‘A lot of work to do’: New faces, same expectations for Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ailing. — Basketball season is formally again.

Every week faraway from the primary sport motion in exhibition format in opposition to Quincy, No. 23 Illinois is beginning its common season on Monday in opposition to Jap Illinois.

The Illini, led by head coach Brad Underwood, are coming off a second-round exit within the NCAA Event, however a profitable three-year stretch (44 Large Ten wins, most within the convention).

Nonetheless, this workforce is sort of completely completely different.

On Friday, Underwood and RJ Melendez addressed the media to preview the upcoming matchup in opposition to EIU.

Getting into the 2021-22 season, the Illini had loads of veteran returners, highlighted by Kofi Cockburn, Trent Frazier, Da’Monte Williams and Jacob Grandison.

This bulk of stars led the workforce to a Large Ten common season title, however they’ve all moved onto completely different locations this 12 months.

“It’s only a entire new workforce,” Melendez stated.

Together with Melendez, Coleman Hawkins and Luke Goode are the one gamers returning to the workforce who noticed vital taking part in time final season. After Goode’s preseason damage, it leaves simply two left.

Going into the summer season, Melendez knew that he wanted to make huge strides from his freshman season to take cost of a a lot completely different workforce within the fall.

“I knew I had an even bigger position this 12 months,” Melendez stated. “I needed to put that work in.”

Underwood is impressed by the work he’s finished. He pressured that after watching Melendez final season wrestle to play constantly, he’s now able to a lot extra.

“I see a complete completely different RJ Melendez,” Underwood stated. “I see a man with super confidence — I see his swagger. There’s nothing on the courtroom that I don’t assume he can do.”

Whereas Melendez is barely a sophomore, Hawkins is available in as one of the best outlet of expertise for this Illinois workforce. Experiencing two Large Ten titles in his first two years, Hawkins noticed his taking part in time improve.

His true potential displaying final season when Cockburn wasn’t on the ground.

“That was a reasonably good snapshot of life with out him,” Underwood stated. “We noticed [Hawkins] flourish in these eventualities.”

Each Melendez and Hawkins gained’t be the one skilled athletes on the workforce. Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech) and Matthew Mayer (Baylor) got here to Illinois after long-time stints at their respective packages, each of which included nationwide championship appearances.

The transfers have essentially the most expertise on the workforce, however it takes a while adjusting to a brand new setting. Within the exhibition sport in opposition to Quincy, they shot a mixed 5-of-17.

“[Mayer]’s been engrained in a system for 4 years,” Underwood stated. “Now it’s completely different. Now our expectation degree is somewhat completely different.”

Underwood added that each Mayer and Shannon Jr. have been unbelievable in follow, and it’s solely a matter of time till that elite play interprets to the massive stage.

The veterans aren’t the one ones who must step up for the Illini. The brand new recruiting class brings in a number of the greatest younger expertise within the nation, and in contrast to previous years, these rising stars might want to contribute closely to this workforce’s success.

“They’re nice gamers,” Melendez stated. “They’re gonna assist us lots.”

Sencire Harris

Harris has already turned heads round Illini nation, however the motive will not be what you’d count on.

“He jogs my memory a variety of Trent Frazier,” Melendez stated.

RJ, you aren’t alone. Along with his lefty taking pictures type, a white headband, and the identical No. 1 jersey, Harris has obtained many comparisons to the Illini nice.

Some folks, like his head coach, say that Harris is on observe to be higher than Frazier. Underwood said that the quickness and defensive competitiveness proven by the younger phenom make him far more developed than Frazier was at his age.

“Trent didn’t have all that as a freshman,” Underwood stated. “[Harris] has a variety of that aggressive hearth already.”

Ty Rodgers

Rodgers is one other freshman who has already made strides with the workforce. His versatility has allowed him to play at each place in follow.

Whereas Underwood is each excited and scared about what his versatility brings to each place, the extra-effort performs that Rodgers makes embody precisely what he needs in his gamers.

“These are issues that profitable gamers do, and he’s a winner,” Underwood stated

His play could remind followers of a well-recognized face from previous years: Andrés Feliz. His bulldog mentality provides him the potential to make this workforce go above and past.

“He does every part to make all people higher.”

Skyy Clark

Clark involves Illinois as one of many prime recruits in program historical past. Followers obtained their first have a look at the purpose guard in final month’s exhibition, the place he solely tried one shot within the first half.

Underwood defined that Clark’s manufacturing stems precisely from what the protection provides him.

“Proper now, he’s attempting to be an unbelievable teammate, chief, and level guard,” Underwood stated. “These issues will occur naturally for him. He’s wired to attain.”

Jap Illinois could sound acquainted to Illini followers. In 2017, Underwood’s first sport because the Illinois head coach resulted in shock, as his workforce misplaced an exhibition to Jap Illinois, 80-67.

“I keep in mind Trent crying after the sport, saying he couldn’t play right here,” Underwood stated. “I keep in mind questioning if we have been ever going to win a sport that 12 months.”

The historical past Underwood has with this in-state opponent extends to its head coach: Marty Simmons.

Underwood performed in opposition to Simmons in his school days, and he admired his work at Evansville for years. Underwood is aware of that any workforce led by Simmons can’t be underestimated, particularly with how a lot he’s finished since he took over as head coach final 12 months. They even introduced in transfers, like former Illini Jermaine Hamlin.

“He’s turned that round fairly fast,” Underwood stated. “His workers has finished a pleasant job of changing the expertise.”

Since that unforgettable sport in 2017, Underwood has fully turned the Illini basketball program round.

“We’re in a greater place than we have been then,” Underwood stated. “We’ve obtained to point out up and play to win.”

He has introduced a unique degree of dedication to this squad, and every participant understands the challenges that include the primary official sport as a workforce.

“We’ve nonetheless obtained a variety of work to do,” Melendez stated.