Illinois Basketball players left off Preseason All Big Ten List

Zero Illinois Basketball Players Make Preseason All-Big Ten

Illinois Basketball is just 34 days from tipping off a highly anticipated season vs the EIU Panthers. Following an Elite 8 run in 2023-24, fans hold high hopes that the Fighting Illini can progress toward another deep NCAA tournament run in 2024-25.

Brad Underwood hit this offseason hard and reloaded his roster with a slough of talent through the portal, in addition to some highly rated prep recruits.  With so many new faces, there is certainly a mystery factor as to how these players will mesh on the court when November rolls around.

When it comes to preseason rankings and projections, some national media will penalize the Illini for uncertainty on their roster. According to a post made by Big Ten Men’s Basketball, zero Fighting Illini players have made the Preseason All-Big Ten selection.

🏀 #B1GMBBall Preseason Awards 🏀

🔗 https://t.co/bqi0bLurVh pic.twitter.com/QjT80FksEA

— Big Ten Men’s Basketball (@B1GMBBall) October 1, 2024

This will seemingly come off as a lack of respect towards the newly locked and loaded Illini roster. Coach Underwood will certainly use this as fuel to fire up his team as they prepare themselves to take on the upcoming season.

Will this Illinois Basketball team end the year with some All-Big Ten selections?

Preseason All-Conference Team List

Omar Ballo – Indiana 

Payton Sandfort – Iowa 

Dawson Garcia – Minnesota 

Brooks Barnhizer – Northwestern 

Bruce Thornton – Ohio State

Jackson Shelstad – Oregon 

Ace Baldwin Jr – Penn State 

Braden Smith – Purdue

Dylan Harper – Rutgers

Great Osobor – Washington 

Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of The Year –  Braden Smith, Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) drives to the basket Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, during basketball practice at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.