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Illinois Basketball: Minutes breakdown for Illini forwards

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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Illinois basketball
Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) shoots the ball as Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) defends in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Leron Black

Heading into the start of the 2017 season, the Illini needed a big man, like previously mentioned. Eboigbodin will help this issue, but he won’t be the starting No. 5 man on the team.

Look for Leron Black to still get the nod as the starting “center” this season for the Illini. He was tremendous last season in the 20.2 minutes per game he received. In that time, he averaged 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds as well.

Black also started to develop his three-point shot. He started hitting shots from downtown toward the end of the year and don’t be surprised if he uses that ability again this year at times as well.

You should fully expect Black take the next step in becoming a great Illini basketball player. He has the physical gifts to be special and his basketball skills have developed as well. If I had to bet, I would say Black ends up averaging a double-double this upcoming season.

To get to that double-double mark, Black will need to see more minutes on the floor. He averaged 2.9 fouls per game last season and that will need to be reduced. His minutes will need to increase as well. He will likely see around 26 minutes per game for the Illini. Look for him to turn into a Draymond Green type of player.

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