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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 15: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is yelling at Illinois guard Trent Frazier (1) for a foul during the first half of a college basketball game Monday, January 15th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 64 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 15: Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is yelling at Illinois guard Trent Frazier (1) for a foul during the first half of a college basketball game Monday, January 15th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 64 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) boxes out Rutgers Scarlet Knights Forward Matt Bullock (13) as Rutgers Scarlet Knights Guard Geo Baker (0) shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) boxes out Rutgers Scarlet Knights Forward Matt Bullock (13) as Rutgers Scarlet Knights Guard Geo Baker (0) shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. I can’t wait to see who is available in the grad transfer market

I know that I put this slide in every takeaway article that I do, but I can’t tell you how much it rings true. Illinois is in desperate need of a big man who can score the ball.

The No. 5 spot for the Illini is a complete train wreck right now. On Sunday night against Penn State, Illinois had to trot out true freshman Greg Eboigbodin to start at the No. 5 spot. He is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound big man who Illinois picked up late in the class of 2017.

I think Eboigbodin could develop into a nice piece for the Illini. He has a great knack for rebounding but is still extremely raw. But, if you are an Illinois fan and wonder why we aren’t winning more games, just look at the talent we have on the floor. Eboigbodin, while I like him for the future, is only a three-star recruit who was the No. 510 player in the class of 2017. A majority of the time when you start a player rated that low, you will get results that are not fitting what you want.

Eboigbodin only started this game against Penn State because Michael Finke was out with a concussion, though. I hope Finke gets better soon. I never want anyone to be injured. But, he is also not the answer to our No. 5 problems either.

Sadly, those are our only two options for next season right now. That means Illinois is going to need to pick off a talented grad transfer here in the next few months. Getting a solid No. 5 is paramount for 2018. Honestly, the season will likely hinge on whether the Illini can get one or not.

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