With fifth year senior transfer Mike Thorne Jr. likely out for the rest of the year with a left knee injury, and numerous players just returning from injuries, Illinois finds itself in a perilous situation entering its first game tomorrow in the newly renovated State Farm Center as it takes on an excellent, but struggling, Notre Dame squad.
Thorne went down at the end of the first half against Iowa State on Saturday, injuring his knee. Today we found out he had to have surgery to remove the meniscus.
Thorne’s untimely exit was the primary reason that Iowa State was able to step away from Illinois in the second half of its 84 to 73 Emerald Coast Classic title game win.