring Illinois basketball back along the way.</p>
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<p id="we2OHS">I like to talk about a player’s strengths and weaknesses when analyzing his on-court contributions, but that doesn’t feel quite right for Trent. In his role (an admittedly large caveat), Trent doesn’t really have any weaknesses. And his role is invaluable: shoot threes, be the secondary ball-handler and run the point when Andre Curbelo is on the bench, and lock up the opponent’s best guard.</p>
<p id="bMTglr">Frazier’s not an elite shooter, but he’s made 35.8% of his three-point attempts in his career, and that’s about all you can ask for in a secondary option. His real shooting value comes in that he’s relatively efficient from three <em>and</em> he can shoot in volume. Trent has made about 2 threes per game over his four years at Illinois, and his 247 three-point field goals are fourth all-time among Illini.</p>
<p id="Y7TXaP">When Trent’s not shooting, he will be tasked with initiating the offense when Curbelo needs a breather. He’s not elite in this role either, but again, he doesn’t need to be elite to be valuable. Despite frequently having the ball in his hands, Frazier has averaged just 1.2 turnovers per game over the past two seasons. He may not rack up the assists, but he provides value in what he <em>doesn’t</em> do, namely, turn the ball over.</p>
<p id="7KfvCH">Trent’s calling card, though, is his defense. When he first came to Illinois he was a defensive liability, but Frazier has developed into an absolute menace for opposing guards. He earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team Honors last season, and Brad Underwood went as far as to call him “the best defensive player in the country.” His impact on defense simply can’t be overstated.</p>
<p id="BgESlr">And his impact on Illinois basketball over the last four years can’t be overstated. The upset over Michigan State in 2019 that sent shockwaves throughout college basketball, the seven-game winning streak in 2020 that officially put Illinois basketball back on the map, the culmination of a years-long rebuild in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-basketball-tournament">Big Ten Tournament</a> Championship in 2021 — none of it happens without Trent Frazier.</p>
<p id="b3ks5h">“The ultimate Illini,” as Brad Underwood likes to call him, is back for one more year to cement his legacy, but I want to be abundantly clear — Trent Frazier is already an Illini legend. It’s time to enjoy his last dance.</p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/4/22760948/illinois-basketball-player-preview-trent-frazier-fighting-illini-ncaa-big-ten-brad-underwoodQuentin Wetzel2021-11-03T10:05:00-05:002021-11-03T10:05:00-05:00Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Da’Monte Williams
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Nebraska at Illinois" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MFctH39ZdXqIaXd8W2LHecCySSg=/0x0:3741x2494/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70086014/usa_today_15630263.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A super senior year for the ultimate glue guy.</p> <p id="ft2cLC">It feels like a lifetime ago that we first heard of Da’Monte Williams playing in the orange and blue. Thankfully, Illini fans will get to see the 6-foot-3 Peoria native back in Champaign for a “super senior” year. </p>
<p id="siP5cz">Between Trent Frazier and Da’Monte, the Illini get back their two most experienced players on the roster from last year. The super seniors committed under John Groce and have stayed for the Underwood era, seeing the program completely flip spectrums from a bottom-feeding Big Ten team to a national title contender. For Williams specifically, he has seen his role on the team change drastically in his five years here. </p>
<p id="U4oBA2">The one thing that has remained constant, however, is Williams' contribution as the ultimate glue guy. </p>
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Illinois at Penn State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U0Vd07SuOtkNr1dYYHuG0MqzAKw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22468851/usa_today_15430961.jpg">
<cite>Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="w2hfBh">When Williams first committed to Illinois, his name came with quite the reputation. The son of Illini legend Frank Williams followed in his fathers' footsteps and has made quite the legacy in his time at Illinois. </p>
<p id="qhxwM5">As a freshman and sophomore, Williams played significant minutes for a struggling Illini program. In those two years, Williams averaged 3.4 points. In his junior year, he saw a career-low averaging only 2.8 points a game. </p>
