2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

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2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Illinois Fighting Illini logo.svg
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
2017–18 record14–18 (4–14 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaState Farm Center
Seasons
2017–18 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 5 Michigan State 16 – 2   .889 30 – 5   .857
No. 11 Purdue 15 – 3   .833 30 – 7   .811
No. 17 Ohio State 15 – 3   .833 25 – 9   .735
No. 7 Michigan † 13 – 5   .722 33 – 8   .805
Nebraska 13 – 5   .722 22 – 11   .667
Penn State 9 – 9   .500 26 – 13   .667
Indiana 9 – 9   .500 16 – 15   .516
Maryland 8 – 10   .444 19 – 13   .594
Wisconsin 7 – 11   .389 15 – 18   .455
Northwestern 6 – 12   .333 15 – 17   .469
Minnesota 4 – 14   .222 15 – 17   .469
Illinois 4 – 14   .222 14 – 18   .438
Iowa 4 – 14   .222 14 – 19   .424
Rutgers 3 – 15   .167 15 – 19   .441
† 2018 Big Ten Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by first-year head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini played their home games at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 14–18, 4–14 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for 11th place. As the No. 13 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they lost in the first round to Iowa.[1]

Previous season[]

The Illini finished the 2016–17 season 20–15, 8–10 in Big Ten play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Valparaiso and Boise State before losing in the quarterfinals to UCF.

On March 11, 2017, Illinois fired head coach John Groce.[2][3] On March 18, the school hired Brad Underwood as the new head coach.[4]

Offseason[]

Coaching changes[]

Following Brad Underwood's hiring as head coach, Jamall Walker was retained as an assistant.[5] Underwood hired controversial former South Florida head coach Orlando Antigua who was fired as head coach from South Florida due to an NCAA investigation into academic violations.[6] Underwood also hired Ron Coleman as an assistant and Stephen Gentry as assistant to the head coach.[7]

Player departures[]

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
D. J. Williams 0 G 6'7" 210 Sophomore Chicago, Illinois Transfer to George Washington
Jaylon Tate 1 G 6'3" 170 Senior Chicago, Illinois Graduated and pro for Niagara River Lions
Jalen Coleman-Lands 5 G 6'3" 190 Sophomore Indianapolis, Indiana Transfer to DePaul
Tracy Abrams 13 G 6'2" 185 Graduate student Chicago, Illinois Graduated
Malcolm Hill 21 G 6'6" 225 Senior Fairview Heights, Illinois Graduated
Maverick Morgan 22 C 6'10" 245 Senior Springboro, Ohio Graduated and pro for GTK Gliwice
Mike Thorne Jr. 33 C 6'11" 280 Graduate student Fayetteville, North Carolina Graduated
Alex Austin 44 G 6'4" 190 Senior Chicago, Illinois Graduated

Decommits[]

On January 16, 2016, three-star shooting guard Javon Pickett of Belleville, Illinois verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017.[8] After the firing of John Groce, Pickett asked for and received a release of his letter of intent to Illinois.[9] On November 17, 2016, four-star recruit Jeremiah Tilmon announced that he had signed his letter of intent with Illinois the previous day, after a week of press uncertainty.[10] However, after the coaching change at Illinois, Tilmon requested and received a release of his letter of intent with the school.[11]

2017 Recruiting class[]

During Illinois' final home game against Minnesota on February 28, 2016, Da'Monte Williams verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017. Williams is the son of former Illinois guard Frank Williams who led the Fighting Illini to three straight NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2001.[12] On November 9, 2016 Trent Frazier signed a national letter of intent after considering Memphis, Georgia, Kansas State and Seton Hall, among others.[13] On April 27, 2017, four-star point guard Mark Smith, Mr. Illinois Basketball for 2017, announced he would attend Illinois.[14] On June 12, Slovenian bigman Matic Vesel committed to Illinois.[15]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Greg Eboigbodin
F 		Benin City, NG University of Detroit Jesuit High School (MI) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jun 6, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Trent Frazier
PG 		West Palm Beach, FL Wellington (FL) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Aug 20, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Mark Smith
PG 		Edwardsville, IL Edwardsville IL 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Apr 27, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Matic Vesel
F 		Ljubljana, RS Helios Suns Domžale 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Jun 12, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Da'Monte Williams
CG 		Peoria, IL Manual (IL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 29, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Illinois 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  • "2017 Illinois Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2016-01-19.

