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Illinois Basketball: Illini Players Improving or Declining this Season?

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 3, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) drives to the basket as Maryland Terrapins forward Robert Carter (4) defends during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Malcolm Hill (21) drives to the basket as Maryland Terrapins forward Robert Carter (4) defends during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) battles for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard/forward Kameron Chatman (3) during the second half in the second round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) battles for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard/forward Kameron Chatman (3) during the second half in the second round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Leron Black (Improved)

It is hard to tell if Leron Black has improved over last season because he was injured.  But, I can kind of tell if he has or hasn’t.

This season Black is averaging 20.9 MPG and last season he only was at 12.9 MPG.  That is a big jump so I expect a big jump in stats as well.

In that minute’s boost, Black has increased his scoring from 3.9 PPG to 9.5 PPG.  That is a massive gap between this year and last year.

Black has also improved his rebounds from 3.9 RPG to 6.7 RPG this season.  That has helped this team tremendously.

The one area I wanted to see improve but hasn’t is the fouls.  He averaged 2.9 FPG last season and that has now increased to 3.1 FPG.

Black needs to stay on the court to be valuable.

I do like how Black has improved his shooting from 41.7-percent last season to 47.9-percent this season.  That is a huge jump and he is also shooting from the outside more often.

Black’s free throw shooting has improved as well.  He was only at 50-percent last season and now he is at 78.6-percent this season.

I think Black is the best looking NBA prospect on this team.  He can shoot and he is tough inside the paint.  I think he also improved from last season as well.

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