Luke Goode Has Been Key For Illinois Basketball

Luke Goode Has Been Key For Illinois Basketball

Illinois Basketball has not had the most consistent start of the season. Through their games against three non-power five opponents, there have been several stretches of inconsistency. The team seems to come out flat, however, big-time runs have propelled them to wins. In the marquee game against Marquette, Illinois took the lead in the middle of the second half. However, they closed the game out poorly and ended up falling in a valiant effort against the number four team in the country. There have been some concerns regarding the lack of a true point guard. Additionally, the players not named Terrence Shannon seem to have trouble breaking down the defense which compounds the need for a playmaker.

However, Luke Goode has been a consistent stalwart on this team. The junior forward has been outstanding off the bench and deserves lots of praise for being a glue guy.

Strong Shooting

Illinois basketball has struggled from the 3-point line ever since Alfonso Plummer graduated from Champaign. This past offseason, Brad Underwood tried his best to recruit guys who can spread the floor. Marcus Domask, Justin Harmon and Quincy Guerrier have all struggled to find their shot from behind the arc. However, Luke Goode has been outstanding in this. Goode has shot 47.8 percent from the 3 point line through the first four games. Though it is a small sample size, Luke Goode has been that consistent force that Illinois has been searching for. Outside of his shooting spark, Goode has averaged 4.8 rebounds in 20.5 minutes.

Jacob Grandison was one of those pieces of the 2021-2022 team that lots of people underrated. Grandison consistently knocked down threes, got the ball to Kofi Cockburn and always crashed the glass hard. Grandison’s absence towards the end of that season is a big reason why the Big Ten Champions never got to reach their full potential in the offseason.

Looking Forward

Luke Goode will be a huge piece this season. If he can continue his consistent play while the rest of the team kind of finds their sea-legs, he can really have a strong impact. Goode will also have another year of eligibility to help stabilize what will be another young and/or newly put-together team. Remember, the three grad transfers, Terrence Shannon Jr and Coleman Hawkins will all be moving on after this year. Luke will be the elder statesmen on a young team including Morez Johnson, Jase Butler, DGL (hopefully) and more.

Check out the Illini Basketball Podcast for more discussion about Luke Goode’s exceptional play

AUDIO

VIDEO

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