2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Conference Big Ten Conference
2016–17 record 5–3 (0–0 Big Ten)
Head coach John Groce (5th year)
Assistant coach Dustin Ford
Assistant coach Paris Parham
Assistant coach Jamall Walker
Assistant coach Darren Hertz
Home arena State Farm Center
2016–17 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
Maryland 0 0       8 1   .889
Minnesota 0 0       7 1   .875
Ohio State 0 0       7 1   .875
Rutgers 0 0       7 1   .875
No. 13 Indiana 0 0       6 1   .857
No. 17 Wisconsin 0 0       7 2   .778
Michigan 0 0       6 2   .750
Northwestern 0 0       6 2   .750
No. 15 Purdue 0 0       6 2   .750
Illinois 0 0       6 3   .667
Penn State 0 0       6 3   .667
Nebraska 0 0       5 3   .625
Michigan State 0 0       5 4   .556
Iowa 0 0       3 5   .375
2017 Big Ten Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team will represent the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fifth year head coach John Groce, the Illini will play their home games at State Farm Center and are members of the Big Ten Conference.

Previous Season

The Fighting Illini finished the 2015–16 season with a record of 15–19, 5–13 in Big Ten play to finish in 12th place in conference. The Illini defeated Minnesota and Iowa to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament where they lost to Purdue.

Pre-season

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Khalid Lewis 3 G 6'3" 185 RS Senior Trenton, NJ Graduated
Mike LaTulip 10 G 6'1" 170 Senior Arlington Heights, IL Graduated and transferred to Wright State
Kendrick Nunn 25 G 6'3" 190 Junior Chicago, IL Dismissed due to domestic battery guilty plea, transferred to Oakland[1]

2016-17 additions

On September 16, 2015, Te'Jon Lucas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2016 and signed his National Letter of Intent to finalize his recruitment on November 11, 2015. Lucas attended the NBA Top 100 camp in June 2015, had scholarship offers from California, Memphis, Purdue, and Wisconsin, and he strongly considered both USC and Old Dominion before committing to Illinois.[2][3] Lucas is only the third player from the State of Wisconsin to commit to Illinois, and is the first since 1926.[4]

Incoming freshman

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Te'Jon Lucas
PG
Milwaukee, WI Washington (WI) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sep 16, 2015 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Incoming transfer student

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Drew Cayce[5]
PG
Libertyville, IL La Lumiere (IN) / Creighton 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jul 21, 2016 
Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

2017 Recruiting class

On January 16, 2016, Javon Pickett of Belleville, Illinois verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017.[6] Pickett committed after having scholarship offers from Drake, Illinois State, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Saint Louis University and Tennessee State.[6] During Illinois' final home game against Minnesota on February 28, 2016, Da'Monte Williams verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017. Williams is the son of former Illinois guard Frank Williams who led the Fighting Illini to three straight NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2001.[7]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Javon Pickett
SG
Belleville, IL Belleville East (IL) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jan 16, 2016 
Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars
Jeremiah Tilmon
C/PF
East Saint Louis, IL La Lumiere (IN) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jul 11, 2016 
Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Da'Monte Williams
CG
Peoria, IL Manual (IL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 29, 2016 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Trent Frazier
PG
West Palm Beach, FL Wellington (FL) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Aug 20, 2016 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Home town
G 0 Williams, D. J.D. J. Williams 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Chicago, IL
PG 1 Tate, JaylonJaylon Tate 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Chicago, IL
SF 2 Nichols, KipperKipper Nichols  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr Cleveland, OH
G 3 Lucas, Te'JonTe'Jon Lucas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Milwaukee, WI
G 5 Coleman-Lands, JalenJalen Coleman-Lands 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Indianapolis, IN
G 10 Cayce, DrewDrew Cayce (W)  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) So Libertyville, IL
F 12 Black, LeronLeron Black 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS So Memphis, TN
G 13 Abrams, TracyTracy Abrams (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Chicago, IL
G 14 Oladimeji, SamsonSamson Oladimeji (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Rolling Meadows, IL
G 21 Hill, MalcolmMalcolm Hill (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Belleville, IL
C 22 Morgan, MaverickMaverick Morgan 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr Springboro, OH
SG 23 Jordan, AaronAaron Jordan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Plainfield, IL
C 33 Thorne Jr., MikeMike Thorne Jr. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 270 lb (122 kg) GS Fayetteville, NC
G 41 Jones, ClaytonClayton Jones (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Champaign, IL
F/C 43 Finke, MichaelMichael Finke 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS So Champaign, IL
G 44 Austin, AlexAlex Austin (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Sr Chicago, IL
SF 45 Liss, CameronCameron Liss (W)  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Northbrook, IL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
Time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (Attendance)
City, State
Exhibition

Oct 30, 2016*
2:00 pm, BTN+
Washington U W 82–75 
 20  Morgan  6  Hill  5  Tate  State Farm Center (10,359)
Champaign, IL

Nov 4, 2016*
7:00 pm, BTN+
Lewis W 95–51 
 16  Coleman-Lands  9  Finke  4  Tate  State Farm Center (12,753)
Champaign, IL
Non-conference regular season

