2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
The 2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fourth year head coach John Groce, the Illini played their home games at State Farm Center and were members of the Big Ten Conference. In November 2015, the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois hosted Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball for five games while renovations to the State Farm Center were completed.[1] They finished the season 15–19, 5–13 in Big Ten play to finish in 12th place. The Illini defeated Minnesota and Iowa to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, where they lost to Purdue.
2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball | |
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Conference | Big Ten Conference |
2015–16 record | 15–19 (5–13 Big Ten) |
Head coach | John Groce (4th season) |
Assistant coaches |
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Home arena | State Farm Center Prairie Capital Convention Center |
2015–16 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 14 Indiana | 15 | – | 3 | .833 | 27 | – | 8 | .771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Michigan State † | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 29 | – | 6 | .829 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 18 Maryland | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 27 | – | 9 | .750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Purdue | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 26 | – | 9 | .743 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 25 Iowa | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 22 | – | 11 | .667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 22 | – | 13 | .629 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 22 | – | 13 | .629 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 23 | – | 13 | .639 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 20 | – | 12 | .625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penn State | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 16 | – | 16 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nebraska | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 16 | – | 18 | .471 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 5 | – | 13 | .278 | 15 | – | 19 | .441 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 2 | – | 16 | .111 | 11 | – | 20 | .355 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rutgers | 1 | – | 17 | .056 | 7 | – | 25 | .219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† 2016 Big Ten Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
Previous season
The Fighting Illini finished the 2014-15 Season with an overall record of 19–14, 9–9 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They lost in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan. They were invited to the NIT where they lost in the first round to Alabama.
Offseason
Departures
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
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Ahmad Starks | 3 | G | 5'9" | 170 | RS Senior | Chicago, IL | Graduated & pro for Eco Örebro |
Aaron Cosby | 11 | G | 6'3" | 205 | RS Junior | Louisville, KY | Graduated & transferred to Western Kentucky |
Ryan Schmidt | 14 | G | 6'0" | 180 | Senior | Bloomington, IL | Graduated |
Rayvonte Rice | 24 | G | 6'4" | 230 | RS Senior | Champaign, IL | Graduated & pro for Tezenis Verona |
Austin Colbert | 31 | F | 6'9" | 200 | Sophomore | Chesapeake, VA | Transferred to Old Dominion |
Nnanna Egwu | 32 | C | 6'11" | 250 | Senior | Chicago, IL | Graduated & pro for Erie BayHawks |
2015 recruiting class
On March 5, 2015 Illinois signee Jalen Coleman-Lands was named one of 26 high school seniors who participated in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 17, 2015, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[2] Coleman-Lands is the second Illini to be selected to play in the Jordan Classic, joining Dee Brown who played for the Red team in 2002.[3]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Jalen Coleman-Lands PG/SG |
