Illinois Basketball Season Preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more

Illinois steps into the 2024-25 college basketball season looking to duplicate or eclipse its Elite Eight finish last year. However, the pressure is on the coaching staff, led by Brad Underwood, to make the team competitive this coming season, considering that most of his current lineup are either transfers or freshmen.

Here's a deeper look into Illinois' 2024-25 men's basketball campaign, its biggest games, key players to watch out for and what to expect from the team.

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Illinois' biggest games in the 2024-25 season

Illinois will have a heavy non-conference schedule this coming season. They face four SEC non-conference opponents in Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, and ACC powerhouse Duke. Alabama made it to the Final Four while Duke and Tennessee figured in the Elite Eight.

The Big 10 also released its regular season schedule and Illinois will play home and away games against Michigan State, Northwestern and Wisconsin.

ILLINOIS' 2024-25	BIG 10 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Home and Away	Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Home only	Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC
Away only	Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington

The Fighting Illini will play host to Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA and USC. It will visit Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers and Washington.

The Big 10 regular season is expected to begin in the first week of January.

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Key Illinois players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season

The Illinois Fighting Illini will have 14 players in their 2024-25 men's basketball roster. The team is made up of three holdovers, six transfers and five freshmen. Coach Brad Underwood will likely make major adjustments to make them work as a cohesive unit this coming season.

Here are the three players college basketball fans should keep an eye on in the 2024-25 season.

#1. Tre White

Tre White stretches for a layup attempt (Image Source: IMAGN)

Tre White is coming off a great sophomore season with Louisville, averaging 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He shot 45.6% from the field and 75.2% from the free-throw line.

The 6-7 sophomore is expected to play shooting guard for Illinois in his third year of college basketball as he hopes to improve his scoring average.

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#2. Ben Humrichous

Ben Humrichous gave a good account of himself in his only season with Evansville last year. The 6-9 forward averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.6 minutes per game for the Purple Aces this past season.

Humrichous had an excellent shooting clip for Evansville at 48.4% with a 41.4% clip from the 3-point line. He also shot 75.7% from the 15-foot line. He is expected to play solid minutes as a power forward for Illinois.

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#3. Will Riley

Highly touted forward Will Riley is set to make his much-awaited college basketball debut with Illinois. Riley is a five-star prospect per Rivals.com and 247Sports, and a four-star forward in the ESPN rankings.

The 6-8 Kitchener, Ontario native will play the role of small forward for the Fighting Illini and is expected to pile on the points for the team in its quest to contend for the Big 10 title and a possible NCAA Tournament stint.

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Illinois predictions for the 2024-25 season

Illinois will bring in a transfer and freshman-heavy lineup this season in the hopes of making it to its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament. Brad Underwood hopes to lead his troops to a 20-win season that would give them a good chance of making it to the annual tournament.

However, it remains to be seen how the Fighting Illini play as a unit with a ton of unfamiliar faces teaming up. Expect Illinois to figure prominently in the Big 10, qualify for and potentially go beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament if it gets hot at the right time.

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Will Illinois make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season? Let us know your views in the comments section.