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

By Rees Woodcock

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)
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) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Michael Finke

Expectation: Did Not Hit

This one was a tough decision but I put the expectations of Michael Finke as did not hit. Honestly, Finke didn’t have a terrible season offensively. He was about where he was the previous season. But, the defense was the issue with him.

Finke had to cover the opposing team’s No. 5 the entire year and this was a challenge for him. He doesn’t have the reaction speed to go up against some of the best big men in the Big Ten and this killed the Illini on defense. Teams would run screens and backdoors and Finke wouldn’t be able to stop them. He also had issues with rebounding as well. He only had two games this past season where he hit the 10-rebound mark.

My expectation wasn’t much different on the offensive end than what his stats show. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. That is about right for him on the offensive end. His three-point percentage was down, though. But, what really disappointed me was his defense.

Next: Grading the first Illini season under Brad Underwood

Finke failed to meet my expectations on the defensive end and that is why I have him as did not hit. I really like him as a player, and I hope he sticks around next season. There is a place for him on this Illini team.

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