[NCarmean18Participant]

How goes it? I am a really big fan of college basketball, and I was interested in trying to predict certain aspects about my favorite college basketball team (Illinois Fighting Illini), and I was also interested in hearing about your teams, especially if they are not powerhouses. I know a good amount about schools in the Big Ten, as well as teams like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville.

However, I do not care who your favorite college basketball team is, because I just would like to stir up some conversations about them before the start of the college basketball season next fall.

As I had said earlier, I am a really big Illinois fan. Living in central Illinois, it’s pretty difficult not to be, unless you have always grown up a fan of a different team. I’m not here to criticize what college basketball team you are a fan of, but rather stir up some interesting conversations about predictions for the next college basketball season.

But without further ado, I would like to talk about the 2013-2014 Illinois squad.

Roster:

PG: Tracy Abrams, Ahmad Starks (Seeking waiver to play immediately due to family illness), Mike LaTulip, Jaylon Tate, and Kevin Berardini.

SG: Kendrick Nunn, Malcolm Hill, and Aaron Cosby (Cannot play until 2014-2015 season).

SF: Rayvonte Rice and Joseph Bertrand.

PF: Jon Ekey (5th-year senior, can play immediately), Austin Colbert, and Darius Paul (Cannot play until 2014-2015 season).

C: Nnanna Egwu, Maverick Morgan.

With 5 incoming freshmen and 4 transfer students, this squad will have a much different feel than last year’s squad that was led by departed seniors Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson. Without further ado, I am going to make predictions on the 2013-2014 Illinois Fighting Illini Men’s Basketball rotation.

PG: Tracy Abrams – Abrams started for the majority of his sophomore season at Illinois, and was pretty inconsistent with his shooting. One thing that I like about Abrams is his motor, as he is always looking to push the ball and score on the break. He likes to run, and with a little more consistency with shots around the rim, he should prove to be a very solid starting option for Illinois this upcoming season.

SG: Kendrick Nunn – Kendrick Nunn is an incoming freshman that is used to bright shining lights. Along with fellow Illinois guard Jaylon Tate, Nunn played on the Simeon High School team in Chicago that featured a future star in Jabari Parker (Duke commit). The team went 33-1, winning the Class 4A championship. Nunn is coming in with high expectations from Illinois fans, and I doubt that he will disappoint many. Although a bit undersized, Nunn is an explosive athlete that can put the ball on the floor, as well as shoot from the perimeter. He’s somewhat similar to Brandon Paul, although his game is a bit more polished than BP3’s was coming out of high school.

SF: Rayvonte Rice – Rice transferred to Illinois last season with 2 years of eligibility remaining after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. Rice too is undersized, but he is a physical specimen. Rice is 6’4″, 245 lbs. as a guard/forward. He’s built, and he can really handle his own on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball with his strength and agility.

PF: Jon Ekey – Jon Ekey will not blow you away with his offensive skillset, nor his rebounding ability. However, he is a stretch 4 that can knock down the perimeter jump shot and play pretty impressive defensive for a guy of his size. The thing that many will come to love about Ekey is his motor, as he is always going for the hustle plays. With a lack of depth at the power forward spot, Ekey will come in and have a Sam McLaurin-type role for this Illini squad.

C: Nnanna Egwu – Another year, and more experience for Nnanna Egwu. With a lack of experience, it’s really up in the air who will come out and steal the show. Nnanna Egwu will have a good chance to do that. Last year he had flashed a multitude of offensive moves both down on the block and handling the ball from 15 feet out. The most impressive thing was the touch that he had on his mid-range jump shot. For a big that if rail thin and can get bullied down low, this is crucial for him to continue developing. If Egwu can add more muscle, he can prove to be both an offensive threat on the inside and the out, as well as a bigger part of the Illini’s defense this upcoming season.

6th Man: Joseph Bertrand
7th Man: Ahmad Starks (If granted the waiver)
8th Man: Malcolm Hill
9th Man: Austin Colbert

Possible Redshirts? Mike LaTulip (SO), Jaylon Tate (FR), and Maverick Morgan (FR).

With this lineup, Illinois will be an intriguing team to watch, especially within the conference. With guys like Mitch McGary, A.J. Hammond, and Adreian Payne in the conference, it will be tough for the Illinois bigs to maneuver down low. However, their backcourt is a very impressive group of young players, and they will be a young, athletic team that will have a lot to prove this upcoming season.

I expect them to be in the middle of the pack again this season. My prediction for the Big Ten? I think they will finish 7th behind Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota respectively. I do think that they will sneak into the NCAA Tournament as a 8-10 seed, but I don’t expect them to do much damage there.

I think more than anything, this season will be a season to build upon. John Groce and his staff will make these players perform better than most fans will expect, and they will continue to get better throughout the years. Illinois basketball is starting to become relevant, and the squad will enjoy much more success than they have already experienced further down the line.

So, those are my predictions/expectations for my favorite team. What are some of yours? I would really love to hear some, especially from any Kansas State fans (interested in Bruce Weber after his Illinois departure).

Create your own forum entitled: “Projecting Your College Team: Name Of Whatever School”

Thank you to any of you who took the time to read my post.

[Wahoo757Participant]

Good read, Ilinois should be an interesting team next year. I’m really looking forward to seeing Rayvonte Rice, I know he put up numbers at Drake, but I wonder how a 6’4 240 pound shooting guard/small forward will fare in the big 10.

[TRC1991Participant]

you dont have to look much further than Uconn’s RJ Evans

[TRC1991Participant]

you dont have to look much further than Uconn’s RJ Evans

[Wahoo757Participant]

Good read, Ilinois should be an interesting team next year. I’m really looking forward to seeing Rayvonte Rice, I know he put up numbers at Drake, but I wonder how a 6’4 240 pound shooting guard/small forward will fare in the big 10.

[TRC1991Participant]

Bertrand will start

[TRC1991Participant]

Bertrand will start

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