Indianapolis, IN | La Lumiere (IN) | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Sep 23, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Aaron Jordan SG |
Plainfield, IL | Plainfield East (IL) | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jan 4, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
D.J. Williams SF |
Chicago, IL | Simeon (IL) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Nov 5, 2013 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 11 Rivals: 12 247Sports: 10 ESPN: 15 | ||||||
Sources:
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Incoming transfer students
Darius Paul was immediately eligible to play during the 15-16 season due to the junior college student transfer exception rules of the NCAA. While overseas on Illinois' preseason European trip, Paul was arrested in Deauville, France on August 14, 2015 and charged with vandalism, public intoxication and resisting arrest.[4] Head coach John Groce later dismissed Paul from the Illinois basketball team on August 21, 2015.[5]
Khalid Lewis and Mike Thorne Jr. are immediately eligible to play during the 15-16 season due to the graduate student transfer exception rules of the NCAA. Kipper Nichols was granted release of his scholarship from Tulane on September 22, 2015. He will join Illinois before the spring 2016 semester, and will be ineligible to play as a redshirt transfer until the spring of 2017.[6][7]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Khalid Lewis[8] PG |
Trenton, NJ | Trenton Catholic Academy / Delaware / La Salle |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Aug 8, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: | ||||||
Kipper Nichols[6] SF |
Lakewood, OH | St. Edward / Tulane | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Nov 11, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Darius Paul[9] PF |
Gurnee, IL | Warren Township HS / Western Michigan / Lamar State College–Port Arthur |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Nov 12, 2014 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: | ||||||
Mike Thorne Jr.[10] C |
Fayetteville, NC | Trinity Christian School / Charlotte | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Apr 18, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources: |
2017 recruiting class
On September 16, 2015, Te'Jon Lucas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2016 and signed his National Letter of Intent to finalize his recruitment on November 11, 2015. Lucas attended the NBA Top 100 camp in June 2015, had scholarship offers from California, Memphis, Purdue, and Wisconsin, and he strongly considered both USC and Old Dominion before committing to Illinois.[11][12] Lucas is only the third player from the State of Wisconsin to commit to Illinois, and is the first since 1926.[13]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Te'Jon Lucas PG |
Milwaukee, WI | Washington (WI) | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Sep 16, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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2018 team recruiting class
On January 16, 2016, Javon Pickett of Belleville, Illinois verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017.[14] Pickett committed after having scholarship offers from Drake, Illinois State, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Saint Louis University and Tennessee State.[14] During Illinois' final home game against Minnesota on February 28, 2016, Da'Monte Williams verbally committed to attend Illinois in the fall of 2017. Williams is the son of former Illinois guard Frank Williams, who led the Fighting Illini to three straight NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2001.[15]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Javon Pickett SG |
Belleville, IL | Belleville East (IL) | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jan 16, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Da'Monte Williams CG |
Peoria, IL | Manual (IL) | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 29, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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Roster