Incoming transfers[]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Mark Alstork[16]
PG 		Dayton, OH Thurgood Marshall (OH) / Ball State / Wright State 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) May 24, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Tyler Underwood[17]
PG 		Nacogdoches, TX Nacogdoches (TX) / Oklahoma State 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Mar 22, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

2018 Recruiting class[]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Giorgi Bezhanishvili
PF 		Vienna, Austria St. Patrick High School (NJ) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Mar 26, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 74
Ayo Dosunmu
PG 		Chicago, IL Morgan Park High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Oct 19, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Alan Griffin
SG 		White Plains, NY Oak Park and River Forest HS/Archbishop Stepinac HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mar 2, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 75
Samba Kane
C 		Dakar, Senegal Regis Jesuit High School/Florida Preparatory Academy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Mar 9, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 30  247Sports: 48
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster[]

2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Trent Frazier 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Wellington High School (FL) West Palm Beach, Florida
F 2 Kipper Nichols 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS So St. Edward High School (OH) Cleveland, Ohio
G 3 Te'Jon Lucas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Washington High School (WI) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
F 4 Matic Vessel 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Helios Suns Domžale Ljubljana, Slovenia
G 10 Drew Cayce (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) RS So La Lumiere School/Creighton Libertyville, Illinois
F 11 Greg Eboigbodin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr University of Detroit Jesuit High School Benin City, Nigeria
F 12 Leron Black 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Jr White Station High School Memphis, Tennessee
G 13 Mark Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Edwardsville High School Edwardsville, Illinois
G 20 Da'Monte Williams 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Manual High School Peoria, Illinois
G 23 Aaron Jordan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Plainfield East High School Plainfield, Illinois
G 24 Mark Alstork 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) GS Thurgood Marshall (OH) / Ball State / Wright State Dayton, Ohio
G 32 Tyler Underwood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) RS So Nacogdoches High School / Oklahoma State Nacogdoches, Texas
G 35 Samson Oladimeji (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So William Fremd High School Rolling Meadows, Illinois
G 41 Clayton Jones (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Sr Champaign Central High School/Lake Land Champaign, Illinois
F 43 Michael Finke 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Jr Centennial High School (IL) Champaign, Illinois
F 45 Cameron Liss (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Jr Glenbrook North High School Northbrook, Illinois
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results[]

