Behind another lethal shooting performance, Illinois dominates Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 90-52.

Fifth-year Ben Humrichous finished with 15 points (all three-pointers) and freshman Kasparas Jakucionis nearly had a triple-double and broke the Illini freshman record for most assists in a game with 13.

The offense appears to be living up to the preseason hype.

The unit is projected to be a top-20 offense in college basketball, led by two future NBA first-round picks, a half-dozen effective three-point shooters and a seven-foot center from Croatia who played professional basketball in Europe last season. .

Before the season, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said this team “has a higher ceiling” than last season’s squad that made the Elite 8.

Does Underwood still feel that way?

“Nothing after two games would change that,” Underwood doubling down on the preseason takeover.

On Friday, the Illini showcased the team’s immense talent, but also honored its past. During the pregame, the school honored last season’s Elite 8 team, presented the conference tournament trophy and raised a banner in the rafters.

For Underwood, currently in his eighth season as Illinois’ head coach, the night symbolized how far the program has come since the start of his tenure.

“For me, this is home. That should be it. It’s a place where guys can go back and look at (the drafts) and say, ‘That was me,’” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “And they can look down at their hand and say, ‘Wow, I was a part of something really, really cool.'”

A product of today’s college basketball, almost no one from last season’s roster returned for the honor ceremony — aside from former DePaul transfer Max Williams, who didn’t play much.

Last season was led by Terrence Shannon Jr. Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier, Justin Harmon, Luke Goode and Coleman Hawkins and Amani Hansberry. All of these players are either playing pro ball or transferring to another school.

In the latter category are Hawkins and Goode, who transferred to Kansas State and Indiana, respectively. Other players such as Sencire Harris and Hansberry left for West Virginia. Current Illini Ty Rodgers is redshirting, and Underwood has inferred that he may transfer to another school this offseason.

But despite losing almost all of the production from last year’s Elite 8 team, the program didn’t panic.

Underwood was reunited with assistant coach Orlando Antigua, who has helped five-stars Will Riley, Jakucionis and Ivisic, all international players who can shoot 3-pointers and could be NBA players.

Add in solid role players like Humrichous, and the Illini have one of the most explosive offenses in a conference dominated by big men.

Underwood got around the plan Indiana used — get some big guys and score low in the post. He tried that with Kofi Cockburn. Underwood is transitioning to an NBA style of basketball — dominating through transition offense and just layups and three-pointers.

And it can work.

While the Elite 8 team should be cherished, Underwood knew not to rest on its laurels. The coach is ambitious, having cut his teeth in high school and community colleges well into his 40s. A coach at Western Illinois for 11 seasons as an assistant, he finally got some success at a massive school like Illinois. Do you really think he just wants to make the NCAA Tournament? Do you think it’s good that they lost to UConn by 30 in the Elite 8 last season?

Of course not.

Underwood said last year’s team has heart, but they need more “action guys” and NBA draft prospects.

“We’re trying to win a national championship,” Underwood said at Big Ten Media Days in October.

While Shannon is fantastic, he was the only player the NBA really wanted. Now the Illini have two projected first round picks in Riley and KJ. The roster, top to bottom, is much more talented than last season. Sometimes Illinois was in trouble if Shannon couldn’t drive to the basket. Now they have half a dozen sharpshooters.

And once KJ and Riley leave for the NBA, it’s no big deal. Underwood will begin to build a track record of developing professional players, which helps attract future stars.

Frankly, the program is on autopilot to win 20 games a season, make the NCAA Tournament and finish in the top third of the Big Ten Conference. Talent acquisition and player evaluation/development in the transfer portal is flawless.

Underwood’s ability to adapt during his eight seasons in Champaign is impressive. Either it changes his defense. The philosophy of crime. Or embracing the portal and NIL — while coaches like Jay Wright and Tony Bennett fled.

That’s why the press was confident that, despite losing a ton last season, they would project the Illini as a top-four Big Ten team.

But it’s not just the media that respects Underwood. Talk to his former employer.

At age 50, Underwood was finally hired as a Division 1 head coach, landing a job at Stephen F. Austin after years of paying his dues.

In three seasons, Underwood finished with an 89-14 record and two NCAA Tournament victories.

After falling to Notre Dame in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Underwood was courted by the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He accepted a deal to become their head coach.

Stephen F. Austin didn’t frown at the news. They applauded him.

“I expect to see him accept a national championship trophy before his career is over,” the school said in a statement.