Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Illini Non-Conference Predictions

By Rees Woodcock

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach John Groce speaks with the media during Big Ten media day at the Marriott Washington Wardman Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach John Groce speaks with the media during Big Ten media day at the Marriott Washington Wardman Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Mar 9, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers center Bakary Konate (21) guards Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Illinois defeats Minnesota 85-52. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers center Bakary Konate (21) guards Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Illinois defeats Minnesota 85-52. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

VCU (W 79-67)

Illinois then heads down to Miami, Florida to play the VCU Rams in the Hoophall Miami Invitational.

This is a huge game considering the Rams were 25-11 last season and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

VCU might not be the same team as last year, though.  They lost leading scorer Melvin Johnson who averaged 17.4 PPG.  That is a lot of production to replace.

They also lost their third-leading scorer and one of their top three rebounders in Kory Billbury.

Billbury averaged 11.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG last season.  Those are nice stats for a starter and will be extremely hard to replace.

VCU does have a decent amount of talent still left, though.

Leading assister and second leading scorer, JeQuan Lewis, returns.  He averaged 11.3 PPG and 5 APG last season.

The Rams have enough firepower to keep this game close, but I don’t think they are deep enough.

Illinois and VCU are close heading into the second half, but the Illini end up pulling away at the end, 79-67.

IUPUI (W 88-62)

The following game is a nice breather for the Illini as they take on the IUPUI Jaguars at the State Farm Center.

This game should be a nice and easy contest with Illinois eventually winning by a lot.

IUPUI finished last season with a record of 13-19 overall and 4-15 on the road.  This bodes well for the Illini since they are playing in Champaign.

Although, the Cougars do return leading scorer Darell Combs this season.  He averaged 16.3 PPG last year.

In true Illinois fashion, this game will be close in the first 15 minutes of the first half.  But, to end the half and in the second half the Illini will take control and win easily 88-62.

Home/Illinois Basketball