<p id="cjo48m">Over the last four seasons, Illinois has been a much more efficient team when Da’Monte was on the floor, and it wasn’t for his scoring ability. It was what he did outside of the stat sheet that Da’Monte carved out a role for himself on the roster. </p>
<p id="4hd5FT">Teammates and coaches have praised Williams for the energy he brings the team night after night. Williams is a team-first guy who you know is going to be focused on winning. </p>
<p id="tIKfi3">Despite not being the most dynamic offensive player, Williams turned himself into quite the offensive threat last year. Leading the nation in three-point percentage at one point last season, Da’Monte added a completely different dynamic to his game. Not only did he become a knockdown shooter from behind the arc, but he always seemed to sink a three when the Illini needed it most, propelling Illinois to a big run, most notably in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-basketball-tournament">Big Ten Tournament</a> win over No. 7 <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>. </p>
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Purdue at Illinois" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SG2ZG0x5RTSIrqccoVtgWGbUQS0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22212849/usa_today_15389535.jpg">
<cite>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="FjtFs3">This year Williams will take another key role on the Illini’s roster. In years past, he has shown he can guard just about any position on the court, and I presume that will continue into this year. </p>
<p id="gskJ42">Don’t look past his rebounding ability either, Williams has posted double-digit rebounding numbers multiple times throughout his career, averaging 5.2 per game last year. </p>
<p id="0TTBZ8">On the offensive end, Williams could have another big year from beyond the arc with Andre Curbelo’s passing ability. If teams don't close out and get a hand in his face, Williams is going to knock down shots. With more knockdown perimeter shooters like Da’Monte, it opens up the lane for Kofi and Curbelo to work in. </p>
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Northwestern at Illinois" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7G2xut52dVkYsSIpEcFJoR-_l5M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22316426/usa_today_15584329.jpg">
<cite>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="yjAO65">With all the weapons on this roster, it seems so hard to say exactly who is a starter. I feel confident believing we will see significant minutes out of Williams this year, starter or not. </p>
<p id="AslLIT">He can knock down shots, defend, rebound, and everything in between. Regardless of whether he’s is in the starting lineup, he is going to impact the game in some way, shape or form. Underwood knows he can trust Williams is going to do whatever is needed on any given night to win. Another year older, Williams knows exactly what is needed to run Underwood’s system effectively. </p>
<p id="42GrI1">Underwood will lean on guys like Da’Monte to set the culture for the younger/newer guys as Illinois looks to become one of the nation’s best programs for the second year in a row. </p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/3/22760295/illinois-basketball-player-preview-damonte-williams-fighting-illini-ncaa-big-ten-underwoodBryce Haake2021-11-03T09:05:00-05:002021-11-03T09:05:00-05:00Illinois’ four most intriguing non-conference matchups
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Arizona at Colorado" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f5JOuGrf6CBC1TOLZ0LQy4q0CoI=/0x103:4338x2995/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70085628/usa_today_15540941.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>One of these picks might surprise you.</p> <p id="Vb2JVu">The <a href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> tip off their 116th season of college basketball this Tuesday. The disappointment of last season gets washed away, and the No. 11 Illini wipe the slate clean for 2021-22. Last week I briefly broke down all of Illinois’ non-conference opponents. This week I wanted to pay special attention to a handful of upcoming games. </p>
<aside id="I9AgVP"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Illinois Basketball Schedule Preview: The Non-Conference","url":"https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/10/28/22699791/illinois-basketball-schedule-preview-the-non-conference-marquette-golden-eagles-arizona-wildcats"}]}'></div></aside><p id="NFSdku">There’s no real criteria for this list (with a few exceptions I’ll get to in a second), no precepts I’ve decided to stick by. These are merely games I’m eager to watch because of specific matchups, unique stories, or historical significance.</p>
