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Illinois Basketball: Roles of the five returning Illini players

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Kipper Nichols #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at State Farm Center on January 30, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Kipper Nichols #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at State Farm Center on January 30, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/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) /

5. Greg Eboigbodin

Honestly, with the way the roster is playing out right now, the No. 5 spot on the team is completely up for grabs. Anyone who says they know who will start at the No. 5 is lying. I believe no one knows who will be at this position and that includes the coaching staff.

I believe the starter for the 2018-2019 season at the No. 5 spot will be Greg Eboigbodin. He is going to be an important piece to this Illini team this upcoming campaign. Without him playing well in the paint, the Illini are going to have to out-shoot the opponent. But, if he plays well, Illinois is going to be a tough defensive team and they will have a functional player underneath the hoop.

Last season, there were times Eboigbodin would do some great things. He showed how athletic he was on the floor, and how special he could be in short spurts. But, there just wasn’t sustainability with his game. He would foul so often, and this would kill the team. He ended up averaging 10.6 minutes per game and in that time dropped 2.2 points and pull down 2.4 rebounds. He also averaged 2.1 fouls per game as well. This number needs to stay the same as he continues to get an increase in minutes. I don’t want to see that number rise.

This upcoming season, I see Eboigbodin being the man at the No. 5 spot. Some people say Samba Kane is going to start, but I think he is extremely raw still and has some work to do to get to starting caliber. He might eventually take the starting role, but I think Eboigbodin will at least start the season at the No. 5. He will see an increase in minutes to around 20 minutes per game and this will increase his production to, hopefully, around 6 points and 6 rebounds.

Next: Where the Illini stand with in-state recruits for 2019

Illinois needs Eboigbodin to become a legit player in the Big Ten. He showed signs of this last season, but now we need him to be more consistent and be a big-time player game in and game out.

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