CHAMPAIGN — Adam Fletcher has set out to find exactly how each and every Illinois basketball player moves — and, concurrently, doesn’t move — this offseason. Injury prevention is a priority on the Illini’s strength and conditioning coach’s list.
For an obvious reason.
Illinois ran the gamut of injuries in the 2015-16 season. From Jalen Coleman-Lands’ lower-leg stress fracture to Kendrick Nunn’s torn thumb ligament to Mike Thorne Jr.’s and Leron Black’s torn meniscuses to Jaylon Tate’s openly dislocated pinky finger. And that’s not counting Khalid Lewis coming down with the mumps.
Injuries will never fully be eliminated, but by studying how the Illini move, Fletcher can establish a plan to try to lessen how severe future injuries might be.