The Illinois men's basketball team completed its ninth day of practice on Friday, exactly three weeks before the Illini's lone exhibition game against Quincy at State Farm Center on Oct. 28.

After winning the Big Ten regular-season title last year, the Illini will have a much different look for the 2022-2023, with eight new players donning the Orange and Blue for the first time.

Transfers Terrence Shannon Jr., Matthew Mayer, and Dain Dainja, and freshmen Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps, Sencire Harris, Ty Rodgers, and Paxton Warden are all adjusting nicely to the new systems and environment, and Brad Underwood says the team is constantly making drastic strides forward.

"I think the one thing that's really got me excited about this group has been the drastic improvements from one day to the next," Underwood said. "Now we're starting to stack days, good days, and that's with really quite big improvements. This group has been unbelievable in terms of their work ethic."

Underwood has "been really pleased" with the five freshmen

Though the Illini only have nine practices in the books, Underwood says he has already been impressed with the freshmen he has brought in. 

Clark missed a few days with a concussion, but he is now back and 100% healthy. With a new starting five this season, Illinois will need production – either off the bench or in the starting lineup – from Clark and the rest of the freshmen.

Underwood highlighted the work of Epps and Rodgers since arriving on campus, but expect to see the underclassmen play a big role this season.

"I've been really pleased with our freshman group and their effort," Underwood said. "We have not had to teach them how to play hard or demand it. You can tell they're winners. You can tell these guys have been a part of winning and success. These guys just do it. They show up, and it's just been basically gaining knowledge and understanding and then putting those things into play against bigger and stronger players. That's just the natural progression that it takes."

The transfers bring much-needed leadership and experience

All three transfers – Shannon, Mayer, and Dainja – will be key pieces on this new-look Illinois team, and Underwood likes how they have all adapted after playing in the Big 12.

Shannon, a Chicago native who transferred from Texas Tech, wakes up at 4:45 a.m. every day and makes 1,000 shots before practice even starts. Though Underwood has told him that that may not be sustainable during the season, the Illini head coach appreciates the dedication from the senior transfer.

One of the biggest reasons Underwood wanted to bring Shannon to Champaign was due to his leadership and veteran experience, something the Illini will lean on, especially early in the year as the pieces of the puzzle continue to come together.

"Terrence has worked his tail off, and I think (strength coach Adam Fletcher) feels great about where he's at in terms of being a little more limber, being loosened up," Underwood said. "He was very active in the Pilates and yoga and all that scene this summer. That's helped him, and he's been fabulous in practice. He hasn't missed a day. He hasn't said anything. He's been that go-hard guy, an everyday guy since he's been here."

Mayer arrived on campus later than the rest of the newcomers after staying at Baylor to finish his degree. He has been dealing with minor back issues, and Underwood says Mayer "is still playing his way back into basketball shape."

The Austin, Texas, native is another newcomer who has embraced a leadership role. With a national championship on his resume, Mayer is set to take on the responsibilities of being the oldest member of this otherwise young Illini roster.

"Those guys have to help those young guys understand how we do it, what we do, and they've got to help them get there as well," Underwood said.

Expect the style of play to drastically differ from the last few seasons 

This should come as no surprise given the loss of Kofi Cockburn and several veterans, but the Illini are a much different team compared to any of the last few seasons. Without a seven-foot big man to throw the ball into who scores 20 points and grabs 10 boards a game, Illinois will have to reinvent itself on both ends of the court this year.

The Illini are a very long, athletic team that has a lot more height than it did one year ago. With the addition of long wings like Rodgers, Mayer, and Shannon to go alongside a returning duo of Luke Goode and RJ Melendez, Illinois has filled the hole on the wing.

"It was a matter of just going out and getting wings. It was bigger wings," Underwood said. "We knew we needed positional size. We knew you're not going to go replace (Cockburn). Not to say we don't have bigs, but you're not going to find a dominant piece like him."

With Coleman Hawkins expected to take on a much bigger role this season and the team continuing to gel as it trains in the newly renovated Ubben Basketball Complex, Underwood says the team is in a "pretty comfortable place."

"I like the way we're playing," Underwood said. "There's a lot of questions, and we'll need to see a different color jersey – in a scrimmage, in an exhibition game – to see how those guys react, but I like this group at this point. 

"It's been great to this point, and hopefully we continue stacking days and getting better."