NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament East Regional-Connecticut vs Illinois

Perimeter threat Luke Goode plans to relocate after three seasons at Illinois, leaving the Fighting Illini with three players returning from their Elite Eight roster. Goode, who received his business degree in three years, said he's entering the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Reports indicated he could be headed to rival Indiana. "Three years, two championships and one degree," Goode said in a statement posted to social media on Monday. "The University of Illinois has provided endless opportunities for myself and my family, and I am forever grateful." Goode shot 38.9 percent from 3-point range and made seven starts in 38 games for Illinois last season. He missed the first half of his sophomore season recovering from a preseason foot injury. Illinois lost a pair of guards and assistant coach Chester Frazier to West Virginia, with lightning-fast defensive stopper Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry joining him in Morgantown. Big man Dain Dainja transferred to Memphis. That leaves Ty Rodgers as the primary returnee for Illinois along with Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and backup point guard Nico Moretti, who was not consistently part of head coach Brad Underwood's rotation. The Fighting Illini won 29 games last season but bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the regional semifinal in Boston against eventual national champion UConn. Underwood's incoming recruiting class has received high marks and includes Illinois Mr. Basketball Morez Johnson, a 6-10 forward. Illinois also secured commitments from multiple transfers, headlined by point guard Kylan Boswell (Arizona). The possibility remains that two of Illinois' starters could be back in 2024-25. All-Big Ten forward Marcus Domask petitioned the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility under the medical hardship waiver and forward Coleman Hawkins has an additional year of eligibility remaining under the COVID hardship guidelines established by the NCAA. --Field Level Media