The 2018 Big Ten Tournament was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[18] Due to the Big East's use of that venue for their conference tournament, the Big Ten Tournament took place one week earlier than usual, ending the week before Selection Sunday.[19] As a result, the Big Ten regular season began in mid-December.[18]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Nov 3, 2017*
7:00 pm 		at Eastern Illinois
Disaster Relief Benefit 		L 67–80  –
  16 – Nichols   9 – Nichols   4 – Nichols  Lantz Arena 
Charleston, IL
Regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, BTN+ 		Southern
Global Sports Invitational 		W 102–55  1–0
  17 – 2 tied   10 – Alstork   4 – 2 tied  State Farm Center (14,637)
Champaign, IL
Nov 12, 2017*
5:00 pm, ESPNU 		UT Martin
Global Sports Invitational 		W 77–74  2–0
  23 – Black   8 – Black   3 – 3 tied  State Farm Center (11,882)
Champaign, IL
Nov 17, 2017*
7:30 pm, BTN 		DePaul
Gavitt Tipoff Games 		W 82–73  3–0
  21 – Smith   9 – Jordan   3 – 4 tied  State Farm Center (11,254)
Champaign, IL
Nov 19, 2017*
4:00 pm, BTN+ 		Marshall
Global Sports Invitational 		W 91–74  4–0
  17 – 2 tied   11 – Nichols   5 – Lucas  State Farm Center (10,022)
Champaign, IL
Nov 22, 2017*
6:00 pm, BTN+ 		Augustana (IL) W 96–62  5–0
  20 – Finke   10 – Finke   6 – Lucas  State Farm Center (10,404)
Champaign, IL
Nov 24, 2017*
6:30 pm, BTN+ 		North Carolina Central
Global Sports Invitational 		W 86–73  6–0
  22 – Finke   8 – Black   6 – Lucas  State Farm Center (11,004)
Champaign, IL
Nov 28, 2017*
8:00 pm, ESPN2 		at Wake Forest
ACC–Big Ten Challenge 		L 73–80  6–1
  20 – Jordan   7 – 2 tied   4 – Lucas  LJVM Coliseum (5,782)
Winston-Salem, NC
Dec 1, 2017
8:00 pm, BTN 		at Northwestern L 68–72 OT 6–2
(0–1) 		 15 – Black   7 – 2 tied   3 – Alstork  Allstate Arena (10,017)
Rosemont, IL
Dec 3, 2017
7:00 pm, BTN 		Maryland L 91–92 OT 6–3
(0–2) 		 18 – Black   6 – Nichols   7 – Frazier  State Farm Center (12,735)
Champaign, IL
Dec 6, 2017*
7:00 pm, BTN 		Austin Peay W 64–57  7–3
  17 – Finke   8 – Finke   4 – Lucas  State Farm Center (12,352)
Champaign, IL
Dec. 9, 2017*
11:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. UNLV
UNLV on the Strip 		L 82–89  7–4
  17 – Smith   10 – Nichols   4 – Smith  MGM Grand Garden Arena (9,668)
Paradise, NV
Dec 13, 2017*
7:00 pm, BTN 		Longwood W 92–45  8–4
  22 – Jordan   8 – Jordan   5 – Lucas  State Farm Center (12,387)
Champaign, IL
Dec 16, 2017*
7:00 pm, BTN 		vs. New Mexico State
Lou Henson Classic 		L 69–74  8–5
  17 – Black   9 – Finke   4 – Alstork  United Center (5,695)
Chicago, IL
Dec 23, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Missouri
Braggin' Rights 		W 70–64  9–5
  22 – Frazier   7 – Black   2 – 2 tied  Scottrade Center (21,289)
St. Louis, MO
Dec 30, 2017*
3:00 pm, BTN+ 		Grand Canyon W 62–58  10–5
  20 – Black   11 – Black   3 – Williams  State Farm Center (13,762)
Champaign, IL
Jan 3, 2018
8:00 pm, BTN 		at Minnesota L 67–77  10–6
(0–3) 		 14 – Black   8 – Williams   6 – Frazier  Williams Arena (11,597)
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 6, 2018
11:00 pm, BTN 		at Michigan L 69–79  10–7
(0–4) 		 17 – Nichols   7 – Nichols   6 – Lucas  Crisler Arena (11,888)
Ann Arbor, MI
Jan 11, 2018
7:00 pm, FS1 		Iowa
Rivalry 		L 97–104 OT 10–8
(0–5) 		 27 – Frazier   5 – Nichols   4 – Jordan  State Farm Center (11,326)
Champaign, IL
Jan 15, 2018
8:00 pm, BTN 		at Nebraska L 63–64  10–9
(0–6) 		 19 – Frazier   10 – Finke   5 – Frazier  Pinnacle Bank Arena (12,597)
Lincoln, NE
Jan 19, 2018
8:00 pm, FS1 		at Wisconsin L 50–75  10–10
(0–7) 		 16 – Black   10 – Alstork   5 – Frazier  Kohl Center (17,287)
Madison, WI
Jan 22, 2018
8:00 pm, FS1 		No. 6 Michigan State L 74–87  10–11
(0–8) 		 27 – Nichols   3 – 2 tied   4 – Williams  State Farm Center (13,552)
Champaign, IL
Jan 24, 2018
8:00 pm, BTN 		Indiana
Rivalry 		W 73–71  11–11
(1–8) 		 19 – 2 tied   6 – Black   3 – Frazier  State Farm Center (13,003)
Champaign, IL
Jan 30, 2018
6:00 pm, BTN 		Rutgers W 91–60  12–11
(2–8) 		 19 – Nichols   6 – Nichols   4 – Frazier  State Farm Center (12,612)
Champaign, IL
Feb 4, 2018
11:00 pm, FS1 		at No. 17 Ohio State L 67–75  12–12
(2–9) 		 19 – Alstork   4 – Black   4 – Frazier  Value City Arena (18,743)
Columbus, OH
Feb 8, 2018
8:00 pm, BTN 		Wisconsin L 69–78  12–13
(2–10) 		 32 – Frazier   11 – Black   4 – Lucas  State Farm Center (13,062)
Champaign, IL
Feb 11, 2018
6:00 pm, BTN 		Penn State L 52–74  12–14
(2–11) 		 18 – Black   6 – 3 tied   2 – 4 tied  State Farm Center (12,840)
Champaign, IL
Feb 14, 2018
7:30 pm, BTN 		at Indiana
Rivalry 		L 68–78  12–15
(2–12) 		 20 – Black   7 – Black   5 – Frazier  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
Bloomington, IN
Feb 18, 2018
2:30 pm, BTN 		Nebraska W 72–66  13–15
(3–12) 		 28 – Black   7 – 3 tied   6 – Lucas  State Farm Center (15,544)
Champaign, IL
Feb 20, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPN 		at No. 2 Michigan State L 61–81  13–16
(3–13) 		 20 – Black   6 – Nichols   5 – Frazier  Breslin Center (14,797)
East Lansing, MI
Feb 22, 2018
6:00 pm, FS1 		No. 9 Purdue L 86–93  13–17
(3–14) 		 28 – Black   6 – Lucas   6 – Frazier  State Farm Center (14,673)
Champaign, IL
Feb 25, 2018
2:00 pm, BTN 		at Rutgers W 75–62  14–17
(4–14) 		 19 – Finke   8 – Williams   4 – Frazier  Louis Brown Athletic Center 
Piscataway, NJ
Big Ten Tournament
Feb 28, 2018
5:30 pm, BTN 		(13) vs. (12) Iowa
First round 		L 87–96  14–18
  Nichols – 31   4 – Finke   8 – Lucas  Madison Square Garden 
New York City, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Awards and honors[]

