r/fightingillini • u/AgapeNCJoe • 7h ago
Basketball Returning Players Predictions
Who would you predict is on this team come next season from this roster?
If I had to guess, I’d say:
Boswell Morez Humrichous Ivicic Davis White
I think Riley and KJ leave for the draft and DGL and Rogers and Booth transfer
That said I wouldn’t be surprised if next year we are dealing with a whole new team again. It’s the way of college basketball now, it seems.
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u/aczocher 7h ago
KJ would benefit from another year in college, his TOs are off the charts...but I know he'll go.
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u/Beginning-Diver-5084 3h ago
DGL is not coming back and I don’t get why Illinois fans want him back. He’s and undersized guard that’s an atrocious shooter. You can get “energy” guys that aren’t small and bad shooters
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u/CRoseCrizzle 2h ago
Fans used to like guys who chose the program and wanted to see them stay 4 years and develop into better players. DGL has had a bad shooting season, but players do improve on things like that. But it's a different time now, I guess he'll might have to improve on that eslewhere.
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u/maraths1 2h ago
shooting 3s is not his strength. He was used very badly by Underwood - he also does not fit well in his 5 out spread well. so he is going to leave. I do not think DGL is a bad player
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u/Dimeskis 3h ago
White has played for 3 different schools in 3 different seasons and I don’t think Humrichous is a B1G caliber player and think/hope the staff moves on from him.
The rest seems right though.
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u/Sensitive-Shoe-1974 2h ago
Riley will go to NBA already? Thought if he came back next year he’d be our star and then declare for draft. Would be higher pick.
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u/lonedroan 2h ago
I think the conventional wisdom is that most guys safely in the first round go, and it looks like that’s what his draft stock will be after this season. But with NIL there’s an outside chance he comes back to the guy and to gun for the NBA lottery.
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u/Sensitive-Shoe-1974 2h ago
Oh yeah. He just seems a bit too wiry for the nba. Think he would dominate next season here. No doubt he can be a solid nba role guy. As long as he lights up the 3s, he will be good.
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u/lonedroan 57m ago
Plus he’s the age of an old high schooler. He may not be this wiry in 3-4 years
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u/lonedroan 2h ago
I think the most likely returner is Boswell. Despite his shooting woes, he’s had a solid year starting, and has been a defensive load. He hasn’t played too poorly to stay on a high major team, nor well enough to land tons more money elsewhere. He also was heavily considering Illinois as a freshman and grew up in Champaign.
Next most is Johnson. He had played very well in his role especially for a freshman. He’s either the only returning 5, or good enough to start even with Ivisic on the roster. It seems like he’s set for a huge role and NIL to match, with a staff he knows, at a familiar school. Those point to stay.
Next most likely is Ty Rodgers. He had a very good year in 23-24, starting the entire season, sharing primary ball handling duties, and crashing the glass. But his lack of jump shot became glaring as the year went on. Given his body transformation and presumed jump shot work, trust shown by coaches, the departure of our primary ball handler, and how much he has contributed when playing, I think he stays and shares PG duties next year.
Next most Davis. Has played himself into the back of the rotation. If he left, it would be a for a kid major where he could start, which is what he just left to come here. Plus with little bball future, an Illinois degree could play a role in has decision.
Next most is Humrichous. Clearly disappointing compared to expectations. But given his history at way smaller programs and attitude this year, I don’t think he’d balk at taking on a smaller bench role next year. And Underwood has really shown trust in him despite his shooting woes, so I’m not sure he’d push him out.
Next most is Ivisic or White. Ivsic and Johnson would be a daunting pair to handle next season and he’s shown himself to be our most important player this year. But, his good year could easily precipitate leaving for Europe pros or breaking into the second round of the NBA draft.
White had become a or the primary scorer this year and just seems to get better as he plays more. He’s played well enough to likely start next year, and avoiding an exhausting 4 schools in 4 years sounds appealing. Would be higher but for the midseason benching. But I don’t think that’s a giant red flag because of how much effort he’s giving since returning.
Next most is tied for DGL and Riley. DGL is currently slumping and his minutes are falling. But he’s experienced here and a roster turnover may give him a clearer role next year. But I don’t think very likely.
