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Illinois Basketball: 5 areas of improvement for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Head coach Brad Underwood 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: Head coach Brad Underwood 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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ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 06: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) battles for position against Michigan Wolverines forward Moritz Wagner (13) during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan Wolverines on January 6, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 06: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Greg Eboigbodin (11) battles for position against Michigan Wolverines forward Moritz Wagner (13) during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan Wolverines on January 6, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Rebounds

The least surprising area the Illinois basketball team needs to work on is their rebounding. I don’t know if this has so much to do with unskilled rebounders as it has to do with the size and youth issue.

Let’s just say, Illinois was one of the worst teams in the country in rebounding. Out of 351 teams, the Illini checked in at No. 285 in the nation. They averaged 32.8 rebounds per game as a team. This isn’t good, and I am not sure how much better it will get.

The reason I am questioning if their rebounding – or lack thereof – will get any better is that they lost their best rebounder from last season. Leron Black led the Illini in rebounding with 5.2 RPG. Following Black was Michael Finke at 4.6 RPG. Both of these players have departed the program. Black is testing the NBA waters and Finke took off for Grand Canyon to play one year with his brother.

Mark Smith was the worst rebounder on the team who averaged at least 10 minutes per game. He only was able to come down with 1.4 rebounds per game. Trent Frazier was next on the team with only 1.8 RPG. I don’t really fault Frazier for this, though. He is a perimeter player and that means he stays on the outside. If there is a long rebound he may be able to get it, but anything beyond that I doubt it.

Illinois needs Greg Eboigbodin and the other big men to step up this season too. Eboigbodin only averaged 2.4 RPG despite being one of the biggest players on the team. He is going to play a huge role this season as well. I look for Illinois’ rebounding to at least stay the same. They need to be able to pull down rebounds, so the opposing team doesn’t get second chances. Hopefully, some of the new additions can help in this department.

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