Illinois is hoping to see an improvement in chemistry, an issue that likely hurt them down the stretch last season when they failed to make the NCAA tournament after ending the season in blowout losses.
But according to a report from Marcus Jackson of the Champaign News-Gazette, the team has a renewed focus on cleaning up locker-room issues this offseason and the new freshmen also seemed to have acclimated nicely. Since a pair of shot-happy seniors in Rayvonte Rice and Ahmad Starks are gone from the program — as well as transfer guard Aaron Cosby at midseason — there are also more looks to go around on the offensive end.