2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Regular season
Injuries
Coach Groce announced on July 3 that incoming freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands had suffered a stress fracture and would be held out from basketball activities indefinitely. The injury forced Coleman-Lands to miss the team's European exhibition trip at the beginning of August.[17] However, Coleman-Lands was cleared for basketball activities at the end of September and played in the team's exhibition game against the University of Illinois at Springfield on November 8.[18]
On July 28, Coach Groce announced that redshirt graduate student point guard Tracy Abrams had suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during summer workouts which would cause him to miss the entire 2015-16 season. The injury forced Abrams to use his second medical redshirt so he can return for the 2016-17 season for a sixth year of eligibility.[19]
On October 8, it was announced that sophomore Leron Black would miss 4–6 weeks after having surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. Black returned to the lineup during the win against North Dakota State on November 15, 2015.[20][21] However, in the game against North Dakota State, Black suffered a contusion on his repaired knee. After sitting out games against Yale and University of Illinois at Chicago, Coach Groce announced on December 17, 2015 that Black would be out indefinitely due to persistent swelling and soreness in his knee.[22]
On October 20, Coach Groce announced that junior Kendrick Nunn would miss about 8 weeks after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.[23]
During the first half of the season opener loss to North Florida, junior point guard Jaylon Tate suffered a dislocated finger that required surgery later that evening.[24]
Both Nunn and Tate returned from injuries during a win against UAB in Niceville, Florida.[25]
During the first half of a loss to Iowa State, graduate transfer Mike Thorne, Jr. suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee. He will be out indefinitely.[26]
Schedule and results
Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
European trip | |||||||||||
Aug 11, 2015* 1:00 pm |
Waregem | W 68–63 | – |
16 – Black | 14 – Black | 2 – Tied | Sportcentrum de Treffer (417) Waregem, Belgium | ||||
Aug 12, 2015* |
Netherlands national team | L 54–81 | – |
10 – Tied | 8 – Black | 5 – Tate | Topsportcentrum Rotterdam (1,500) Rotterdam, Netherlands | ||||
Aug 15, 2015* 1:00 pm |
Bretigny Select | W 95–73 | – |
15 – Black | 10 – Black | 6 – Tate | Ecole Élémentaire Joliot Curie Gymnase (544) Brétigny-sur-Orge, France | ||||
Aug 17, 2015* 7:45:00 pm |
AMW Select | W 96–77 | – |
21 – Black | 15 – Black | 6 – Tate | Halle Georges Carpentier (310) Paris, France | ||||
Exhibition | |||||||||||
Nov 8, 2015* 2:00 pm |
Illinois-Springfield | W 104–69 | – |
20 – Coleman-Lands | 9 – Thorne | 4 – Tied | Prairie Capital Convention Center (5,833) Springfield, IL | ||||
Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
Nov 13, 2015* 7:00 pm, BTN+ |
North Florida | L 81–93 | 0–1 |
25 – Thorne | 14 – Thorne | 5 – Hill | Prairie Capital Convention Center (5,186) Springfield, IL | ||||
Nov 15, 2015* 2:00 pm, ESPN3 |
North Dakota State | W 80–74[21] | 1–1 |
21 – Thorne | 8 – Thorne | 5 – Hill | Prairie Capital Convention Center (5,332) Springfield, IL | ||||
Nov 18, 2015* 6:00 pm, FS1 |
at Providence Gavitt Tipoff Games |
L 59–60 | 1–2 |
17 – Coleman-Lands | 11 – Hill | 4 – Austin | Dunkin' Donuts Center (8,069) Providence, RI | ||||
Nov 21, 2015* 7:30 pm, BTN |
Chattanooga Emerald Coast Classic |
W 81–77 | 1–3 |
25 – Hill | 11 – Thorne | 4 – Lewis | Prairie Capital Convention Center Springfield, IL | ||||
Nov 23, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Chicago State Emerald Coast Classic |
W 82–79 | 2–3 |
17 – Finke | 9 – Thorne | 7 – Hill | Prairie Capital Convention Center (5,023) Springfield, IL | ||||
Nov 27, 2015* 8:30 pm, CBSSN |
vs. UAB Emerald Coast Classic semifinals |
W 72–58 | 3–3 |
