MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WCIA) – Illinois men’s basketball will call on a number of young players in the big dance.

Four Illini players are in their first year of college basketball. Plus, a few others on the team who are not new to college basketball are still new to the NCAA tournament.

As Brad Underwood takes Illinois to the tournament for the fifth-straight season, he believes freshman guard Will Riley could be a key contributor.

“He’s gifted. He’s got a gift,” Underwood said of Riley. “…I believe in him… He’s had some unbelievable moments. He’s become a guy that we truly believe gives us that third facilitator, along with [Kasparas Jakucionis] and maybe a fourth with — you know, because [Tomislav Ivisic] been so big for us. He’s making great decisions. I call him slippery. He’s just slippery. He gets where he wants to go. He forces help, and he’s making great decisions and elevating his
teammates. He shoots it from 3. He scores it at the rim. He scores it off the bounce. He’s got a lot of tools… I really have a feeling that he could be a huge player in this tournament.”

Another true freshman who will almost certainly play a big role if Illinois can find March success is Morez Johnson Jr. The Chicago-area native expects to have some family and friends in attendance as U of I takes on Xavier on Friday. Will he be nervous in his NCAA tournament debut?

“No, I don’t think I’ll be nervous,” Johnson Jr. said on Thursday. “I just approach every game like a normal game. Play hard as I can, do my job, be a great teammate. But it’s definitely surreal being out there on the floor competing in March in the NCAA tournament.”

The Illini meet the Musketeers at 8:45 p.m. CT on Friday, airing on WCIA/ CBS.