<p id="wE4uZf"><strong>DISCLAIMER #1:</strong> Since Braggin’ Rights is an annual event, and we all want to see the Illini vaporize Mizzou, we will already be dedicating enough time to that game on this fine website. We’re hyped for that game every year, so I’ve elected to devote my energy to other teams.</p>
<p id="HFIr08"><strong>DISCLAIMER #2:</strong> I also did not include Arkansas (or <a href="https://www.bringonthecats.com">Kansas State</a>) on this list because, well, we don’t know if Illinois will <em>actually</em> play them. Either matchup would be fun and interesting for its own reasons, but since that opponent is TBD, I’ve chosen to not mention them.</p>
<p id="smmsZg">That said...away we go.</p>
<h2 id="VGKOpU"><a href="https://www.downthedrive.com"><strong>Cincinnati Bearcats</strong></a></h2>
<p id="xhIXMk">I was already intrigued by this matchup <em>before</em> Kofi Cockburn’s three-game suspension was announced, but now this will be the first game with the Illini figuratively at full strength.</p>
<aside id="vLCt8R"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"NCAA suspends Kofi Cockburn for three games","url":"https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/1/22758037/ncaa-suspends-kofi-cockburn-for-three-games-illinois-fighting-illini-big-ten"}]}'></div></aside><p id="i7XdIK">Illinois will likely be undefeated heading into Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic. Its first opponent, the Cincinnati Bearcats, is coming off a tumultuous and controversial offseason.</p>
<p id="Yq8YD8">38-year-old Wes Miller takes over for former head coach John Brannen, who was <a href="https://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2021/5/6/22423326/john-brannen-should-never-coach-again-basketball-cincinnati">dismissed by Cincinnati following allegations of misconduct</a> and NCAA violations. Miller spent a decade at UNC-Greensboro and helped build them into a very competitive mid-major program. </p>
<p id="QTsCB1">Cincinnati saw six players enter the transfer portal within days of its season ending, so Miller will have work to do to reshape the Bearcats’ roster, but he’s off to a quick start, bringing in five transfers, including three of his former UNCG recruits — guard A.J. McGinnis, forward Jarrett Hensley and center Hayden Koval.</p>
<p id="7CV7ke">The Bearcats are predicted to finish sixth in the American, but they have plenty of size to go mano y mano with the Illini — Koval is 7-foot-1 and <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com">Mississippi State</a> transfer Abdul Ado is 6-foot-11, and each are efficient low post scorers and proficient shot blockers. I’m interested to watch how Brad Underwood deploys Kofi, Coleman Hawkins and Omar Payne in this game.</p>
<h2 id="gRBVF0"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com"><strong>Notre Dame Fighting Irish</strong></a></h2>
<p id="2wDhIQ">The ACC/Big Ten Challenge is always one of the most-anticipated events on the college basketball calendar — teams from arguably the two best conferences squaring off. This particular pairing is a bit odd, but I believe timing is to blame. When this matchup was revealed, Adam Miller had transferred while Ayo, Giorgi and Kofi had each declared for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a>. Certainly a Fighting Illini roster without <em>two</em> First-Team All-Big Ten players (Dosunmu, Cockburn) would be a far less formidable lineup. Rather than being a consensus top three Big Ten team, Illinois would likely be pegged more towards the middle of the league.</p>
<p id="QPLHND">So, rather than potentially being pitted against a Duke, UNC, Virginia or <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a>, the Fighting Illini drew Notre Dame, a team that’s predicted to finish eighth in the ACC. </p>
<p id="bVJkRH">This Fighting Irish squad intrigues me because of how unusual they are. Mike Brey is bringing back six seniors, including All-ACC Second-Team selection Prentiss Hubb. And with so many teams reloading their roster by way of the transfer portal, Notre Dame added only one, former Yale forward Paul Atkinson. </p>
<p id="wyDe32">The Illini had lost three straight in the Challenge before pasting Duke last season. I always look forward to this event — regardless of the opponent — but even moreso this year, with the Orange & Blue being a clear favorite. Don’t sleep on the Irish, though. </p>
<h2 id="1E0KEs"><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com"><strong>Arizona Wildcats</strong></a></h2>
