ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI 5-1 · 8TH IN BIG TEN
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Dain Dainja - Productive from bench Dainja notched 17 points (8-9 FG, 1-4 FT), 10 rebounds and two blocks over 16 minutes during Monday's 87-57 victory over Eastern Illinois.
Impact Dainja didn't start in his first game since transferring from Baylor but showed why transferring to the Illini was a smart decision if he's to play a bigger role this season. Keep an eye on how Dainja develops, as he could make an excellent front court partner for star Coleman Hawkins with continued progression.
NOVEMBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Terrence Shannon - Exceptional from free-throw line Shannon ended Monday's 87-57 victory over Eastern Illinois with 24 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 13-15 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 26 minutes.
Impact Shannon recorded just over half of his points from the free-throw line during a dominant showing to open the season. Fresh off his transfer from Texas Tech, consistency will be the goal for Shannon if he's to make an impact for the Illini and improve his draft stock.
NOVEMBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Coleman Hawkins - Scores 23, grabs 12 boards in win Hawkins closed with 23 points (8-14 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 12 rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 24 minutes during Monday's 87-57 victory over Eastern Illinois.
Impact Hawkins is poised for a big season and proved his intent with a strong performance to open the year. After logging a double-double in a late-October exhibition he's repeated the feat Monday. Recording 20 points and 10 rebounds in every game will be a tough task but Hawkins will have plenty to give if he can hover around those totals.
NOVEMBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

UMKC visits No. 23 Illinois following Shannon's 24-point outing

No. 23 Illinois takes on the UMKC Kangaroos after Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points in Illinois' 87-57 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers
NOVEMBER 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shannon scores 24 as Illinois beats Eastern Illinois 87-57

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points and Coleman Hawkins had 23 points and 12 rebounds as No. 23 Illinois cruised to an 87-57 win over Eastern Illinois
NOVEMBER 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

College basketball odds: 2022-23 championship lines, best futures bets

The college basketball odds are out at FOX Bet! Click here to read the title lines and FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre's best futu...
NOVEMBER 7, 2022
College basketball odds: 2022-23 championship lines, best futures bets

68 reasons to be excited for the 2022-23 college basketball season

Who will be No. 1? Can Kansas repeat? What's with all the veteran big men returning? Here are 68 reason to look forward to college basketbal...
NOVEMBER 7, 2022
68 reasons to be excited for the 2022-23 college basketball season

College basketball preview: Ranking the NCAA's top 50 players

From Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme to Kansas prospect Gradey Dick, Jason McIntyre breaks down the top 50 players in college basketball.
NOVEMBER 7, 2022
College basketball preview: Ranking the NCAA's top 50 players
Skyy Clark - Wears shoulder brace in exhibition Clark wore a brace on his shoulder during Illinois' lone exhibition game ahead of the 2022-23 season, Bret Beherns of WCIA3 reports.
Impact Head coach Brad Underwood noted, "it's an ongoing deal that [Clark's] had for quite some time before he got here," so the fact Clark is still wearing the brace doesn't seem too concerning. The five-star point guard should be in line for a big year at the helm of Illinois' offense in 2022-23, provided he stays healthy.
NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Luke Goode - Set to be reevaluated in six weeks Goode underwent successful foot surgery and will be reevaluated in six weeks, 247 Sports reports.
Impact Goode suffered a bone fracture in the team's secret scrimmage against Kansas a couple weeks ago. Goode was expected to take on a larger role this season, but this surgery has thrown a wrench in those plans. A best case scenario seems to be a return to game action by mid-December.
NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois hosts Eastern Illinois in season opener

