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Illinois Basketball: Remembering the careers of the Illini seniors

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 11, 2017; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tracy Abrams (13) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Lamar Stevens (11) compete for a loose ball during the second half at State Farm Center. Penn State beat Illinois 83 to 70. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tracy Abrams (13) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Lamar Stevens (11) compete for a loose ball during the second half at State Farm Center. Penn State beat Illinois 83 to 70. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) tips off against Virginia Commonwealth Rams guard Jordan Burgess (20) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Mike Thorne Jr. (33) tips off against Virginia Commonwealth Rams guard Jordan Burgess (20) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Thorne Jr.

After the 2014-15 season, the Illinois basketball team was looking to get back to the NCAA tournament after missing it two years prior. To help get them there they received a graduate transfer named Mike Thorne Jr.

Thorne came from Charlotte where he averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He was going to be the missing piece in the middle that would boost the Illini past the bubble.

Seven games into the season, Thorne went down with a bad injury and he ended up being a case of what could have been. He played 16 minutes the rest of the season and was able to get a medical redshirt.

That season was terrible for the Illini but it could have been better if Thorne was healthy. When he went down with that injury he was averaging 12.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He could have been a game changer.

But, this past season, Thorne came back healthy but wasn’t the same player. He couldn’t move as well and he only ended up averaging 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

I will always remember Thorne for those seven games he played two years ago. He was so good in those games but the injury bug got to him. He could have been a really good player for the Illini and I appreciated the time I did get to see him on the court.

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