<p id="sdAWeh">Even though Illinois and Arizona aren’t rivals in the “traditional” sense, the history between these two programs runs deep. The Wildcats were on the receiving end of the most famous comeback in Illini history during the 2005 Elite Eight, but the two sides faced each other seven times from 2000-07 — including <em>three</em> matchups in the 2000-01 season alone, in which Arizona won two. </p>
<p id="XGhxeN">The Illini & Wildcats renewed their rivalry in 2019 in Tucson, a 90-69 ‘Zona victory. But for the first time since January 1987, the Fighting Illini will host this game in Champaign — no neutral site, no multi-team event, a true home game. </p>
<p id="SvWlJY">Illinois has dropped three straight in the series — other than Mizzou, this is the game fans REEEEEEALLY want to win.</p>
<h2 id="YHWHVS"><strong>Arkansas State Red Wolves</strong></h2>
<p id="qYC8Tm">This one may seem like a head-scratcher, but indulge me for a moment. I’m not suggesting that Arkansas State can upset Illinois, or that they’re even an NCAA Tournament team. But the Red Wolves play a similar style of up-tempo basketball and feature one the best players in the country you’ve probably never seen.</p>
<p id="jDpagY">6-foot-7 forward Norchad Omier was the fourth-best rebounder in Division I last season, averaging 12.3 boards per game. The preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year, Omier is also the first Nicaraguan-born player in Division I. He spent the summer playing for his home nation in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fiba-world-cup">FIBA World Cup</a> Qualifiers.</p>
<p id="rAHRmE">Omier’s journey to Arkansas State reminds me a lot of Giorgi Bezhanishvili’s to Illinois — a lightly-recruited foreign-born player making an early impact. It’s a LONG way from Bluefields, Nicaragua to Jonesboro, Arkansas — geographically <em>and</em> culturally. Kudos to head coach Mike Balado and his staff for helping bring Omier to A-State.</p>
<p id="h7dOzk">Kofi will also miss this game due to his season-opening suspension.</p>
<div id="CPVBVS"><div data-anthem-component="poll:10843101"></div></div>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/11/3/22754851/four-non-conference-games-to-watch-fighting-illini-arkansas-state-red-wolves-arizona-wildcatsDrew Pastorek2021-10-31T08:05:00-05:002021-10-31T08:05:00-05:00Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Kofi Cockburn
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Big Ten Conference Tournament-Ohio State vs Illinois" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ej24YrK2o1tkSFhRLjvaCYeNuBU=/0x0:3792x2528/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70070361/usa_today_15730830.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year didn’t come back for a haircut.</p> <p id="bd0yEl">When Kofi Cockburn announced his return to Illinois this summer, it immediately made the Fighting Illini a national title contender. While the Illini are only ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll, both Bart Torvik and Ken Pomeroy have them as the fifth-best team in the country. </p>
<p id="KKp5fm">There are currently unconfirmed reports that Cockburn may miss several games to start the year because of memorabilia he sold after he declared for the draft, and before NIL went into effect. It would be a shame to lose any player for such a trivial violation, much less a player like Kofi. </p>
<p id="f0Gdhp">Cockburn was named an AP preseason All-American, and he’s also the Big Ten preseason Player of the Year. </p>
<p id="rnSxql">So, how did Illinois’ big man get here?</p>
<h2 id="4X9reB"><strong>Kofi’s Analytical Value</strong></h2>
<p id="OUo1AC">Ayo Dosunmu was the most important player on the Illini last year. Right?</p>
<p id="EfXNJH">Most people would agree that Ayo was the <em>best</em> Illini player last year, closely followed by Kofi Cockburn. After all, Ayo was a first team All-American, Kofi was on the second team. Ayo got drafted, Kofi withdrew. </p>
<p id="h8h2yW">But if you start to look at individual metrics, the numbers paint a slightly different picture. </p>
<p id="LNFAkg">Here are Cockburn and Dosunmu’s Big Ten ranks from last year in nine advanced metric categories, according to Sports-Reference.</p>
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<p id="YQ2LAw">Cockburn led the Big Ten last year in effective field goal (eFG%) and true shooting (TS%) percentages. Both stats measure all field goals, while TS% measures free throw shooting as well. Keep in mind, he only shot .553 from the line last year, and he didn’t take any threes! Imagine what he could be if he could hit 75% of his foul shots.</p>
<p id="xBWmkQ">In addition to leading the Big Ten in eFG% and TS%, Kofi was second in offensive, defensive, and total win shares. He was also third in offensive and defensive ratings, which measure the points produced and allowed per possession, respectively.</p>
