Illinois Basketball: Preview of games 11-15 for the Illini
By Eric Bruce
New Mexico State Aggies
Next up the Illini travel back to Champaign to host a very tough New Mexico State team as Illinois enters the final half of December against stiff competition. Last year, the Aggies were an impressive 28-6 and 11-3 in conference play. And as the pre-season No. 2 in the Western Athletic Conference, they look to repeat last year’s success that saw them in the NCAA tournament.
The Aggies are led by guard Zach Lofton, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound grad transfer from Texas Southern (an NCAA Tournament team last year). Lofton is averaging 19 points per game, including 43-percent from beyond the arc. He is joined in the backcourt by AJ Harris, a transfer from Ohio State. Harris is averaging almost 11 points per game. The starting guard core is rounded out by Sidy N’dir, a 6-foot-2 redshirt junior guard from France. N’dir is averaging just over 9 points per game
The frontcourt is also strong featuring Lindy’s first team all-conference forward Eli Chuha. Chuha is 6-foot-8, 215-pounds. He is averaging about 10 points and 5 rebounds per game. According to Lindy’s, Chuha is the Western Athletic Conference’s best NBA prospect. He is joined by an equally impressive forward, 6-foot-5, 200-pound Jemmirio Jones. Jones is averaging almost 11 points per game, but that is not his most impressive stat. Jones is grabbing almost 12 rebounds per game. That’s good for No. 6 in NCAA DI.
In short, this is a very good team from a decent mid-major conference. The Illini will need to bring their A game or risk allowing the Aggies a road win against a power five conference team.