2. It is time to make the move away from Ben Humrichous
I think back in the past to transfers Illinois has landed but never panned out. There have been a few of them before the transfer portal became a thing.
Alex Legion was supposed to be a really good get for the Illini. He was a top 40 recruit in the country and decided to bolt Kentucky after one season. Legion averaged 3.2 points with Illinois. The Illini secured a transfer in Western Michigan’s Darius Paul in 2013. He is the brother of Brandon Paul, and I thought that was going to be a great get. Paul was arrested and kicked off the team.
There is a list of disappointing transfers for one reason or another over the years. I believe Ben Humrichous is dangerously close to making that list.
I thought Humrichous was going to be one of the best additions in the transfer portal. Illinois had all of the pieces, and we just needed a shooter who could space the floor. Humrichous was that guy.
Humrichous dropped 14.7 points and shot 41.4% from three-point range with Evansville last season. This should be a smooth transition to the next level. That hasn’t been the case, though.
In his first 21 games with Illinois, Humrichous is averaging 8.5 points and shooting 34.7% from three-point range. That 34.7% is a bit of a mirage as well.
Since the start of December, Humrichous has had more sub-26% three-point shooting nights, seven, than he has had three-point shooting games of 34% or better, which amounts to four.
The thing with Humrichous isn’t that he is being guarded heavily or he has had to do everything on his own. He has had plenty of open looks, and nothing is going in. Humrichous was 0-of-7 from three-point range against Nebraska on Thursday night. He has had 0% three-point shooting nights in two out of the last three games as well.
It is time to go away from Humrichous in the starting lineup. Bring him off the bench and see if that shakes something loose. Get Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn in there with his shooting and energy. Illinois needs it in the worst way.