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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 Michael Finke (43) shoots the ball in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Finke

I’ll admit it, Michael Finke is one of my favorite Illinois basketball players. This kid has a chance to be a special player and I don’t care what anyone else says about him and, trust me, there are people who bash the kid.

During the first two seasons Finke has been with the program, I feel like he was used wrong. But, then again, I feel like a lot of decisions were wrong with the previous coaching regime. There is a new head coach in town, and Underwood is going to help Finke work on his game.

Last season, Finke averaged 19.8 minutes per game, which is pretty solid. He excelled at shooting becoming a deadly three-point presence. He even averaged 41.1-percent from the three-point line, which is also the same three-point shooting percentage as Steph Curry last season.

Expect Finke to be used around the same amount of minutes this upcoming season as well. He will fill in a lot for the No. 5 spot and I could see him getting some time with Black at the No. 4. The exciting part about Finke is in the Underwood system, he will get open looks from deep.

Underwood’s offense is fast paced and should get some easy buckets in transition. Look for Finke to be used kind of like Kevin Love was used for the Cleveland Cavaliers this year.

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