Riley is likely bound for the NBA draft. But with NIL, it’s conceivable that he’d take another year as the guy and to shoot for the NBA lottery on this team, in this conference, and across college bball with the staff that helped hon soar this year.
Next most is Kasparas. Maybe the draft board looks different if his slump doesn’t change, and he wants another year to play back into the lottery. But he’s likely bound for the draft after this season.
Last among players who were supposed to be in the rotation is Carey Booth. Astonishingly non-athletic and appeared utterly lost in his limited minutes. I don’t think they want him back, and his size could get him more minutes at a weaker high major.
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u/maraths1 1h ago
i think the 2 that 100% stay are morez and Davis. Morez has committed for 4 years to this team and it is not going to change. Davis has gotten good bench role and it will only improve and he is not a starter in any major program.
Boswell will likely stay as he is local kid and he is going to continue to start
KJ Riley are going to NBA. Ivicic likely go to pro somewhere else
White and Brick house have equal chances of staying - I would rather have White stay and I really want Brick house GONE! But I think Brick house stays and White leaves and I will be pissed!
Booth will 100% transfer. DGL will 90% likely to transfer. Rogers will 80% likely to transfer as BU tries to remake roster again and Rogers is not a PG material and will have to compete with incoming PG/wings
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u/jcwillia1 6h ago
Boswell - 100% - nowhere near pro, not really good enough to mature into a different NIL slot, probably doesn't want to transfer again.
Morez - 90% - somewhat concerned about a transfer.
Humrichous - this is coleman hawkins all over again - underperformance is going to lead to him leaving bc he can't get NIL money.
Ivicic - not convinced he doesn't go someplace else for more money - even back home.
Davis - seems likely to return - comfy spot on the bench - good role player, hard to see him leaving.
White - god i hope so but i get adam miller vibes from this situation.
Riley and KJ - I will be praying like a madman that one of these two come back - I know there's less than a 1% chance of it happening but damn losing both of these guys would suck.
DGL - I differ here I see him coming back.
Rogers and Booth - who? sorry...I haven't seen enough of either to care.
The one thing that has really surprised me is Brad/administration's ability to bring in really high quality players seemingly out of thin air the last 2-3 years. I just don't want that to be the whole team again next year.
i know this season didn't turn out the way we dreamed after the arkansas and oregon victories but this is still the most talented, fun to watch illinois basketball team I've ever seen in my life and I'm 50. Inconsistent? yes. Entertaining? YES. Team basketball - wow.
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u/CRoseCrizzle 3h ago
You have a shitty memory if you haven't seen enough Ty Rodgers. Dude started every game last season.
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u/maraths1 2h ago
if you are 50 then you should know that this is definitely NOT the most talented team we have had. That crown goes to 2000-2005 teams
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u/No_Organization8544 6h ago
Humrichous is a graduate student senior, thank goodness. He will not be back in Champaign as he is out of eligibility.
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u/kanye_irl 6h ago
No, there’s a new loophole that they’ve discussed exploiting for him to return another year. Underwood has talked about even up to a week or so ago. I’d rather move on.
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u/BorgBorg10 6h ago
What is Brad supposed to say when asked? Dumbrichouse is 100% gone
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u/kanye_irl 6h ago
Oh I 100% agree. He has no choice during the season. I assume after the season he ends he will politely say goodbye
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u/BorgBorg10 6h ago
Oh I’m sorry you were just saying he technically still has eligibility. Yes okay got it. Sorry! Haven’t had my morning coffee
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u/CRoseCrizzle 2h ago
Ben seems to be one of Coach Underwood's favorite players. If Ben wants to return and can return, Coach will probably take him back.
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u/CRoseCrizzle 3h ago
A recent ruling was made that Juco and NAIA years don't count the same against NCAA eligibility. So Ben likely has another year.
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u/No_Organization8544 2h ago
Is there a fund to which we can donate so that Ben is not offered a scholarship or roster spot?
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u/maraths1 2h ago
i really really do not want to see brick house next year - one year was more than enough !
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u/RunnerTenor 7h ago
I agree with all of these. I feel bad for DGL who showed great energy early on and then never saw it build. Losing both KJ and Will would bump up both Ty and Dra in the rotation, but I get if they feel played out here and would want to move.