While awaiting the opening tip of the opening game, and also for the weather to get back up into the seventies, whichever comes first, I thought I'd take a few minutes and consider some comps of another Top Twenty-Five Preseason pick, which also happens to be on our schedule. This is what I found:
Much has been said regarding The Illini returning players, or lack thereof, and it is well noted. Largely I'm convinced, one of the reasons for the somewhat lower ranking than some might have expected, or hoped for.
But, from what I can tell, we are not alone. Take the UCLA Bruin's for example; their low number of returning players are almost equally concerning if you are a Bruin fan. In my opinion.
Unless I am mistaken, the information provided by UCLA Men's 21-22 stats and compared them with their 22-23 roster, they can be equally concerning such as ours.
They have just six returning players, only five with significant minutes, as follows:
6-7 Sr, Jaquez Jr., Jaime; Avg 30.5 mpg and 13.9 pts with 5.9 Reb
6-5 So G Jaylen Clark; 18.1/6.7/3.8
5-11 (R) Jr Tyger Campbell; 32.3/11.9/2.5 (141 A / 44 TO in 33 g)
6-10 (R)Sr C Myles Johnson; 18.1/3.6/5.4
6-4 Sr G David Singleton; 16.7/4.8/1.5
6-10 Jr C Kenneth Nwuba; 6.2/1.5/0.9
None of the above should strike fear into the cares of the die-hard Illini Loyalty fan. But also, the same as us, they have a plethora of incoming Freshmen. Editor's Note: for those living in South Boston, plethora means plenty. Sorry if I threw you off.
Their Roster page lists eight Freshmen, two of special note to Illini Recruiting fans, who surely will receive significant minutes, are:
Amari Bailey, 6-5 G; Chicago, and,
Mac Etienne, 6-10 C; listed as (R) F.
The other six listed newcomers I am not familiar with. Maybe the Loyalty experts reading this will provide that information before game time.
So with that said, my analysis is that I don't see a lot of difference in the expectations and potential of the two teams, and am not sure the voters got it right. Maybe our Fighting Illini should be rated #8 and the Bruins should be #23.
Either way, we shall soon find out.
- ILL -