<p id="5wI7pa">Ayo piled up a ton of win shares because he played more minutes than Kofi, but Ayo’s win shares per 40 minutes were actually lower than Kofi’s. This isn’t to say that Ayo wasn’t a great player. He might be the best in Illinois <em>history</em>. </p>
<p id="USj46I">It just means that Kofi is right there with him.</p>
<p id="4CglJk">How good is Kofi compared to the rest of the country? Last year, Kofi scored 17.7 PPG and grabbed 9.5 RPG per game. No other player in the country had over 15 PPG and 9 RPG.</p>
<h2 id="1LxRwN"><strong>Strengths and Weaknesses</strong></h2>
<p id="nK8lxg">Cockburn is 7-feet tall and 285 pounds, which in itself is rare for a college basketball player. </p>
<p id="BW92Uj">In fact, Kofi has more muscle (read: weighs more) than every All-NBA player from last year. </p>
<p id="bqkkwX">Yep, he’s a pound heavier than Jokic. </p>
<p id="C8V74c">Because of this, he isn’t your typical fast-break threat, but he can still get down the floor very fast for his size.</p>
<div id="lbAqux"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TD6yfZVDZv0?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ad4r4r">Kofi will have to work on his mid-range and free throw shooting. According to Torvik, he only made 40.2% of his shots away from the rim, an improvement from 27.5% the year before as a freshman. Oddly enough, Kofi became a worse free throw shooter last year, going from .677 in 2020-21 to .553 in 2021-22. Both of these can be fixed with more practice reps.</p>
<p id="Gnv32Y">In the half court game, Kofi’s nearly impossible to score on. The big man has a career 1.4 blocks per game, and only allowed 93.5 points per 100 possessions last year. That was third in the Big Ten only to Big Ten DPOY Myles Johnson and NBA lottery pick Franz Wagner. On offense, he gets doubled on nearly every possession, and he’s often triple-teamed. </p>
<p id="9QM9YL">However, Cockburn didn’t take advantage of many of those double- and triple-teams last year. He only recorded five total assists, down from 20 the year before. This is the area that Kofi needs to improve in the most. Like shooting, this can and should be taught through practice reps.</p>
<p id="ySr4wp">If you can stomach the video below, Kofi is double-teamed at 3:16. He could have passed it to Ayo or Trent Frazier on the wing for a three, Andre Curbelo at the top of the key for a drive, or Jacob Grandison for the bailout. Instead, he goes up with the shot and No. 12 Marquise Kennedy comes from behind on the help and blocks his shot. </p>
<div id="OJNTpw"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xIjB81HkSvQ?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="2RU8mb">Understandably, Brad Underwood and Orlando Antigua relied a lot on Kofi’s power last year. But when a player is double-teamed so often, he should be coached to look for the open man on the perimeter. If he’s triple-teamed like he was in the video, there will be multiple open looks. </p>
<p id="O41vZL">Kofi’s lack of passing is not why Illinois lost to Loyola. Still, to make Illinois a more competitive team, Kofi will have to pass out of those double- and triple-teams. Brad Underwood knows this, and without a doubt has made this a point in practice.</p>
<h2 id="kIKBmx"><strong>Kofi’s Supporting Cast </strong></h2>
<p id="eUOUSz">There are two players that are key to Cockburn’s success this year. The one player that might be as important as Kofi is Andre Curbelo. We’ve seen how explosive they can be in the pick and roll. </p>
<p id="v3RBqT">The play below capped a big win over Indiana on the road.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Illini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Illini</a> Andre Curbelo with the slick pass feeds Kofi Cockburn who corals the ball and slams it home late in overtime vs Indiana. What a play to put Illinois up four over Indiana with 20 seconds left to play. <a href="https://t.co/mCUcNTutAf">pic.twitter.com/mCUcNTutAf</a></p>— Hoop Informatics (@HoopInformatics) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoopInformatics/status/1356827052477972483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="JHmSUe">Curbelo’s development as a starting point guard is crucial to Kofi’s success. </p>
<p id="MyNiNw">In addition to Curbelo, Kofi now has an solid backup in Omar Payne. </p>
<p id="1yLDiH">As good as Giorgi Bezhanishvili was, he got pushed around from time to time. It’ll be much more difficult to push Payne around. Omar is 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, and he has a career 3.0 blocks per 40 minutes. Payne should be able to give Kofi ample rest if he gets into foul trouble, and that will enable Kofi to be even more aggressive on defense.</p>