Nov 11, 2016*
8:00 pm, BTN
Southeast Missouri State W 81–62  1–0
 21  Hill  8  Hill  6  Tate  State Farm Center (10,790)
Champaign, IL

Nov 13, 2016*
5:00 pm, BTN+
Northern Kentucky W 79–64  2–0
 40  Hill  12  Hill  3  Tied  State Farm Center (10,888)
Champaign, IL

Nov 15, 2016*
7:00 pm, BTN
McKendree W 112–65  3–0
 18  Tied  10  Thorne, Jr.  8  Tate  State Farm Center (10,135)
Champaign, IL

Nov 18, 2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Detroit
NIT Season Tip-Off
W 89–69  4–0
 25  Hill  7  Thorne, Jr.  6  Tate  State Farm Center (10,396)
Champaign, IL

Nov 21, 2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Winthrop
NIT Season Tip-Off
L 80–84 OT 4–1
 18  Finke  9  Hill  6  Abrams  State Farm Center (9,502)
Champaign, IL

Nov 24, 2016*
2:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. No. 19 West Virginia
NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals
L 57–89  4–2
 13  Finke  9  Black  4  Tate  Barclays Center (2,451)
Brooklyn, NY

Nov 25, 2016*
11:30 am, ESPNU
vs. Florida State
NIT Season Tip-Off 3rd place game
L 61–72  4–3
 18  Hill  11  Black  4  Lucas  Barclays Center (3,713)
Brooklyn, NY

Nov 29, 2016*
8:00 pm, ESPNU
NC State
ACC–Big Ten Challenge
W 88–74  5–3
 22  Hill  9  Hill  4  Hill  State Farm Center (13,481)
Champaign, IL

Dec 3, 2016*
2:00 pm, CBSSN
vs. VCU
Hoophall Miami Invitational
  
                American Airlines Arena 
Miami, FL

Dec 6, 2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
IUPUI   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Dec 10, 2016*
2:00 pm, BTN+
Central Michigan   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Dec 17, 2016*
8:30 pm, BTN
vs. BYU
State Farm Chicago Legends
  
                United Center 
Chicago, IL

Dec 21, 2016*
6:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Missouri
Braggin' Rights
  
                Scottrade Center 
St. Louis, MO
Big Ten Regular season

Dec 27, 2016
4:00 pm, ESPN2
at Maryland   
                Xfinity Center 
College Park, MD

Jan 1, 2017
 BTN
Ohio State   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Jan 7, 2017
4:00 pm, ESPNU
at Indiana
Rivalry
  
                Assembly Hall 
Bloomington, IN

Jan 11, 2017
8:00 pm, BTN
Michigan   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Jan 14, 2017
5:00 pm, ESPN2
Maryland   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Jan 17, 2017
6:00 pm, BTN
at Purdue   
                Mackey Arena 
West Lafayette, IN

Jan 21, 2017
1:15 pm, BTN
at Michigan   
                Crisler Center 
Ann Arbor, MI

Jan 25, 2017
8:00 pm, BTN
Iowa   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Jan 28, 2017
3:30 pm, BTN
at Penn State   
                Bryce Jordan Center 
University Park, PA

Jan 31, 2017
8:00 pm, BTN
Wisconsin   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Feb 4, 2017
3:30 pm, BTN
Minnesota   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Feb 7, 2017
7:00 pm, BTN
at Northwestern   
                Welsh-Ryan Arena 
Evanston, IL

Feb 11, 2017
1:00 pm, BTN
Penn State   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Feb 18, 2017
1:00 pm, BTN
at Iowa   
                Carver–Hawkeye Arena 
Iowa City, IA

Feb 21, 2017
7:00 pm, BTN
Northwestern   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Feb 26, 2017
6:30 pm, BTN
at Nebraska   
                Pinnacle Bank Arena 
Lincoln, NE

Mar 1, 2017
8:00 pm, BTN
Michigan State   
                State Farm Center 
Champaign, IL

Mar 4, 2017
11:00 am, ESPNU
at Rutgers   
                Louis Brown Athletic Center 
Piscataway, NJ
Big Ten Tournament

Mar 8–12, 2017
vs.    
                Verizon Center 
Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. Paul, Tony (June 23, 2016). "Ex-Illinois star Nunn to join Golden Grizzlies". Detroit News. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  2. Ryan, Shannon (2015-11-11). "Four-star point guard Te'Jon Lucas signs with Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  3. Stewart, Mark (2015-09-16). "Washington basketball star Te'Jon Lucas commits to Illinois". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  4. Jackson, Marcus (2015-09-16). "Te'Jon Lucas: 'We'll be celebrating'". News Gazette. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  5. Vainisi, Jim (2016-07-21). "Creighton guard Drew Cayce is transferring to Illinois Basketball as a walk-on". SB Nation. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  6. 1 2 Zuvanich, Adam (January 18, 2016). "Belleville East's Pickett pledges to the University of Illinois". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  7. "Illinois lands DaMonte Williams, No. 8 shooting guard in 2017 class". ESPN. February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.