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Illinois Basketball: 5 changes since John Groce was fired

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders run on the court before a basketball game against the Missouri Tigers at Scottrade Center. Illinois won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders run on the court before a basketball game against the Missouri Tigers at Scottrade Center. Illinois won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Two basketballs are stuck in the net during warmups before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Louisville Cardinals at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 77-70. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Jeremiah Tilmon release

After Groce was fired the big question still loomed large over the Illini fanbase. Who will back out of their commitment to the program now that the man who recruited them is gone?

Well, it took a while for anything to happen. But, one by one each player re-committed to their National Letter of Intent that they signed to come to Illinois.

Then, about a week ago, Jeremiah Tilmon announced that he was going to ask for a release from his NLI. Despite retweeting his original commitment tweet, he wanted to reopen his recruitment to see the other options.

Tilmon’s decommitment was understandable. Groce was the coach that he committed to in the first place and he is now the head coach of the Akron Zips. Having him no longer with the program will hurt the center position for the time being, though.

Illinois now only has one player listed over 6-foot-7 and that is 6-foot-10 Michael Finke. The Illini are now left looking for answers to fill the lane so they don’t get shredded inside.

It was sad to see Tilmon leave the program, but it always felt like he needed a reason to ask for his release and he got that with Groce leaving.

The Illini fanbase reacted well to the news of Tilmon decommitting because many expected it. I am interested in seeing where he ends up, though.

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