CHAMPAIGN – There’s all this talk about how Illini basketball wants to be interchangeable parts under Brad Underwood, the newcomer in town. It’s his style to develop the entire player, make him a well-rounded threat by working on dribbling, passing and shooting skills on offense.

The idea is that nobody on the team will be the same, even if no one is truly the same in terms of his best skill and perhaps the athletic ability that goes with it. Yet, the Illini will be required to provide the triple threat on offense. With all that said, it appears the guy who gets the first crack with the ball in his hands is Te’Jon Lucas, the sophomore from Milwaukee.