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Illinois Basketball: What is next after Illini miss on Parker Braun?

By Rees Woodcock

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team lost out on another recruit on Thursday morning.

Gabe DeArmond of PowerMissou.com reported that Parker Braun has decided to pick Missouri over teams like Arizona, LSU, Ole Miss and the Illini. He will enter the Tigers program as a preferred walk-on. This is a nice pickup for the Tigers, but what does this mean for Illinois?

I think Braun has a chance to be a solid player, but Illinois really needs someone for this upcoming season who can step in and contribute big minutes right away. I don’t think that was Braun. I wish the kid nothing but the best, but I don’t think he would be an upgrade over what we have right now and what is coming in from the class of 2018.

Illinois’ big man situation is sketchy, at best. I still see Greg Eboigbodin being the man to beat for the No. 5 spot on the starting roster. I think Brad Underwood could go one of two ways with the No. 4 spot. He could go smaller with Kipper Nichols, who had a great sophomore campaign but only stands at 6-foot-6. Or, he could move Eboigbodin over to the No. 4 spot and then have incoming freshman Samba Kane start at the No. 5 spot. Kane is a 6-foot-10, raw, center.

The Illini also have two scholarships open for 2018 as well. These two scholarships were probably supposed to be filled by now, but they could potentially nab a graduate transfer or two. There are players who are becoming graduate transfers every day and the Illini might be in on a few of those players.

Even if they aren’t, I am willing to ride or die with what we have on the roster right now. I know that doesn’t sound optimal, but I think we can compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament with the talent we have. And, you can just roll those two scholarships over to 2019 which would make a total of three for the Illini.

2019 is a huge class for Underwood. There are a lot of talented players coming out that year led by my favorite superstar, Kahlil Whitney. This kid is going to be a great player in the college game, and I want him in the Orange and Blue.

Next: 5 areas of improvement for the Illini

I know, missing on another player stings because there have been so many. While I hope nothing but the best for Braun, I don’t think this was a huge miss by any means. Illinois can move on from this one. They will compete next year regardless of what else they pick up for 2018.

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