Illinois Basketball: Backup center for the Illini enters the transfer portal

Illinois basketball just lost another member of the program to the transfer portal.

Just days ago, the Illini took a blow as freshmen sensation Jayden Epps decided to quit the team and enter the transfer portal. This transfer hurts because the freshman had so much potential and could have been the leader this upcoming season.

Epps wasn’t going to be the only player to hit the transfer portal, though. There was always going to be at least one more player leaving the team.

On Thursday morning, Illini big man Brandon Lieb took to Instagram to announce that he is entering his name into the transfer portal. An era is over for Illinois, as Lieb will no longer be with the program.

Brandon Lieb entering the transfer portal opens a spot for the Illinois basketball team to land a big fish

I don’t like seeing players enter the transfer portal. I wanted the crew to stay together, but that mentality and thinking is very 2010. We are in 2023, and college basketball has, essentially, free agency.

Illinois is losing a player in Lieb who has great height, and he was someone who could come in and give us a few minutes here and there. He averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds this past season, and Lieb will now take his talents to another program.

I had projected Lieb as the primary backup to Dain Dainja at the No. 5 spot this upcoming season. I didn’t think he was going to get too many minutes, but Lieb was an experienced backup. Now that experience is gone.

But let me spin this in a different direction. Lieb departing now opens up a spot in the frontcourt that could be filled by someone who is going to give Illinois more on the court.

The main player I am eyeing is Kel’el Ware. He is a 7-foot big man who can play anywhere on the court. He is also a solid defender.

Ware entered his name into the transfer portal just days ago, and Illinois has already been in contact with him. The former top-10 recruit from the class of 2022 is wanted by everyone, but if the Illini can guarantee him a starting job, then that has to be enticing.

I wish Lieb nothing but the best moving forward. This could be a great opportunity for Illinois to build out the frontcourt and get better as a team, though.