SPRINGFIELD — Five months ago, when Charlotte transfer Mike Thorne Jr. committed to Illinois, reaction was mixed.
On one hand, fans were excited about landing a true back-to-the-basket big man who was also coveted by the likes of Kentucky and Kansas.
On the flip side, some questioned what a player who averaged 10.1 points in Conference USA last season could provide for an Illini program desperately seeking to return to the NCAA tournament after a two-year hiatus.
On Sunday, as Illinois was putting the finishing touches on its 80-74 win against North Dakota State, Thorne exited the floor to a standing ovation from the announced crowd of 5,332 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.