18 – Nunn | 8 – Thorne, Jr. | 6 – Hill | Northwest Florida State College (2,222) Niceville, FL | ||||
Nov 28, 2015* 6:15:00 pm, CBSSN |
vs. No. 4 Iowa State Emerald Coast Classic championship game |
L 73–84 | 3–4 |
20 – Hill | 8 – Black | 5 – Lewis | Northwest Florida State College (2,222) Niceville, FL | ||||
Dec 2, 2015* 8:15:00 pm, ESPN2 |
Notre Dame ACC–Big Ten Challenge |
L 79–84 | 3–5 |
19 – Hill | 7 – Tied | 6 – Tate | State Farm Center (14,953) Champaign, IL | ||||
Dec 5, 2015* 2:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Western Carolina | W 80–68 | 4–5 |
27 – Nunn | 6 – Finke | 3 – Tate | State Farm Center (11,455) Champaign, IL | ||||
Dec 9, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 |
Yale | W 69–65[16] | 5–5 |
28 – Nunn | 5 – Hill | 7 – Hill | State Farm Center (11,648) Champaign, IL | ||||
Dec 12, 2015* 1:00 pm, ESPN3 |
vs. UIC | W 83–79 | 6–5 |
22 – Hill | 5 – Tied | 8 – Lewis | United Center (5,151) Chicago, IL | ||||
Dec 19, 2015* 2:00 pm, ESPN3 |
South Dakota | W 91–79 | 7–5 |
34 – Hill | 11 – Hill | 6 – Lewis | State Farm Center (11,714) Champaign, IL | ||||
Dec 23, 2015* 6:00 pm, ESPN2 |
vs. Missouri Braggin' Rights |
W 68–63 | 8–5 |
21 – Hill | 11 – Nunn | 4 – Lewis | Scottrade Center (14,456) St. Louis, MO | ||||
Big Ten regular season | |||||||||||
Dec 30, 2015 2:00 pm, ESPN2 |
Michigan | L 68–78 | 8–6 (0–1) |
23 – Nunn | 8 – Finke | 4 – Tate | State Farm Center (13,974) Champaign, IL | ||||
Jan 3, 2016 4:00 pm, BTN |
at Ohio State | L 73–75 | 8–7 (0–2) |
14 – Tied | 7 – Tied | 5 – Tate | Value City Arena (12,798) Columbus, OH | ||||
Jan 7, 2016 8:00 pm, ESPN |
at No. 5 Michigan State | L 54–79 | 8–8 (0–3) |
15 – Morgan | 7 – Finke | 2 – Tied | Breslin Student Events Center (14,797) East Lansing, MI | ||||
Jan 10, 2016 5:00 pm, BTN |
No. 20 Purdue | W 84–70 | 9–8 (1–3) |
30 – Hill | 8 – Hill | 3 – Tied | State Farm Center (12,246) Champaign, IL | ||||
Jan 16, 2016 1:30 pm, BTN |
Nebraska | L 67–78 | 9–9 (1–4) |
17 – Hill | 5 – Nunn | 7 – Hill | State Farm Center (12,510) Champaign, IL | ||||
Jan 19, 2016 6:00 pm, ESPN |
at Indiana Rivalry |
L 69–103 | 9–10 (1–5) |
20 – Hill | 9 – Thorne, Jr. | 5 – Tate | Assembly Hall (17,472) Bloomington, IN | ||||
Jan 23, 2016 7:30 pm, BTN |
at Minnesota | W 76–71 OT | 10–10 (2–5) |
28 – Hill | 16 – Finke | 6 – Tate | Williams Arena (11,026) Minneapolis, MN | ||||
Jan 28, 2016 8:00 pm, BTN |
Ohio State | L 63–68 OT | 10–11 (2–6) |
24 – Nunn | 8 – Hill | 3 – Tate | State Farm Center (13,263) Champaign, IL | ||||
Jan 31, 2016 6:30 pm, BTN |
Wisconsin | L 55–63 | 10–12 (2–7) |
22 – Hill | 4 – Morgan | 2 – Tied | State Farm Center (13,609) Champaign, IL | ||||
Feb 3, 2016 5:30 pm, BTN |
at Rutgers | W 110–101 3OT | 11–12 (3–7) |
34 – Hill | 14 – Hill | 8 – Lewis | The RAC (4,500) Piscataway, NJ | ||||
Feb 7, 2016 12:00 pm, BTN |
No. 5 Iowa Rivalry |
L 65–77 | 11–13 (3–8) |
17 – Coleman-Lands | 8 – Hill | 4 – Hill | State Farm Center (13,849) Champaign, IL | ||||
Feb 13, 2016 7:00 pm, BTN |
at Northwestern | L 56–58 | 11–14 (3–9) |
13 – Nunn | 13 – Hill | 8 – Hill | Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117) Evanston, IL | ||||
Feb 16, 2016 8:00 pm, BTN |
Rutgers | W 82–66 | 12–14 (4–9) |
22 – Hill | 10 – Hill | 8 – Lewis | State Farm Center (11,323) Champaign, IL | ||||
Feb 21, 2016 6:30 pm, BTN |
at Wisconsin | L 60–69 | 12–15 (4–10) |
20 – Hill | 7 – Hill | 4 – Lewis | Kohl Center (17,287) Madison, WI | ||||
Feb 25, 2016 8:00 pm, ESPN |
No. 18 Indiana Rivalry |
L 47–74 | 12–16 (4–11) |
21 – Coleman-Lands | 4 – Nunn | 2 – Coleman-Lands | State Farm Center (12,857) Champaign, IL | ||||
Feb 28, 2016 7:00 pm, BTN |
Minnesota | W 84–71 | 13–16 (5–11) |
25 – Nunn | 7 – Hill | 5 – Hill | State Farm Center (12,008) Champaign, IL | ||||
Mar 3, 2016 6:00 pm, ESPN |
at No. 14 Maryland | L 55–81 | 13–17 (5–12) |
21 – Morgan | 10 – Morgan | 6 – Tate | Xfinity Center (17,950) College Park, MD | ||||
Mar 6, 2016 11 am, BTN |
at Penn State | L 79–86 2OT | 13–18 (5–13) |
39 – Hill | 13 – Hill | 2 – Williams | Bryce Jordan Center (9,104) University Park, PA | ||||
Big Ten Tournament | |||||||||||
Mar 9, 2016 3:30 pm, ESPN2 |
(12) | vs. (13) Minnesota First round |