In-season awards[]

Trent Frazier[]

  • Big Ten Freshman of the Week, December 26, 2017
  • Big Ten Freshman of the Week, February 12, 2018

Postseason awards[]

Trent Frazier[]

  • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (media)
  • All-Big Ten Freshmen Team

Leron Black[]

  • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches and media)

References[]

  1. ^ "Illinois vs. Iowa - Game Recap - February 28, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  2. ^ Ryan, Shannon. "Illinois fires men's basketball coach John Groce after five seasons". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  3. ^ "Illinois fires John Groce after 37–53 Big Ten mark in five seasons". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  4. ^ Smith, Erick (March 18, 2017). "Illinois hires Oklahoma State's Brad Underwood as new coach". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  5. ^ "Report: Illinois basketball, assistant Jamall Walker reach deal to keep Walker on staff under new coach Brad Underwood". Land of 10. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  6. ^ Ryan, Shannon. "Illinois adds former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua to coaching staff". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  7. ^ "Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood adds 2 to staff, names Ronald 'Chin' Coleman assistant". Land of 10. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  8. ^ Zuvanich, Adam (January 18, 2016). "Belleville East's Pickett pledges to the University of Illinois". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "Illini grant releases for Jeremiah Tilmon, Javon Pickett". The Champaign Room. 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  10. ^ Ryan, Shannon (November 17, 2016). "Illinois' signing of five-star Jeremiah Tilmon has major implications". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  11. ^ "Illinois basketball recruit Jeremiah Tilmon says Illini have granted him his release". Land of 10. 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  12. ^ "Illinois lands DaMonte Williams, No. 8 shooting guard in 2017 class". ESPN. February 28, 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  13. ^ Wagner, Jodie; Lichtenstein, Adam (November 9, 2016). "Wellington basketball star Trent Frazier signs with Illinois". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  14. ^ Ryan, Shannon. "Mark Smith, 2017's Mr. Basketball from Edwardsville, chooses Illinois". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  15. ^ "Illini add 2017 Slovenian big Matic Vesel". Scout.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  16. ^ Vainisi, Jim (May 24, 2017). "Mark Alstork commits to Illinois Basketball over LSU, South Carolina, Pittsburgh". SB Nation. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  17. ^ Voit, Gordon (March 22, 2017). "Package deal: Illini get Tyler Underwood in addition to Brad Underwood". WAND. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Big Ten tournament at MSG in 2018". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  19. ^ "Izzo concerned about '18 Big Ten tournament in New York". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
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