4. The development of Tre White is fun to watch
Brad Underwood had a great haul of talent in the offseason. When it is all said and done, this could end up being the greatest Illinois basketball squad in the history of the program.
Tre White was a part of those big additions in the offseason. Some people didn’t think he was going to start for the Illini, but he started his first two years in college, so why would he come to Illinois and not start? That wouldn’t make any sense.
White wasn’t the most efficient player in his first two seasons at the college level. He played at USC in year one and last season, he was at Louisville. The progression of White from those two seasons to the year he is having in Champaign is phenomenal.
Let’s first start off by saying, White is getting the fewest minutes of his career. He is only logging 22.2 minutes per game, while he was at 26.7 minutes and 31.3 minutes per game as a freshman and sophomore, respectively.
Despite averaging nearly 10 minutes less per game, White is averaging nearly the same numbers he put up with Louisville. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 31.3 minutes per game with the Cardinals, and now White is averaging 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in 22.2 minutes per game with Illinois.
White continued his great season on Wednesday against Penn State. He dropped 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal while shooting 7-of-12 from the field and making all five free throws.
What is the big difference with White this season compared to season’s past? He is a much better shooter.
White is shooting a career-high from the three-point arc, free throw line, and he has a career-low in fouls. This kid is hitting 88.2% of his free throws, which is an insane number. He is also at 31% from three-point range, which is the first time he has ever shot above 30% from distance in his career. He has always said he wanted to be challenged by a head coach, and White has met that challenge every step of the way.