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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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Illinois Basketball
Nov 25, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard CJ Walker (2) shoots the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) defends during the second half of the consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Barclays Center. Florida State won, 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Thorne Jr. (Declined)

Last season Illinois fans only had a brief view of center Mike Thorne Jr.  Despite only seeing him for a brief period of time, we could all see he was going to be good.

But, after coming back from that injury last season, Thorne has not looked the same.

Last season Thorne was averaging 21.4 MPG and now he is down to 14.7 MPG.  That is understandable with the injury he dealt with.

Thorne was averaging 12.9 PPG last season before the injury as well.  Now he is only averaging 5.9 PPG this season.  He isn’t as productive this year and it looks like it is hard for him to move.

The rebounds are down as well.  Thorne was averaging 8.5 RPG last season and now he is down to 3.9 RPG.

When Thorne is on the court he is shooting more efficiently, though.  He improved his shooting from 47.3-percent last season to 56.8-percent this season.

Next: 3 Observations From the Michigan Loss

I wanted to see what a fully healthy Thorne could bring to the table but it looks like we won’t get to see that in Champaign.  I would say he has declined from last season.

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