CHAMPAIGN — A tumultuous offseason, rife with allegations of verbal abuse of players, medical mistreatment and racism by the Illinois coaching staff, gave way to a successful team trip to France, a positive preseason and a 7-1 start for the Illini.
The lone loss came against a Miami team that would ultimately find its way into the Top 25 for the bulk of the season. And Illinois felt it should have won the game, leading by eight heading into the fourth quarter.
Two games later, freshman guard and second-leading scorer CeCe Rice went down with a knee injury that’s ultimately cost her the rest of the season.