(WCIA) – Although their season didn’t end the way they wanted, Illinois men’s basketball could have plenty of returning guys for next year. With three freshmen on the field, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood thinks his team could be one of the best in the country next year.
Starting freshman point guard Jayden Epps recorded the team’s best fourth minutes, missing two games with a concussion. Freshman Sencire Harris and Ty Rodgers were two of the team’s five all-game appearances this year. Epps says gaining that experience as a freshman can only lead to better things in their next few years in orange and blue.
“I feel like we freshmen have had a huge impact this year, so I feel like the sky’s the limit for us and what we can do in the future” , Epps said. “We will all continue to work. I love these guys on and off the pitch, we’ve built a great relationship and I feel like we can all do something special together.
“All of these guys had great years,” Underwood said. “If they choose to leave, it’s on them. All of our freshmen have had a great time helping and contributing to us. It’s not a question of rights, it’s a question of merit and these guys have earned it and if they all come back we will be one of the best teams in the country.
Illinois has the majority of the guys coming back next year.
