As far as what went into this new-look Illini roster, Brad Underwood made a point Monday to highlight the fact that he wanted his team to look a lot older, something he’s been steadfast about since last season ended. And as has been the case in recent years, he emphasized seeking out positional size and shooting — areas that are plentiful within this season’s blend of returnees and newcomers.
The focus as the countdown to opening night starts will be to once again build a high-powered offense that ranks near the top of college basketball, something this team undoubtedly has the potential to achieve. The other side — answering some of the defensive questions this type of roster build has provided — is where the coaching staff knows they need to provide a lot of help.
“We always look at offense to start and figure that we’re going to get them to guard,” Underwood said. “The size, the shooting — those are things that are very, very hard for coaches to teach. I think there’s some things schematically we can do to help this group, and that’s our job.”
For now, the Illini can check off an important date on the college hoops calendar and the work towards another compelling season can officially begin. As with seemingly every Underwood team, these Illini are certain to be filled with intrigue, and the storylines as the fall approaches will be endless.
“I’m very excited about this group,” Underwood said.