Illinois Basketball: Top 5 most important players for the Illini

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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) /

5. Kipper Nichols

There are a lot of important players on this Illinois basketball team. Frankly, I think they are all important, but there are a handful of players who have to step up or this team will not succeed next season. The final player on this list is Kipper Nichols.

Nichols is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound wing player who really stepped up last season and showed that he could be a Big Ten caliber starter for the Illini. He ended up averaging 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the 19 minutes of action. He was a tremendous free throw shooter at 86.2-percent, and he also started to develop a three-point shot.

This season is going to be slightly different for Nichols. Illinois had Leron Black depart for the NBA leaving a massive hole at the No. 4 spot for the Illini. This spot needs to be filled, and I think Nichols could see time there and potentially start in place of Black.

I want to see Nichols in this spot, and I think he would be great there. At times he would struggle, but that will happen when you have a smaller lineup. I also think he would give trouble to defenses, though. He is super athletic and can run the court. He is a really good player who I think could change the game.

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Nichols is going to be huge this season. Illinois lost some size but they might be able to make up for that with athleticism.

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