Men’s storylines
Healthy perspective
Paul Schmidt is a great guy with interesting stories to tell, but Illinois players have been spending too much time with the athletic trainer the last few seasons. Staying healthy will be key for the Illini this season after major injuries took their toll last season.
Point of contention
A dicey point-guard situation was made worse when Tracy Abrams was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. Jaylon Tate and La Salle transfer Khalid Lewis are in a battle for the position, which will continue to be a hot topic until the regular-season opener Nov.