Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Most productive Illini freshmen since 2000

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) takes the ball up the court during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Trent Frazier (1) takes the ball up the court during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
2005; Chicago, IL, USA; College Basketball. Illinois Roger Powell, celebration against Arizona during the Regional finals of the NCAA tournament in Chicago, Ill. on March 26, 2005. Illinois won 90-89 in overtime. (Photo by Sporting News/Sporting News via Getty Images)
2005; Chicago, IL, USA; College Basketball. Illinois Roger Powell, celebration against Arizona during the Regional finals of the NCAA tournament in Chicago, Ill. on March 26, 2005. Illinois won 90-89 in overtime. (Photo by Sporting News/Sporting News via Getty Images) /

2. Rebounds per minute (RPM)

If you look at the overall total numbers, the best rebounding freshman since 2000 would be James Augustine. He was the starting No. 5 for the Illini during their national title run. Will he be No. 1 on the list of rebounds per minute, though?

Augustine is actually not No.1. He comes in at the No. 4 spot with .267 rebounds per minute. But, his partner in crime, Roger Powell, does take the top spot. Powell was the most underrated of the starting five for the national title run in 2005. During his freshman season, he averaged .300 RPM.

No. 2 on the list came a few years later, and Illinois could really use him right now. Leron Black is the player coming in at No.2. He averaged .290 RPM his freshman season. Do the Illini have anyone in the top 10 on the team right now?

You don’t have to search far to find the first current Illini on the list. The No. 3 player on this list is Alan Griffin. That is right; guard Alan Griffin is averaging .270 RPM this season. He has pulled down 28 rebounds in his 104 minutes of action. That is a huge surprise.

Griffin is the only current Illini player in the top 10. Kipper Nichols is the next current player, and he is No. 15 on the list averaging .210 RPM during his freshman campaign.

There aren’t very many current Illinois players high on the list of the top freshman since 2000 when it comes to rebounds per minute. That fact reflects what is happening on the court. Illinois continues to get out-rebounded.

Home/Illinois Basketball