<p id="ohYJvI">Kofi is extremely important to this Illini team, and now he has a backup. If he can improve his mid-range and free throw shooting, and become a better passer, Illinois will be very dangerous come tournament time.</p>
https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/10/31/22753558/illinois-basketball-player-preview-kofi-cockburn-fighting-illini-ncaa-big-ten-brad-underwoodJeffHorwitz2021-10-28T09:05:00-05:002021-10-28T09:05:00-05:00Illinois Basketball Schedule Preview: The Non-Conference
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: No.Carolina A&amp;T at Illinois" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d1wS_OuWcfPw97kKWKgWimw5rSM=/0x0:1648x1099/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70056840/usa_today_15233175.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Illini will have a few notable tests prior to Big Ten action.</p> <p id="QI9G6W">The college basketball season is nigh. And for those of us like me that have been tracking the Illini’s every move since March, it’s exciting as hell. Even watching a 70-point exhibition win versus an NAIA school has my blood pumping. </p>
<p id="54XQfA">Brad Underwood enters year five in Champaign and has the deepest team of his tenure. Even with the departures of key contributors Adam Miller, Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Ayo Dosunmu, expectations remain high that Illinois will be playing deep into March.</p>
<p id="taLLfS">With less than two weeks remaining until the regular season tips off, here’s a preview of the Fighting Illini’s eleven non-conference opponents. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dezuBN">
<p id="4Iy3cH"><strong>Jackson State Tigers (2020-21 Record: 12-6; 11-0 SWAC)</strong></p>
<p id="TTKrDb">The Illini begin the new campaign Nov. 9 at State Farm Center versus last year’s co-regular season SWAC champs. The Tigers missed out on the NCAA Tournament after losing to Texas Southern in their conference tourney. </p>
<p id="BnS0l6">Leading scorer Tristan Jarrett (21.1 points/gm, 35.8% 3-pt, 84.2% free throw) returns for JSU, as does 2019 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Jayveous McKinnis. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged a double-double last season (12.5 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 57.4% FG) and finished second in the nation in rebounding.</p>
<p id="zvXchB">The Tigers play all of their first 12 games away from home, and starting the season against a top-11 team just seems inhumane. Jackson State will cash the check, but this has all the makings of a 1-versus-16 type of matchup.</p>
<p id="iTCqgd"><strong>Arkansas State Red Wolves (11-13; 7-8 Sun Belt)</strong></p>
<p id="eenyD2">The second of back-to-back home games to start the season, Illinois welcomes Arkansas State to Champaign on Nov. 12. The Red Wolves return their top eight scorers from last year’s roster and added Arkansas transfer Desi Sills.</p>
<p id="opwmCl">Leading scorer Marquis Eaton averaged 14.2 points and 5.2 assists per game in 2020-21, and Belleville, Ill., native Christian Willis averaged 50.9% from three-point distance, fourth-best in the nation. </p>
<p id="Xd2sPM">Like the aforementioned Jayveous McKinnis, Arkansas State forward Norchad Omier was one of the country’s elite rebounders a season ago. The first-ever Nicaraguan player to earn a Division I scholarship, Omier pulled down 12.3 rebounds per game for the Red Wolves, while also tallying 12.6 PPG, 1.4 BPG, and 1.2 SPG. The Sun Belt named him its Preseason Player of the Year.</p>
<p id="V8nIzh"><a href="https://www.anonymouseagle.com"><strong>Marquette Golden Eagles</strong></a><strong> (13-14; 8-11 </strong><strong>Big East</strong><strong>)</strong></p>
<p id="lLNMdw">The Fighting Illini head to Milwaukee for this Gavitt Games matchup on Nov. 15. Shaka Smart succeeds Steve Wojciechowski as Marquette’s head coach, and he inherits a program picked to finish ninth in an always-competitive Big East.</p>
<p id="GFr8C4">The Golden Eagles’ entire starting lineup from last season — Dawson Garcia, D.J. Carton, Kobe McEwen, Jamal Cain & Theo John — is gone, leaving redshirt freshman Justin Lewis as the team’s leading returning scorer...at 7.8 PPG. Smart and his staff combed the transfer portal, adding Kur Kuath (Oklahoma), Darryl Morsell (Maryland) & Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Clemson) to a depleted roster.</p>
<p id="8MBPxb">Marquette is attempting a rapid retool, and this game should be a great opportunity for the Illini to grab a power-conference road win. </p>
<p id="qV4gKQ"><a href="https://www.downthedrive.com"><strong>Cincinnati Bearcats</strong></a><strong> (12-11; 8-6 American Athletic)</strong></p>