The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Eastern Illinois Panthers for the season opener
NOVEMBER 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jayden Epps - Major minutes from bench Epps recorded seven points (3-9 FG, 1-6 3Pt) and two rebounds in 21 minutes of Friday's 87-52 exhibition win over Quincy.
Impact Epps played more minutes than starter Matthew Mayer, a sign that he might be coach Brad Underwood's sixth man in the rotation. With Luke Goode unavailable to start the season, Epps will hope he can shoot more efficiently if he's to take advantage of his opportunity with the Illini.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Skyy Clark - Racks up minutes in exhibition win Clark scored 11 points (4-11 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 1-1 FT), collected four rebounds, dished out four assists and made one turnover during 29 minutes of Friday's 87-52 exhibition win over Qu...
Impact Clark looks to be more than fresh after recovering from a concussion that delayed his return from an ACL injury suffered in July of 2021. While his scoring efficiency is likely to draw some ire, he was permitted to take his time and logged the most minutes of any player for the Illini in this contest. Clark is still expected to lead the team from tipoff in the Nov. 7 season opener and should get plenty of time to prove what he can do when and confident and healthy.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
RJ Melendez - Ties for team high with 15 Melendez drew the start in Friday's exhibition contest, recording 15 points (6-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, a block and a steal across 21 minutes in the 87-52 victory ov...
Impact After serving as a reserve in his freshman season and averaging just 8.5 minutes per contest, it appears Melendez could be in line for an expanded role. The 6-7 showed flashes last year, though, as he started and scored six in a Nov. 29 matchup against Notre Dame. Later in the year, he recorded back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts in Big Ten play. There's at least some sleeper potential here.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Coleman Hawkins - Exhibition double-double Hawkins had 15 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals across 23 minutes in Friday's 87-52 exhibition victory over Quincy.
Impact Hawkins literally has massive shoes to fill as the presumed replacement for Kofi Cockburn at center for the Illini, and the 6-10 junior is already looking up to the task (though the caliber of opponent should be taken into account). He did fill in early in last season while Cockburn was serving a three-game suspension, and he stepped in alongside the fellow big man to start down the stretch. In Hawkins' last four games as a starter, he posted 10.0 ppg and 6.8 rpg across 30.3 minutes. With a relatively soft three-game schedule to begin the 2022-23 season, he should have no problem picking up right where he left off.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Terrence Shannon - Standout player for Illini Shannon was the best player for Illinois in their scrimmage against Kansas, Jeff Goodman of Stadium reports.
Impact Shannon is an extremely high upside player for the Illini. He's shown flashes of star qualities on both sides of the ball the last couple seasons with Texas Tech, but has just not been able to put it all together consistently enough to reach that point. There's a good chance that Shannon could lead the Illini in scoring this season and he should enjoy playing in coach Brad Underwood's offense.
OCTOBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kansas Jayhawks and Illinois Fighting Illini's Secret Scrimmage | Titus & Tate

Kansas Jayhawks and Illinois Fighting Illini's Secret Scrimmage | Titus & Tate

OCTOBER 25, 2022 • Fox Sports
Luke Goode - Suffers foot fracture Goode sustained a bone fracture in his left foot during Saturday's scrimmage against Kansas and will undergo surgery on Friday, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports reports.
Impact The timetable for Goode's return has yet to be determined, but he likely won't be available for the team's season opener on Nov. 7 against Eastern Illinois. In his first season with the Fighting Illini, the 6-foot-7 forward saw very limited action off the bench. Goode is still expected to see restricted playing time in 2022, but Ty Rodgers, Ramses Melendez and Matthew Mayer are in line for added minutes while the sophomore remains sidelined.
OCTOBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

No. 23 Illini look to new faces for deeper postseason run

No. 23 Illinois is heading into a season without big man Kofi Cockburn in the middle
OCTOBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan State, USC among snubs in preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

Voters did well ranking the top teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, but some were overlooked. Andy Katz breaks it down.
OCTOBER 17, 2022
Michigan State, USC among snubs in preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

North Carolina takes top spot in preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

North Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll, ahead of Gonzaga. Check out the full list here!
OCTOBER 17, 2022
North Carolina takes top spot in preseason AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

Big Ten Media Days: Iowa's familiar face, Mike Woodson's drive, more from Day 1

Keegan Murray is in the NBA, but Iowa is handing the torch to his twin, Kris. This and more from Day 1 of Big Ten Media Days.
OCTOBER 12, 2022
Big Ten Media Days: Iowa's familiar face, Mike Woodson's drive, more from Day 1

10 storylines to watch ahead of Big Ten basketball media days

Will Trayce Jackson-Davis' Hoosiers rule the Big Ten? That's just one of the storylines to watch ahead of this week's Media Days.
OCTOBER 10, 2022
10 storylines to watch ahead of Big Ten basketball media days
Skyy Clark - Back from concussion Clark recently missed some practice time due to a concussion but has since returned, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports reports.
Impact Clark already got a bit of a late start to his practice time at Illinois due to an ACL injury suffered in July of 2021, but he received full clearance in August and has since been working on ramping up his conditioning. He hit another roadblock recently with the concussion, but that doesn't sound like anything that will limit him ahead of the Nov. 7 season opener. It's still worth noting given that another concussion in-season could end up resulting in a longer absence. Clark is expected to immediately take the reins at point guard for the Illini, and coach Brad Underwood recently noted that "he's been terrific."
OCTOBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Notes | 'Secret' scrimmages, young guards and rebounding all important for Illinois Illini coaches and players weigh in on the first week-plus of the 2022-23 college basketball season
OCTOBER 9, 2022 • NEWS-GAZETTE.COM
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