Illinois Basketball: Illini lose ace defender for the 2023-24 season

An up-and-coming Illinois basketball player will be missing the rest of the 2023-24 season.

The Illini went into Monday night looking to get an easy win over the Eastern Illinois Panthers. While the other in-state program put up a bit of a fight at times, the Orange and Blue managed to pull away and win the game 80-52.

Late in the contest, Illinois was able to get in some of the deep non-scholarship bench guys. A total of 13 players suited up for the Illini against the Panthers, but there was one notable player missing; Sencire Harris.

After the game, Brad Underwood talked to the media about Harris and his status. He mentioned that Harris is taking a redshirt this season, which was a choice of his own. Underwood talked a little more about where his head is at with Harris taking the redshirt.

"“He’s a really really good player, and I think one of the things he understands about his development is, he needs to get stronger, he needs to get bigger,” Underwood said, “and it’s come at a little slower pace for him, and I just think down the road, there is going to be instead of a 10-minute a game guy, there is going to be a 25-minute a game guy.”"

At the 8:12 mark of the postgame press conference, Underwood starts talking about the talented guard more in-depth.

What is Illinois basketball going to be missing with Sencire Harris taking a redshirt

It is a bit surprising on the surface to see Harris take a redshirt. After what I thought was a promising freshman campaign, Illinois could use his defense. Harris was one of the better defenders on the team, and he would have been a nice spark plug off the bench.

But, when I step back and think about this decision, I actually think it was a wise one. To be a college player and have the humbleness and forethought that Harris has is impressive. He knows what Illinois has on the roster this season, and it makes sense for him to continue to develop and save a year of eligibility.

Harris would play the No. 1 through No. 3 spot on the court. Look who Illinois has lined up at those positions, though. Terrence Shannon Jr., Ty Rodgers, and Marcus Domask are all starting, and they aren’t coming off that role for the team. Backing those guys up are Luke Goode, who is a junior, and now the emergence of Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, who had an incredible game.

There weren’t a ton of minutes for Harris to play in 2023-24. Would it be worth playing 5-8 minutes per game and wasting a year or it is smarter to save a year, develop the body, and come back in 2024-25 when Shannon and Domask have both departed? I believe Harris made the right call.

Illini fans got some bad news here but BetMGM is bringing the good news back with an instant $200 sign-up bonus! If you bet $10 or more on ANY game, you’ll INSTANTLY receive $200 in bonus bets win or lose. Sign up for BetMGM now!