June 22 — Now that the Thanksgiving Day matchup with Arkansas has been announced, Illinois is set to face five conference powerhouse teams on its non-conference schedule next season. Here’s a look at all five that feature new-look lineups, just like the Illini:
Alabama
Mark Sears withdrawing from the NBA draft to return to the Crimson Tide was as important a roster decision as any in the country. Up there with RJ Davis opting for one last season at North Carolina. Because Sears, like Davis, will almost certainly be a preseason All-American. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists last season as a 51/44/86 shooter, and should be just as productive in 2024-25. Alabama also got the return of Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Jarin Stevenson and will round out its rotation with five-star freshman wing Derrion Reid, Rutgers moving Clifford Omoruyi at middle and moving guards Chris Youngblood (South Florida) and Aden Holloway ( Brown).
Arkansas
The Razorbacks have even fewer returning scholarship players than Illinois, with Trevon Brazile being the only holdover from the Eric Musselman era other than walk-on Lawson Blake. New coach John Calipari had to build his team basically from scratch, with Brazil being one of the last additions after he withdrew from the NBA draft. It’s a small group, too, with just nine scholarship players with Kentucky transfers (DJ Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic) and former Kentucky signees (Billy Richmond III, Karter Knox and Boogie Fland). Only Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis and Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo did not have an established relationship with Calipari.
Tennessee
Santiago Vescovi may be out of eligibility, but Tennessee’s backcourt will look relatively familiar with the return of Zakai Ziegler, Jordan Gainey and Jahmai Mashack. Dalton Knecht, of course, is about to be a lottery pick, and replacing his nearly 22 points per game will be a challenge. The one where Chaz Lanier transferred to North Florida or Darlinstone Dubar to Hofstra could be the solution in 2024-25. Lanier averaged 19.7 points and shot 44 percent on three-pointers last season, while Dubar led the Pride with 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a 40 percent three-point shooter . The Vols’ frontcourt will be all-new behind Felix Okpara (Ohio State) and Igor Milici Jr.
Missouri
Illinois defeating Missouri last December to claim bragging rights was basically the beginning of the end for the Tigers. They won just one more time, eight days later against Central Arkansas, before losing 19 in a row against SEC opponents. Missouri coach Dennis Gates changed most of his roster this offseason, with Tamar Bates, Aidan Shaw and a healthy Caleb Grill (played in just nine games last year) as returning rotation players. Four-star freshman wing Annor Boateng was a solid addition, but the Tigers went heavy on the portal to add Tony Perkins (Iowa), Mark Mitchell (Duke), Marques Warrick (Northern Kentucky) and Jacob Crews (UT Martin). Warrick and Crews were top-notch scorers in the Horizon League and Ohio Valley Conference.
Duke
Jon Scheyer is clearly as sold on positional size as Brad Underwood. Just look at Duke’s roster. The only player listed under 6-foot-3 is former 5-8 guard Spencer Hubbard. A realistic lineup for the Blue Devils could easily go 6-5 Caleb Foster, 6-5 Tyrese Proctor, 6-6 Sion James, 6-9 Cooper Flagg and 7-2 Khaman Maluach. Whatever the starting lineup or rotation is, it will be built around Flagg. The five-star freshman was the top recruit in the 2024 class and is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. And the roster turnover Duke experienced this spring, with seven players transferring and two more entering the draft, allowed Scheyer to truly rebuild around his prized freshman.
