Seven players debuted for the Illinois men’s basketball team against Division-II McKendree on Thursday. From the get-go, their impact to the team was apparent.

Transfers Jon Ekey and Rayvonte Rice started the game for the Illini and helped Illinois get out of an early funk (Illinois was down by as many as 11 in the first half). Ekey draws comparisons to Tyler Griffey, but the ISU transfer has more athleticism and physicality than the departed senior forward.

Ekey crashed the boards, finishing with six rebounds and a team-high four offensive rebounds. He also effectively set numerous high screens while leaking out to the perimeter, where he shot 1-for-3 from behind the arc. Ekey has graded out as the best player on Illinois during practice so far and he showed why on Thursday, finishing with 12 points while shooting 5-for-7 from the field.

When Illinois wasn’t clicking, Rice helped stabilize the offense. Rice excels at creating his own shot near the rim, using his strength to fend off players at the basket. His crossovers received plenty of oohs and ahs from the State Farm Center crowd on Thursday. Rice uses those moves to draw fouls as he led the team with eight free throw attempts. There wasn’t a player on McKendree that could keep Rice in front of him.

The freshmen also put on a show Thursday. At one point Groce put out a lineup including freshmen Jaylon Tate, Kendrick Nunn, Malcolm Hill and Maverick Morgan, and it actually turned out to be effective. The ball was moving quicker than any other rotation the Illini used against McKendree. The adrenaline of playing in their first games could’ve been a factor, but Groce’s fast-paced lineup felt even quicker with the freshmen on the floor.

Tate’s Simeon teammate, Nunn, had the play of the game when he threw down a left-handed dunk on a fast break. Morgan, Colbert and Hill also had impressive debuts, as the trio combined to shoot 10-of-17 from the floor.

Dealing with the influx of new players is going to be Groce’s biggest challenge during the early going of this season. There isn’t a Brandon Paul or D.J. Richardson on this year’s team to rely on to make Groce’s job any easier. It’s going to be a process before the team builds chemistry, as displayed by an 8-19 deficit out of the gate against McKendree.

Joseph Bertrand, Tracy Abrams and Nnanna Egwu bring experience to this young Illini squad, but they aren’t going to be able to carry the team.

The newcomers are going to have to step up if Illinois’ going to succeed this season, and on Thursday they showed they may just have what it takes.

Michael is a senior in Media.

He can be reached at [email protected].