Hoops notebook: Practice begins for veteran Illini squad

As practice begins for the Illini basketball team, the excitement for the season has reached a higher level, but there are still numerous questions that need to be answered if the Illini are going to make their first NCAA tourney since the 2012-13 season.

There is no doubt that this is a more complete team with more quality depth - and hopefully healthier - but they still need to get it done on the floor. Here’s a look at some key improvements Illinois will need to make and some questions it needs to answer.

After losing Tracy Abrams to injuries, Illinois was forced to pick up transfer Khalid Lewis and use Malcolm Hill as the emergency point guard. Even Jaylon Tate was injured during an early game in Springfield and missed time. This year, the Illini expect to have 6th year senior Tracy Abrams as their leader on the floor and hope that his surgically repaired knee and Achilles tendon hold up.

Abrams is rusty due to not playing for two years, but he looks good physically through the fall workouts. Illinois also has Tate, now a senior, who should provide experience and depth. The big question mark is freshman Te’Jon Lucas.

Groce said this week that Lucas will be good to go as practice begins, but after missing 8 months he will take some time to shake the rust off. Still, having three options at the crucial point guard position should allow Hill to move to a more comfortable wing position and make Illinois a better defensive team as well.

Illinois struggled with rebounding and interior defense a year ago, and had to play guys out of position in their front court. The Illini were last in the Big Ten in offensive rebounding and blocked shots. The Illini now have actual depth up front and some big bodies to throw at opponents.

Mike Thorne, the 6th year senior who missed much of last season due to injury after a strong start, is back and healthy. An improved Maverick Morgan showed flashes during the second half of the season when given the opportunity. Both should see time at the center position, while sophomore Michael Finke is the third option when Illinois goes small.

Finke and Leron Black will man the power forward spot after Black serves his early season suspension, and both will be needed to provide scoring and rebounding.

The wildcard is transfer Kipper Nichols once he becomes eligible the second semester. Although just 6-foot-6, Nichols is very strong and athletic and has been a pleasant surprise during preseason workouts. Will Nichols produce at the same level once the games begin? If he does, Illinois become even more versatile, explosive and deep in the front court.

Talented shooting guard Kendrick Nunn was dismissed for off the court transgressions, and now Illinois has likely lost star shooter Jalen Coleman-Lands for the beginning of the season with a broken hand. The door is open for sophomore Aaron Jordan to show that he can become a major contributor for the Illini.

Due to a lack of perimeter shooting, it’s hard to see Illinois using Abrams and Tate / Lucas together, but Illinois could play Hill and sophomore DJ Williams together and have an extremely long pair of wings. That may help with the horrid 3-point defense the Illini saw last season as teams shot 38.6% from behind the arc against Illinois, one of the worst defenses in the country.

The question would then be outside shooting. Illinois shot a respectable 36% from behind the arc, but that was with Nunn hitting 39% and Coleman-Lands hitting 42%. Those two had more attempts and makes than the rest of the team combined a year ago.

John Groce has dealt with some difficult issues since his arrival at Illinois: Injuries, suspensions, bizarre recruiting misses and de-commitments have led to problems winning. After a 15-19 and 5-13 season a year ago, Groce is now 77-61 overall and 29-43 in league play. As fans are keenly award, Illinois has missed three straight NCAA tournaments.

Bruce Weber lost his job after going 82-54 and 36-36 in Big Ten play in his final four years at the helm of the Illini. Groce finally has a relatively healthy roster constructed of his players (except for Abrams) and it’s time for him to show his wares on the sideline. Another March sitting on the sidelines could force the hand of AD Josh Whitman, who has thus far been very supporting of Groce.