We are less than 24 hours from an Illinois basketball exhibition game, and it is time to get excited.
The Illini will have a handful of new faces to get used to, but there are also some familiar names that all Illinois fans will already know. That is what is special about exhibition games. They aren’t just for the players to gel, but they are for the fans to get used to the talent on the court.
While Illinois should be able to handle business, who knows what the program will look like? There are a few questions I have entering the exhibition game against Illinois State.
Here are five key questions for the Illinois basketball team against Illinois State
1. What does Keaton Wagler look like for the Illini?
There are plenty of freshmen I am excited about on the Illinois basketball roster, but I think the biggest potential is from Keaton Wagler.
Wagler was the Kansas Player of the Year after averaging 18.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He also lit the world on fire by shooting 44.8% from three-point range as a senior.
Illinois needs pure talent on the court. Wagler is someone who can play the No. 1 through No. 3 spots, and he will have plenty of chances to shine on Sunday against Illinois State. Can he be the scoring spark we need to not let Illinois State upset us?
2. Who besides Kylan Boswell will bring the ball up the court?
With Mihailo Petrovic out for the exhibition game, Illinois is likely to have Kylan Boswell handle the point guard duties. That makes sense considering he was a point guard for the program last season and has experience in this role.
My only question about the point guard situation is who will help Boswell on Sunday? He can’t run the point for all 40 minutes on the court. Who brings the ball up the court when Boswell needs some rest?
Illinois will eventually have Petrovic at full-go, but we need some depth at the No. 1 guard spot. There is potential for Wagler to take the reins as the backup for now. That is a question I need answered on Sunday, though.
3. What is the impact of new big man Zvonimir Ivisic?
There will be some fun had on Sunday against Illinois State. While numerous players will be missing, Illini fans get to see faces we aren’t familiar with yet.
One player I can’t wait to see on the floor is Zvonimir Ivisic. The Arkansas transfer and brother of Tomislav will get a lot of shine against Illinois State. Tomislav will miss the game with an injury, so the Illini will lean on Zvonimir for size in the paint.
The great thing about Ivisic is that he can stretch the floor. He can play in the paint, and he can also step out and shoot from three-point range. I am curious how he will look with the big-man duties resting on his shoulders.
4. Will there be any surprise risers?
You already know most of the names that will be out on the court against Illinois State. It won’t be shocking when Boswell, the new Ivisic, and others get out there and perform.
What I will be looking for is any surprise risers in the game. Will a player on the Illinois roster get some playing time and perform out of his perceived potential?
A player like Brandon Lee could really get hot and put up a big number offensively. He has great shooting ability. Can Jake Davis emerge as a viable option and not get lost in the talent pool? Illinois is going to need a few unknown risers this season if we want to succeed.
5. Where will the Illinois shooting come from?
Lastly, I want to see where Illinois’ shooting comes from. Last season, the Illini couldn’t shoot the ball well, and the fact that we got to the round of 32 is a miracle.
While we will be without four players on Sunday, Underwood will need the scoring to come from somewhere. Andrej Stojakovic was going to be an option, but he is out for the game. Who is going to step up and put points on the board?
Boswell is going to need to be in prime Boswell mode. I expect Ben Humrichous to shoot better this season. Ivisic will need to be tough on the glass. I can’t wait to see what David Mirkovic can do in the paint, too. Illinois has plenty of talent, but where will that scoring come from?