Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular

Feb 24, 2025

This was a crazy week, and alarms are going off for the Illini Men’s Basketball team:

• The Illini were annihilated by the Duke Blue Devils in a game that looked like a practice scrimmage more than a game. And the game looked more like a JV vs Varsity scrimmage at that.
• The Illini have been out-scored decisively since the 2^nd half of the Michigan State game.
  • 2^nd half Michigan State, Illini outscored 42-24
  • 1^st half Wisconsin, Illini outscored 47-41
  • 2^nd half Wisconsin, Illini outscored 48-33
  • 1^st half Duke, Illini outscored 54-37
  • 2^nd half Duke, Illini outscored 56-30
• Last 5 halves, the Illini have been outscored 247-165.
• What has happened to the Illini men’s basketball team

Let’s take a deeper dive into that subject…

Heat Check #1 – Injuries & Illness are Legitimate Issues

The Illini have not been “right” since Jakucionis hurt his left forearm. He had 2 single digit games before this injury and has had 4 since the injury. He has not hit his stride since the injury. And the team hasn’t done as well, either.

Then, Ivišić came down with mono, sprained an ankle, and dealt with the flu. Other players have had the flu as well – Riley, White, Gibbs Lawhorn. To top it off, Morez Johnson has a fractured wrist.

Injuries and illness happen to all teams, but this team has had a deluge in a very short period. And they don’t have that one alpha player that can overcome in big moments by sheer force of will. Terrence Shannon, Jr. is missed greatly.

Heat Check #2 – Deeper Issues – Roster Building – Roster Losses/ Lack Continuity

The Illini lost the following players from last year’s team to the transfer portal:

• Coleman Hawkins – Kansas State – 10.7 pts / 6.7 reb / 4.36 assists
• Dain Dainja – Memphis – 12.4 pts / 6.4 reb / 1.8 assists
• Luke Goode – Indiana – 9.0 pts / 3.0 reb / .400 from 3-pt
• Amani Hansberry – WVU – 9.9 pts / 6.4 reb / 1.5 assist
• Sencire Harris – WVU – 5.8 pts / 4.3 reb / 1.6 assist
• Niccolo Moretti - FAU – 7.3 pts / 3.7 assist / 2.5 reb
• Ty Rodgers – redshirt

That is a lot of talent that walked out of the door. Talent with the experience of playing on an Elite Eight team. It’s no surprise why these players were in high demand, even if they were just role players, Elite Eight experience is a huge asset for their next team.

When guys leave, they take with them the culture of the Illini team, a clear understanding of Underwood’s expectations for both offense and defense - and the toughness they learned from upperclassmen who took the time to mentor them.

Players have the freedom to leave. No one is saying Transfer Portal is easy to deal with. At the same time, players are not disposable. Continuity is important. Finding a way to keep key players in an Illini uniform instead of transferring is a huge opportunity to contribute to getting old and staying old.

Heat Check #3 – Illini Portal Gains Not as Productive as Hoped

With the exodus of players from last year’s Elite Eight team, the Illini were forced to dive deeply into the Transfer Portal. This also meant the Illini coaching staff had to “hit” on transfers at a high rate, they need players and players who can be productive from day one. In the portal, like in the NBA Draft, it’s nearly impossible to always be right on evaluating every player.

• Ben Humrichous has been forced into a starting role, when a more limited role would be a better fit for him.
• Kylan Boswell has been a force on defense but has struggled to replicate his former 3-point shooting performance.
• Tre White has been up and down. He’s over 20-point games and he’s had games he was a “did not play, coach’s decision” statistic as well.
• Jake Davis has played above the level he was expected but he is a role player at this point in his career.
• Carey Booth has struggled to contribute at a level even close to what he accomplished at Notre Dame.

There is little room for error in the Transfer Portal, especially when replacing the vast majority of an Elite Eight team. The Illini haven’t done poorly, but not nearly as well as they did with this year’s signees – Jakucionis, Ivišić, Johnson, Jr., and Riley. That was an amazing Illini recruiting class. Coupling that class with a similar style Transfer Portal class would’ve been amazing – and incredibly expensive. Budgets matter, too.

Heat Check #4 – Illini Haven’t Adapted Yet to Defensive Changes

Teams appear to have scouted the Illini and figured out how to beat the Fighting Illini. We are seeing teams throw 2 defenders at Jakucionis and he has little help to deal with that wrinkle. This is shocking because this is the same Brad Underwood that revised and revamped the Illini offense just last year to take advantage of Domask’s ability to back down defenders and either score or hit the open man. A revamp seems in order now.

The Illini offense is stuck shooting more 3-point shots than all but 6 division one basketball teams. In terms of the percentage of 3-point shots made the Illini are 332^nd out of 355 teams. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out a way to run the offense the way it operated during the Indiana game. Find a way to shoot fewer and easier threes. It shouldn’t be this hard.

Heat Check #5 – Next Steps

The Illini must beat Iowa on Tuesday night. To lose would mean that the Illini could end up missing the tourney. That’s an amazing journey – from a #2 or #3 projected seed around the new year to bubble team six weeks later. It’s time for the Illini to figure things out. If NC State could do it last year, the Illini have a chance to do so as well!

Video Podcast

What is Wrong with the Illini Men’s Basketball Team?

Audio Podcast

What is Wrong with the Illini Men’s Basketball Team?