W 85–52 | 14–18 |
17 – Finke | 6 – Hill | 4 – Tate | Bankers Life Fieldhouse (16,528) Indianapolis, IN | |||
Mar 10, 2016 1:30 pm, BTN |
(12) | vs. (5) No. 20 Iowa Second round |
W 68–66 | 15–18 |
17 – Coleman-Lands | 7 – Morgan | 5 – Hill | Bankers Life Fieldhouse (15,707) Indianapolis, IN | |||
Mar 11, 2016 1:30 pm, ESPN |
(12) | vs. (4) No. 13 Purdue Quarterfinals |
L 58–89 | 15–19 |
17 – Morgan | 7 – Hill | 2 – Tied | Bankers Life Fieldhouse (18,355) Indianapolis, IN | |||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |
References
- "Prairie Capital Convention Center to Host Illini in November 2015". University of Illinois DIA. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- Jackson, Marcus (2015-03-05). "Coleman-Lands selected for Jordan game". News-Gazette. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
- "All-Time Jordan Brand All-Americans". Jordan Brand Classic. 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
- "Illinois F Darius Paul suspended after arrest on team trip in France". Sports Illustrated. August 16, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- "Illinois forward Darius Paul dismissed after arrest in France". ESPN. August 21, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- Bielik, Tim (2015-11-11). "Former St. Edward basketball star Kipper Nichols signs with Illinois". Plain Deal Publishing. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- Bielik, Tim (2015-09-22). "Former St. Edward basketball star Kipper Nichols granted release from Tulane scholarship". Plain Deal Publishing. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- Rothstein, Jon (2015-08-08). "La Salle's Khalid Lewis commits to Illinois, immediately eligible". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
- "LSC-PA Seahawk Paul intends to play for Illini". The Beaumont Enterprise. November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- Ryan, Shannon (2015-04-18). "Illini land Charlotte transfer Mike Thorne, Jr". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
- Ryan, Shannon (2015-11-11). "Four-star point guard Te'Jon Lucas signs with Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- Stewart, Mark (2015-09-16). "Washington basketball star Te'Jon Lucas commits to Illinois". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- Jackson, Marcus (2015-09-16). "Te'Jon Lucas: 'We'll be celebrating'". News Gazette. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- Zuvanich, Adam (January 18, 2016). "Belleville East's Pickett pledges to the University of Illinois". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- "Illinois lands DaMonte Williams, No. 8 shooting guard in 2017 class". ESPN. February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "Game 10 box score". University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- Duber, Vinnie (2015-07-03). "Illini's Jalen Coleman-Lands sidelined with stress fracture". CSN Chicago. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- Jackson, Marcus (2015-10-11). "Coleman-Lands gains new view after injury". News-Gazette. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- "Illinois PG Tracy Abrams to miss second straight season". Sports Illustrated. 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- "Illini look to cover for Leron Black, who will undergo meniscus surgery". ESPN. 2015-10-08. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- "Men's Basketball vs North Dakota State on 11/15/2015". University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- "Black out indefinitely". News Gazette. December 17, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- Ryan, Shannon (2015-10-20). "Illini guard Kendrick Nunn out eight weeks with thumb injury". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- "Illinois point guard Jaylon Tate undergoes finger surgery". ESPN. 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
- Jackson, Marcus (2015-11-27). "Nunn sparkles in return". News Gazette. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- Jackson, Marcus (2015-11-30). "Thorne tears meniscus". News Gazette. Retrieved 2015-11-30.