The 2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represents the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the 2017-18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by first-year head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini play their home games at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois as members of the Big Ten Conference.
Video 2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
Previous season
The Illini finished the 2016-17 season 20-15, 8-10 in Big Ten play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Valparaiso and Boise State before losing in the quarterfinals to UCF.
On March 11, 2017, Illinois fired head coach John Groce. On March 18, the school hired Brad Underwood as the new head coach.
Maps 2017-18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
Offseason
Coaching changes
Following Brad Underwood's hiring as head coach, Jamall Walker was retained as an assistant. Underwood hired controversial former South Florida head coach Orlando Antigua who was fired as head coach from South Florida due to an NCAA investigation into academic violations. Underwood also hired Ron Coleman as an assistant and Stephen Gentry as assistant to the head coach.
Player departures
Decommits
On January 16, 2016, three-star shooting guard Javon Pickett of Belleville, Illinois verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017. After the firing of John Groce, Pickett asked for and received a release of his letter of intent to Illinois. On November 17, 2016, five-star recruit Jeremiah Tilmon announced that he had signed his letter of intent with Illinois the previous day, after a week of press uncertainty. However, after the coaching change at Illinois, Tilmon requested and received a release of his letter of intent with the school.
Recruiting class
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. On November 9, 2016 Trent Frazier signed a national letter of intent after considering Memphis, Georgia, Kansas State and Seton Hall, among others. On April 27, 2017, four-star point guard Mark Smith, Mr. Illinois Basketball for 2017, announced he would attend Illinois. On June 12, Slovenian bigman Matic Vesel committed to Illinois.
Incoming transfers
Future recruits
2018-19 team recruits
Roster
Schedule and results
The 2018 Big Ten Tournament will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York. Due to the Big East's use of that venue for their conference tournament, the Big Ten Tournament will take place one week earlier than usual, ending the week before Selection Sunday. This could result in teams having nearly two weeks off before the NCAA Tournament. As a result, it is anticipated that the Big Ten regular season will begin in mid-December.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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