The story lines heading into this game were all about who Illinois wanted and lost. Mostly it was about Jeremiah Tilmon, the coveted post from East St. Louis, and Mark Smith, the heralded guard from Edwardsville. Both players Illinois coaches wanted on their roster. Tilmon never made it to Champaign, while Smith made it but transferred and landed in Columbia.
Little fuss was made about Javon Pickett. The unranked, oft-forgotten member of the 2017 John Groce recruiting class. When Brad Underwood took over the reigns, he was given his release with very little fanfare.