Here’s a link to all the previous articles in the series:
19. Indiana Hoosiers
22. Texas Longhorns
25. Miami Hurricanes
28. BYU Cougars
29. Maryland Terps
31. UCLA Bruins
32. Oregon Ducks
34. Florida Gators
35. Ole Miss
36. USC Trojans
39. Mississippi State Bulldogs
41. Memphis Tigers
42. McNeese Cowboys
45. VCU Rams
46. Dayton Flyers
47. St Mary’s Gaels
49. UCF Knights
52. Clemson Tigers
53. New Mexico Lobos
58. SMU Mustangs
60. Nevada Wolfpack
61. TCU Horned Frogs
63. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
65. Syracuse Orange
68. Iowa Hawkeyes
70. Butler Bulldogs
71. Princeton Tigers
74. Oklahoma Sooners
75. West Virginia Mountaineers
76. Georgia Bulldogs
77. UAB Blazers
80. Missouri Tigers
Welcome back to our 82 in 72 college basketball preview series! If you missed it yesterday, Cody had a great article diving into the Indiana Hoosiers heading into 2024-2025 and their history under Mike Woodson (awesome read here)…but today, we are looking at a Big Ten rival, the Illinois Fighting Illini and how they stack up heading into the 2024-2025 campaign…
Here is where our team had the Fighting Illini ranked heading into the season…
| Steven | Maxwell | Kam | Cody |
| 43 | 17 | 8 | 22 |
The Illini enter the 2024-2025 season losing nearly the entire roster from their previous campaign, namely Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon. While this can be a death sentence for some teams, Brad Underwood has proven more than capable when it comes to cultivating success after roster turnover(last season was quite impressive from Underwood given all the variables he dealt with…). While Underwood faces less certainty and more variables on the hardwood this season, Illinois is more than capable of replicating and potentially surpassing the heights of last year’s team…The vision begins with Kasparas Jakucionis…
In a similar ilk to Marcus Domask last season, Kasparas Jakucionis will look to make an immediate impact in year one for the Illini as a offensive hub who will be able to search for buckets across the floor while creating for others. Jakucionis is an experienced guard and hails from FC Barcelona, one of the top Spanish clubs in the world, and has experience playing on their senior team but mainly shined on their secondary team. Jakucionis has FIBA experience as well representing Lithuania in multiple international competitions, and brings a well rounded game whose roots stem from developing overseas…It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see a Kasparas Jakucionis triple double this season nor would it surprise me to see Jakucionis win Big Ten player of the year. The success of Illinois this season will begin with Kasparas Jakucionis and could end with the youth that Illinois will be gambling on this season, but there are individuals like myself who find a growing sense of optimism with the youth on this roster.
The Illini frontcourt will be anchored by Tomislav Ivisic, a true freshman and brother of Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivisic. Tomislav is more traditional of a big compared to his brother Zvonimir, Tomislav will bring a more physical presence down low and has a game that stretches to the three point arc. Tomislav won’t handle the ball like we see from his brother, but his post presence will be much more pronounced in the college game, especially the Big Ten and Ivisic should be one of the better bigs in the conference this season.
Alongside Ivisic in the frontcourt, we’ll likely see Ben Humrichous starting at the four spot. Humrichous transfers in by way of Evansville and was a versatile stretch big for Aces last season averaging just a hair under 15 points per game. Humrichous brings defensive experience to the frontcourt that will be valuable alongside the youth that joins Illinois this season in the frontcourt, specifically Morez Johnson and Carey Booth. Morez Johnson should see minutes for the Illini this season and will likely back up Humrichous while Booth backs up Ivisic to open the season. Johnson was the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball and his defensive skills and knack for collecting steals and blocks will enable Johnson to see minutes as a freshman. Carey Booth will have a more defined role to open the season after spending last season at Notre Dame. Booth started 19 games last season at Notre Dame but was inconsistent throughout the year. Booth should see his minutes continue to grow as the season progresses and is a candidate for a sophomore leap, something Brad Underwood wouldn’t mind at all…
Kylan Boswell will be the floor general and lead ball handler this season for coach Underwood and the Illini. Boswell is an assist and steal creating machine, a perfect guard for Illinois and the Big Ten…Boswell’s size and strength will be an advantage and Boswell’s scoring will also be called upon as this Illinois backcourt of Boswell and Jakucionis will be the battery for the offense both as scorers and creators…
The two lone returners for the Illini this season are probable starting wing Ty Rodgers and likely rotation guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. Rodgers, a favorite in Champaign, will lean even more into being the glue guy for this Illini team that is deprived of experience and leadership on the floor. Rodgers alongside the aforementioned starting backcourt is a really strong fit and a trio that has been growing on me leading up to tipoff.
Tre White, a transfer who has had stops at Louisville and before that Southern Cal, figures to be in the rotation for the Illini as well this season. White is a player who has a high motor and who plays with toughness and pure strength. White is exactly the player you want as a depth forward in the Big Ten.
The wildcard this season and the swing that the Illini will be hoping to knock out of the park is true freshman wing Will Riley. Riley was one of the more impressive high school players in last year’s cycle and caught my eye multiple times in EYBL competition. Riley’s scoring prowess, length and athleticism combine to give Riley an advantage on offense against virtually any opponent on the wing. Riley’s ability to create off the dribble and create shots from almost anywhere on the floor give Will Riley a chance to start and possibly be a first round pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Jake Davis, a transfer wing from Mercer who will stretch the floor and fit himself into the wing rotation for the Illini.
My feelings on Illinois have fluctuated throughout the preseason, I appeared on the One and Done podcast with Steven Bagel to talk about Illinois earlier in the month here. In that podcast, we had mixed feelings about the Illini but generally positive overall heading into 2024-2025. In a season where youth will be counted on greatly and veteran leadership will be a non-negotiable need, I think this Illinois team will be able to pay their bills. Kasparas Jakucionis has continued to impress me the more I dive into his film, Kylan Boswell is one of the best lead guards in the country heading into his junior year, and I love the young pieces on the wing and frontcourt, namely Will Riley and Ty Rodgers is there to glue it all together for Brad Underwood!
I’ll leave you with a little Illinois soliloquy I think to myself as I close this article(but a testament to Brad Underwood and this Illinois team)‘He’s done more with less, and less with more, but can this Illini team find more than four guys to score?’.
The Center Hub 
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