Friday night marks the beginning of the college basketball season, as the Illini will welcome Southeast Missouri State into the State Farm Center. But what are the ins and outs of this Illinois team and can they finally return to the NCAA tournament? We’ve got you covered with a complete season preview below.
Do I have to? Last year was a challenging one to say the least for the Fighting Illini. Finishing with 15-19 record, the team couldn’t find any consistency amongst a roster that was consumed and ravaged by the injury bug. The list of player absences, which ranged anywhere from legal trouble to the flu to torn ACLs to pregnancies, was one of the largest seasons of depletions ever.