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Illinois Basketball: Greg Eboigbodin is an upgrade for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 06: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) and Michigan Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers (4) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan Wolverines on January 6, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Illinois 79-69.(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 06: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) and Michigan Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers (4) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan Wolverines on January 6, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Illinois 79-69.(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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One of the main issues for the Illinois basketball team this season has been the lack of a big man presence in the paint.

To start the year, the projected big men were Leron Black and Michael Finke. Black was coming off a disappointing season that saw him average 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. But, many people knew what type of potential he had on the basketball court. He has shown that potential this season. He is now averaging 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Finke was the big question mark. I believed he had a chance to be a good option at the No. 5, but he hasn’t developed the way I had hoped. Illinois has found a possible replacement for Finke in the starting lineup, though.

True freshman Greg Eboigbodin has emerged as a serious option to take over the starting role at the No. 5 spot. He has only started to receive more minutes the last three games and has started to prove he has the ability to take over for the Illini.

Eboigbodin has averaged 18.6 minutes in the last three games and in that time, he has averaged 9 points and 4.3 rebounds. If he was receiving the average amount of minutes per game Finke is – 26.4 MPG – Eboigbodin would be averaging 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. These are good stats and we need this in the paint.

So, when you compare what Finke is averaging – 26.4 MPG, 10.3 PPG and 5.3 RPG – to what Eboigbodin is averaging, clearly Spicy G is an upgrade for the Illini. On paper, he is clearly a better option for this Illinois basketball program.

When you watch the Illini games, it is also clear Eboigbodin is a better option as well. He understands the flow of the game. When he runs the pick-and-roll, it gets me thinking about legends like John Stockton and Karl Malone. Illinois runs this play so beautifully when he is on the court.

I also like Eboigbodin’s touch around the rim. When he gets the ball down low, he can get it in the hoop because of his instincts and aggressive style in the paint.

Next: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Iowa

If Eboigbodin continues to improve on the track he is on now, then I think the Illini have found a suitable option at the No. 5. He has done some great things so far and now I want him to see him start the rest of the season.

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