Illinois coach Brad Underwood said way back at Illini basketball media day that in order for his team to be special, power forward Leron Black had to be the best that he could be this season. Black came to Champaign as a highly heralded recruit, registering as high at #37 nationally by some services.
This non-conference season is the first time that we’ve seen the junior start to truly realize the potential.ย Black, who averages a team leading 14.8 points per game, saw his career-long active streak of seven-straight games scoring in double figures come to an end last night in the 89-82 Illini basketball loss at UNLV.ย
That’s because Black only played 12 minutes before leaving the game with what was designated a left elbow injury. He watched the rest of the game, which didn’t tip until after 11 pm central time, from the bench with his left arm in a sling.ย
Due to television delays (as TV has complete hegemony over all aspects of every sport these days), the conclusion of the contest did not come until after 1:30 a.m. and it was pretty much 2 a.m. when Underwood talked to the media in post game.
The Illini basketball coach said athletic trainer Paul Schmidt told him Black suffered a hyperextension of his left elbow.
โHeโs down, obviously,โ said junior forward Michael Finke, Black’s partner in the front court. โWhen he gets back theyโll take care of him, and hopefully we can get him back soon.โ
โHeโs a huge player for us offensively and defensively and on the boards both ways,โ Finke said. โIt was a big loss for us, but I thought still as a team we stepped it up together and we executed for the most part.โ
No further injury information was disclosed and no time table return for a return was set.
Despite the massive size and free throw disparities, Illini basketball still managed to keep it close, up until the final couple of minutes, and out-rebound the second best rebounding team in the nation. The Runninโ Rebels went 33 of 48 from the charity stripe, while the Illini were 11 for 15.ย Illinois beat UNLV on the boards 39-34, even largely without the services of their third leading rebounder in Black.
Obviously, it will be a huge loss for Illinois if they are to be without Black for an extended period of time. In many ways, he has become this team’s alpha dog this season.
Injuries are nothing new to his Illini basketball career, as he missed a lot of time in 2015 due to the meniscus tear he suffered in his knee that October.
While Illinois put up a valiant effort, the result means that one of the program’s dreadful droughts now continues. Illini basketball hasn’t achieved a non-conference road win since defeating Boston University in the opening round of the 2014 NIT (March 19, 2014).
Illini basketball will next take on Longwood, in another glorified scrimmage at home before the Lou Henson testimonial game next Saturday. Illinois will face New Mexico State at the United Center Saturday night.
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.netย and TheBank.News, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times,ย NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly toย WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging communityย Chicago Now.
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