Illinois Basketball: Which Illini players hit expectations in 2017-2018

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

11 of 12

EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Mark Alstork /

Mark Alstork

Expectation: Did Not Hit

Illinois needed some guard help entering last season, and I thought they were getting that with Mark Alstork. This kid came into the program as a highly touted graduate transfer.

Alstork put up 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his final season at Wright State. He was tremendous for that program shooting 40-percent from the field and 38.7-percent from the three-point arc. But, Illinois didn’t get that player last season.

I was disappointed with how Alstork played for Illinois. I think he is a talented player who just had a bad year. It might have had something to do with the system and him not being used to it, but Illinois didn’t get the same talent that Wright State had.

Alstork finished the season averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. His defense was solid but I wanted a lot more out of his offense. I had expectations of somewhere around 10 points per game at least. He only hit the 10-point mark five times this past season, though.

I think Alstork is a good player who just had a bad year, but he did not hit the expectations I had set for him to begin the season.

Home/Illinois Basketball