<p id="N3L0ZY">The Illini and Bearcats square off in the Hall of Fame Classic Nov. 22 in Kansas City. Wes Miller comes to Cincinnati after 10 seasons as head coach at UNC-Greensboro, where he led the Spartans to five 20-win campaigns & four Southern Conference regular-season titles.</p>
<p id="rus0YS">Miller’s new-look Bearcats brought in a host of transfers, especially in the frontcourt. 6-foot-11 Abdul Ado played in 131 games for <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com">Mississippi State</a>, registering 800 points, 803 rebounds, and 249 blocked shots. Seven-footer Hayden Koval spent last season playing for Miller at UNCG, where he averaged 2.2 BPG and shot 64% from two-point range.</p>
<p id="gb6GLU">Kofi Cockburn, Omar Payne and the rest of the Illini bigs will be tested against Cincinnati’s rim protectors.</p>
<p id="EK2I6Q"><a href="https://www.arkansasfight.com"><strong>Arkansas Razorbacks</strong></a><strong> (25-7; 13-4 SEC) </strong><em><strong>or</strong></em><strong> Kansas State Wildcats (9-20; 4-14 Big 12)</strong></p>
<p id="O70ghT">Illinois’ second Hall of Fame Classic opponent is yet to be determined, but both potential matchups are intriguing. Arkansas has been recruiting at a national championship level under Eric Musselman, and the Razorbacks have brought in four high-profile transfers this offseason — Chris Lykes (Miami), Jaxon Robinson (Texas A&M), Au’Diese Toney (Pittsburgh), Stanley Umude (South Dakota). Arkansas made its deepest NCAA Tournament run in 26 years, losing to eventual champion Baylor in the Elite 8.</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Kansas State at Oklahoma State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2ChwuwL_y5zhtrbxyxTT_P6Gbnk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22955600/usa_today_14137692.jpg">
<cite>Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="sxpbZW">The other possibility is a meeting with former Fighting Illini head coach Bruce Weber and Kansas State. Weber is 170-130 in nine seasons at K-State, but only 20-41 the past two years. Even though things didn’t exactly end well in Champaign, Weber will always be remembered as the coach of Illinois’ most successful team ever. The Illini may also have another opportunity to face former Illinois Mr. Basketball Mark Smith, who transferred from Missouri for his super-senior season.</p>
<p id="CeefUm"><strong>UTRGV Vaqueros (9-10; 2-5 WAC)</strong></p>
<p id="WU34vv">The Fighting Illini return home for a Black Friday matchup with UT-Rio Grande Valley. The Vaqueros are picked to finish ninth in the Western Athletic Conference.</p>
<p id="wOOFrO">Matt Figger took over the program in March after former coach Lew Hill passed away from COVID-19 complications during the season. UTRGV graduated its leading scorer, Sean Rhea (15.2 PPG), and does not return a double-digit scorer from 2020-21. Grad transfer Xavier Johnson averaged 11.8 PPG last season at Chicago State.</p>
<p id="yVblpn">The Vaqueros struggled offensively, averaging only 29.4% from beyond the arc and 63.7% from the charity stripe. This game is a clear mismatch — UTRGV is ranked 304th in KenPom — and looks to be one of the easiest contests on the schedule.</p>
<p id="YQBOkO"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com"><strong>Notre Dame Fighting Irish</strong></a><strong> (11-15; 4-11 ACC)</strong></p>
<p id="5o6CZH">This season’s edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge features the Illini facing a familiar foe. Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish come to State Farm Center Nov. 29. This will be the third time Notre Dame and Illinois have played each other in this event since 2015, with the Irish winning each of the first two contests.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Notre Dame at Georgia Tech" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rayxJAmc7wZvdJvSnrPUJsSvKro=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22955806/usa_today_15540256.jpg">
<cite>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Prentiss Hubb (#3) led Notre Dame in minutes, points, and assists in 2020-21.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="SEEzUB">Notre Dame is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing campaign, and returns its top three scorers — seniors Prentiss Hubb (14.6 PPG), Nate Laszewski (13.3 PPG) & Dane Goodwin (11.8 PPG).</p>
<p id="1B5JoV">Despite the team’s overall struggles, the Irish finished last season 25th nationally in free throw percentage (77.3%) and 46th in 3-point shooting (36.8%). Notre Dame is a veteran team and won’t be daunted by this early-season road test.</p>
<p id="2UvWfp"><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com"><strong>Arizona Wildcats</strong></a><strong> (17-9; 11-9 Pac-12)</strong></p>
