Illinois Basketball’s Luke Goode is the Key

Illinois Basketball’s Luke Goode is the Key

The 2022-23 Illinois Basketball season did not end the way anyone wanted to. The team lost 6 of their last 10 games and the “vibe” was just off. Illinois lost its last three games, including an away game at Purdue and their two postseason games. After a lot of hype about how they were “built for March”, the team flamed out and left everyone with a sour taste. Subsequently, some players who played sizeable minutes left the program. Additionally, there was gossip about each and every player practically. The fanbase knew that a shake-up was coming.

One of the first players that knew he was coming back was rising Junior Luke Goode. Goode had a significant foot injury on the eve of the season’s start. He surprisingly came back to attempt to lift this team, however coming off a significant injury was very tough. If healthy, Goode will be the key to success this coming year.

The key to winning is good veteran play.

Whether Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. return or not, Goode will be a veteran on this team. Even though he did not play much his Sophomore year, this will be his third year in college basketball with the same program. Goode should have a strong grasp on the culture of the program and what Coach Underwood expects. The teams that are most successful in March are the teams that “stay old”.

Illinois has certainly gotten a lot older. All three of their transfer portal adds have multiple years of college basketball experience. We learned last year, however, that there is still an adjustment for new players despite previous college basketball experience. Luke Goode will certainly be one of the few on this team who has been with Illinois for at least one year. Also, Goode and Hawkins would be the only players from the team that won the Big Ten in 2022. That experience matters.

The Next Step.

When Luke Goode played over 10 minutes per game this past season, his averages were impressive. Through a small sample size, he averaged 5.8 ppg on 7/13 3pt shooting. If he can replicate that during his junior season, Goode will be a massive piece. Illinois struggled with floor pacing last year, and Goode is what they need.

Additionally, he would be considered the best pure shooter on this roster. Goode also makes a lot of the hustle plays and has a robust basketball IQ. If he can do what Jacob Grandison did for Illinois, Goode will take this team to another level.