Illinois Basketball: The Dark Era at Point Guard Is Over
The Illinois basketball team ran into a big problem over the last two years of playing.
That problem took affect about September 11, 2014. What is this problem you ask?
On that fateful day, it was announced that Illinois point guard Tracy Abrams would miss the 2014-15 season with a torn ACL.
When this painful news was announced, I didn’t think too much of it at the time. I thought that it was sad but he is strong and will be back the following season.
Well, I was wrong in this assessment because the following year Illinois fans received some similar news.
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This time, the announcement came on July 28, 2015, and it was for a torn Achilles. This put Abrams out for the second season in a row.
After seeing the point guard mess that Illinois went through the first season without Abrams, this second injury really hurt as a fan.
Of course, as a fan, my interests are for the team winning but as a human being, I was hoping nothing but the best for Abrams and his recovery.
But, all Illini fans had to endure another season without a point guard who could help lead the team to the postseason.
This should be coming to an end for the 2016-17 season, though. Abrams is back, once again, after being granted a sixth year of eligibility.
In addition to Abrams being back and healthy, he has a great running mate in freshman point guard Te’Jon Lucas.
Before all of the injury matters with Abrams, he shined on the basketball court. He averaged 10.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.2 APG. His production was exactly what the Illini needed.
The running mate that was teamed up with Abrams was Jaylon Tate. He didn’t contribute too much to that team but they both still combined for 12.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG.
These are okay stats for a combine duo at the point guard position. I want to see better, though.
In the last two seasons of production, Illinois has suffered without Abrams.
In the 2014-15 season, the first without Abrams, the Illini point guards were Ahmad Starks and Tate. They combined for 11.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 5.1 APG.
Both Starks and Tate really weren’t true point guards.
Starks was more of a shooter who just happened to be smaller so he played point guard. Tate just doesn’t have the tools to be a big-time point guard either.
So, the production dropped because there wasn’t a good point guard to boost up the numbers.
Last season the Illinois point guard situation continued to plummet. This season was a combination of Khalid Lewis and Tate, again.
I have rehashed Tate’s inability to really be an impact player in the Big Ten. I don’t know if that is his fault, coaching, or a little bit of both.
Lewis was an okay point guard but it always seemed like the game was too fast for him. He was a transfer from a mid-major program.
With these two at the helm, Illinois averaged 5.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 5.6 APG at the point guard position.
These stats for one point guard are below average let alone having two point guards combine for these numbers.
But, the dark era of Illinois point guards is over.
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Abrams is returning this season and I am expecting him to do well. Should I expect the same production out of him from three years ago?
No, and I am not expecting Abrams to put up those numbers. I am expecting roughly 6 PPG, 2 RPG, and 4 APG.
The key to the point guard situation being fixed is Lucas. He is the one who is going to put the Illini over the hump.
Illinois hasn’t had a capable backup point guard and that kills the team when the starter wants some rest. And with Abrams coming off two injuries I am expecting a timeshare with Lucas.
With there probably being a timeshare, I expect Abrams and Lucas to get the same minutes. This seems like the most logical thing to do.
Lucas will get roughly the same minutes as Abrams, therefore I am expecting similar numbers as well.
I see Lucas putting up 7 PPG, 2 RPG, and 4 APG. I think these are modest numbers for a point guard who has lit it up on the basketball court at times.
Next: Potential Starting Lineup for 2017
Hold on to your seats Illini fans. This is the start of a new era of Illinois basketball and it all begins with the point guard position.