<p id="Jr4f3P">‘Zona visits Champaign Dec. 11 to complete the home-and-home series that was postponed due to COVID-19 last season. The Illinois lost in Tucson, 90-69, in 2019. Sean Miller is gone, and longtime Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd has taken over as the Wildcats’ head man. </p>
<p id="c1NUuE">Arizona was incredibly active in the transfer portal, landing guards Justin Kier (Georgia) & Pelle Larsson (Utah), wing Kim Aiken Jr. (Eastern Washington), and center Oumar Ballo (Gonzaga). Ballo joins a Wildcat frontcourt already featuring 7-foot-1 Christian Koloko and 6-foot-11 Azuolas Tubelis. Illinois’ bigs ought to be challenged once again. </p>
<p id="qqDpXq">Arizona is looking to regain its status as a college hoops powerhouse after several down seasons, and Illini fans will relish every opportunity to knock the Wildcats down. </p>
<p id="H8NPBP"><strong>St. Francis (PA) Red Flash (6-16; 5-13 Northeast)</strong></p>
<p id="sOoe60">After netting 75 victories over the previous four seasons, the Red Flash stumbled in 2020-21. Rob Krimmel enters his 10th season as head coach of his alma mater.</p>
<p id="sbn1gp">Redshirt senior guard Ramiir Dixon-Conover led St. Francis in scoring (15.5 PPG), assists (4.4 APG), and steals (1.9 SPG) last season — he also played JUCO ball in my wife’s hometown of Burlington, Iowa, so there’s that.</p>
<p id="pRJhHp">The Red Flash are projected to finish eighth in the NEC, and enter the season ranked 244th in KenPom.</p>
<p id="4HoxXg"><a href="https://www.rockmnation.com"><strong>Missouri Tigers</strong></a><strong> (16-10; 8-8 SEC)</strong></p>
<p id="DubZla">Braggin’ Rights returns to its usual St. Louis locale after Mizzou hosted last year’s tilt. The Illini have lost three straight in the rivalry following a five-game win streak. </p>
<p id="3GqHUH">Lots of new faces join the mix for the Tigers in 2021. The Smiths — Dru, Mitchell & Mark — have departed Columbia, as have Parker Braun, Xavier Pinson and former Illini commit Jeremiah Tilmon. Another John Groce Illinois recruit, guard Javon Pickett, should see an uptick in usage after serving primarily as a sixth man last year. 6-foot-8 forward Kobe Brown is Mizzou’s lone returning starter, and Cuonzo Martin reeled in several key transfers to replace that production — forward Ronnie DeGray III (UMass), guard DaJuan Gordon (Kansas State), guard Jarron Coleman (Ball State), and combo guard Amari Davis, who averaged 17.1 PPG for Green Bay last season.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Green Bay at Wisconsin" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vHap3mbZWZMW4UV_zY7BnxW28nE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22962211/usa_today_15255410.jpg">
<cite>Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Amari Davis (#1) scored 955 points in two seasons with Green Bay before transferring to Missouri.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="t097Jv">Regardless of record, Braggin’ Rights is always circled on the calendar. Illinois and Missouri have a storied history and is a real rivalry, one we don’t see often nowadays with non-conference opponents. These two fanbases just plain don’t like each other. </p>
<p id="9mrzN3">Please, please, beat Miznoz.</p>
<p id="9sltDG"><strong>Florida A&M Rattlers (8-12; 7-5 MEAC)</strong></p>
<p id="cFgBsy">FAMU visits State Farm Center Dec. 29 for the dreaded holiday break non-conference home game. </p>
<p id="WZWy1q">Top scorer MJ Randolph (15.9 PPG) returns for his senior season. The 6-foot-4 guard also led FAMU in assists (3.9 APG) and was second on the team in rebounds per game (6.6). Champaign native Kamron Reaves averaged 7.6 PPG for the Rattlers. Defensively, FAMU only allowed 68.5 PPG last year and was stingy on the perimeter, holding opponents to 28.5% three-point shooting (120-of-421). They’ll need that kind of spirited defensive effort to try to combat Illinois’ fast-paced offense.</p>
<p id="iL7PAt">This game typically has the lowest energy level of any game on the schedule, but these Illini are built different and shouldn’t have to worry about a Florida Atlantic-type slip-up. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HpTyyy">
<p id="UeX5Ba">All in all, this is a perfectly fine non-conference slate. Illinois will have a fair number of tests but plenty of opportunities for comfortable wins. Most power-conference programs face similar opposition in their non-league schedule. The Fighting Illini will be favored to win most — if not all — of these contests and ought to be suitably prepared for March Madness.</p>
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https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2021/10/28/22699791/illinois-basketball-schedule-preview-the-non-conference-marquette-golden-eagles-arizona-wildcatsDrew Pastorek