Illinois Basketball: The Present and Future at the Center Position
Mike Thorne Jr.
Before the 2015-16 season, the Illinois basketball team was looking for a starting center that they could have own the paint.
The received that center via the graduate transfer market in Mike Thorne Jr.
Thorne transferred in from the Charlotte 49ers and was an immediate impact on the team last season. But, like many things in Champaign recently, that good run came to an end.
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Just seven games into the season, Thorne went down with a torn meniscus in his left knee. He was having such a good game and Illinois was potentially on the verge up upsetting No. 4 Iowa State.
In the short time with the Illini, last season Thorne averaged 12.9 PPG and 8.5 RPG. He was a dominate force and that dominate force will be back again this season.
Thorne was granted the medical hardship waiver and will be returning for his 6th season. This is great news for the Illini.
The center position is stabilized once again for at least another year. It was a struggle without Thorne last season but now that he is back, that gives the Illini more weapons.
Illinois should be able to play a lot better of an inside-out game. They need to get the ball into Thorne and then let him go to the basket or potentially distribute it back out to a shooter for a three-pointer.
Next: Maverick Morgan