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Illinois Basketball: 4 options to replace Jeremiah Tilmon

By Rees Woodcock

Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts and breaks a clipboard against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts and breaks a clipboard against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2017; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Jonathan Laurent (4) and Michigan Wolverines forward Mark Donnal (34) battle for a rebound during the first half at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Jonathan Laurent (4) and Michigan Wolverines forward Mark Donnal (34) battle for a rebound during the first half at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Option 3: Mark Donnal

Like previously mentioned in Option 1, Illinois doesn’t have much size on the team right now and they need someone for the 2017 season.

Getting a player like Mark Donnal would help the Illini until they can find someone in the class of 2018 to come in and be the starting center for this program.

Donnal is a familiar name to most Illini fans because he was on the Michigan teams that beat us over the last three years. He decided to pursue a graduate transfer this season and has a full release from Michigan. That means he can go anywhere including Illinois.

Illinois could use a guy like Donnal to start in the middle of the paint. He is 6-foot-9, 240-pounds and could be a key piece for the Illini to make a solid run into the tournament.

Donnal didn’t get a ton of playing time this past season due to players starting in front of him, but he is clearly a solid player. He averaged 3.9 points and 2 rebounds per game for the Wolverines last season.

The fact that Donnal can play right away makes him a huge asset for the Illini. If Underwood can get him then we should be okay for 2017.

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