Dec. 19--Illinois will again be undermanned when it faces South Dakota on Saturday as forward Leron Black sits out another game.
Black is ruled out indefinitely as issues with his surgically repaired right knee continues to bother him.
Coach John Groce has described Black's knee as having swelling and irritation as it hasn't responded well to him playing and practicing. He has missed the last two games.
After undergoing surgery in early October, Black missed the first game of the season on Nov. 13 as he healed from surgery, but returned to play the next three games. He sat out against Chicago State on Nov. 23, then returned again for four games, playing as many as 22 minutes.
But he played only nine minutes against Western Carolina and has sat out the last two games against Yale and Illinois-Chicago.
Black is the latest player to head to the sideline for Illinois.
Forward Mike Thorne, Jr., is considered unlikely to return this season, leaving Illinois especially thin in the front court.
Point guard Tracy Abrams is out for the season with a torn Achilles'.
Black averages 3.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. As a freshman, he averaged five points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
The Illini (6-5) have just games against South Dakota and at Missouri before the Big Ten season tips off on Dec. 30.
sryan@tribpub.com
