10 Key Storylines to Follow for the 2024-25 Illinois Basketball Season

Illinois should be considered one of the most intriguing college basketball teams in the country as the 2024-25 season begins in earnest. It’s time to consider the vast world of possibilities this club has – and the major storylines that will determine how its reality ultimately unfolds.

The joys (and dangers) of youth

His That question for Illinois this season, huh? Would the Illini have been better off if Coleman Hawkins, Dane Daigna and Luke Goode, for example, had stayed here for their final seasons in Champaign? We’ll never know. But we can confirm that this is Underwood’s top recruiting class, and he made sure to hedge his freshman’s readiness with experienced transfers like Ben Hamrichus and Kylan Boswell. Did he get the mixture right?

Will the defense be able to get it together in time?

That was Underwood’s main concern this offseason, mainly because he expected to spend limited time with this group. Hamrichus is the only Illini whose eligibility expires after the season, but it would be naive not to expect more roster moves next year. At worst, the mixture of pampered recruits and mercenaries will lead to a defensive disaster. But Underwood, who swears he’s gaining character, might just have a special group for this round.

Good defense creates better offense.

Cary Booth Block @WillRiley_7 fastbreak and euro!

2h 12:42 | #Illini 76, Eastern Illinois 44
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— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 5, 2024

Is one ball enough?

#EverydayGuys content sells homers, and at this point the Illini are saying all the right things about playing for each other and rowing in the same direction. But it’s easy when the score is 1:0 and everyone is eating. Let’s look at the reaction after Illinois’ first straight losses. (Don’t pretend it’s unlikely.) Ego and athletics go hand in hand. Now add to that NBA ambition, ZERO, and a roster full of young guys who weren’t investing in each other just a few months ago. It will be interesting to see whether everyone will have their eyes on the prize or every man for himself.

Glove

The Big Ten took a beating, but can Illinois hold on for the conference opener? The Illini have the 14th toughest schedule (according to ESPN analytics), and they’ll face No. 2 Alabama, No. 12 Tennessee and No. 16 Arkansas before Christmas, with a big February tournament at Madison Square Garden against No. 7 Duke. Underwood’s instincts may be right—test quickly this team is in contention because it can only muster once – but we’ll soon find out if he’s bitten off more than the Illini can still chew.

Portal hunt

There’s no way around it: The transfer portal is quickly becoming college basketball’s version of free agency, which many purists hate. This is normal – everyone has the right to their opinion. Now get on with the program, grandpa. Forget everything you know about “amateurism” and embrace a system that (rightly) gives players the same freedom of movement as their much higher paid coaches. If the season turns out to be a success – and perhaps even if it doesn’t – there will be no turning back for Underwood. The future will be make or break for the Illini.

Ty Rogers’ Destination

This is the dark side of the portal. Having embraced his leadership role and worked hard in the offseason to improve his one weakness (albeit a glaring one), Rodgers had a heart-to-heart with Underwood and chose the red shirt of the season. What worries many is that, like others who have been in his position (including former Illini Sensir Harris last season), Rodgers will bail. But would it be more disappointing to watch him leave Champaign for a better opportunity or play sparingly on the Illini bench? In any case, Rogers himself will not be distracted. In the first phase, he could be seen sitting with the team, fully engaged and cheering on his teammates.

One and done?

Yes, the talent level of Underwood’s freshman class is off the charts, but what good will it do if the NBA comes calling next spring and disbands the group? A few thoughts: If just one Illini freshman leaves because he’s a projected first-round pick (but especially if there are more), it probably means Illinois has had a damn good season. We’ve even seen young teams win championships. Moreover, such successes attract the attention of future recruits. This is how, Underwood believes, you give your program a chance at a national title year after year. Let’s see if he’s up to something.

Big Ten rivalries

Even those who disagree with Illinois’ approach to roster construction have to admit: Underwood’s timing is impeccable. Purdue lost Big Ten Player of the Year Zach Eady, most college basketball fans outside of West Lafayette would have a hard time naming a returning player, and yet the Boilermakers are still considered the conference favorites. Indiana and UCLA have talent, Michigan State has Tom Izzo and Rutgers has a pair of freshmen who could shake things up, but the Big Ten is everyone’s game. Including the Illini.

In the series finale, “Every Day Starts Here,” the Fighting Illini take the first step in their journey and achieve the goals they have set for themselves as a team.#Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/x97T1zamm9

— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 7, 2024

Elite Eight as a watermark

While UCLA has won the title each of the last two years, no other team has made back-to-back Final Fours since North Carolina in 2016 and 2017. All heels were sent home before the final weekend of the season each of the last two years. Current success in college basketball is increasingly becoming a poor predictor of future success. Thus, it can be argued that based on last year’s results, the Illini could be eliminated in the first round of this season. For the same reason, you can also explain that this could fly past the Elite Eight. And this range of possibilities actually sounds right. Which brings us to…

Can Illinois win the national championship?

Are the Illini young? Yes. Did they spend a lot of time playing together? Compared to other candidates – absolutely not. But most Division I recruits, teenagers or not, played under bright lights and faced intense pressure before they even set foot on campus. Besides, we’ve seen too many Florida Atlantic, Wichita State and VCU teams to know that in today’s game, sometimes a healthy dose of skill, luck and a car full of, uh, faith can send just about any team to the NCAA Tournament heater . If these Illini disappear before the end of February, there’s no point limiting their ceiling.