July 24 – What made last February’s surprising win against Indiana even more impressive – it was the most significant individual win of the 2023-24 season for Illinois before the Illini’s run to the WBIT title – was that the coach did it by playing just six players.
That shortened bench had varying degrees of success last winter, but Illinois put together its most complete performance of the regular season by playing a mix of , , , and for all 200 minutes in an 86-66 defeat of then-No. 14 Indiana that no one expected.
The subject of his team’s depth – or lack thereof – is something Green addressed freely when asked directly about the topic. The third-year Illini coach would be the first to admit this has been an issue in her first two seasons at CU.
The question is whether the offseason roster moves made by Illinois will make this a moot point during the 2024-24 season.
— especially if the Mississippi State transfer’s three-point shooting has improved, as has been said around the Ubben Basketball Complex — could provide an important spark in that regard. “And the fact is, Illinois simply hasn’t had a presence like the 6-foot-5 Baylor transfer”.
The Illini, at least on paper, should be able to go nine deep with a rotation featuring the four returning starters (Bostic, Bryant, Cook and McKenzie) and some variation of Dolan, , , Brown-Hagger and Vasconcelos. There is also some optimism around companies like and .
Mostly, though, Green has options.
“That’s where, with these (summer) practices, and more time on the court where we can train and play, I’m able to bring different people and different formations together and really see who can do what and put people in different positions,” said the Illinois coach. “Someone like Berry, who’s a freshman, I have her playing a little wing and then I have her playing a little bit (offense), and she learned that very quickly. Some of those kids that flex, KB. , Brynn (center) … it was nice to have those opportunities to see different combinations.”
