CHAMPAIGN — This summer is different for Illinois men's basketball compared to a year ago in one simple, clear way.
Last summer, Illini coach Brad Underwood and his staff spent the bulk of their time teaching a roster with twice as many newcomers as returning players. Progress wasn't exactly expedient.
This month? Underwood and Co. have jumped right into summer workouts with a young, but experienced, team on campus.
"We're light-years ahead," Underwood said before Tuesday afternoon's skill workout at Ubben Basketball Complex. "We can actually start thinking about schemes and getting guys up and advancing some things.