Brad Underwood, Illinois basketball coach, gave an update on the fitness of two of his transfers on Friday.

Matthew Mayer transferred to Illinois from Baylor over the offseason. Mayer had a back injury and Underwood says he is still working to return to his full basketball shape.

Underwood has great confidence in where Terrence Shannon Jr., a Texas Tech transfer, is at physically. He said that Shannon is more limber and flexible after taking on some yoga and pilates over the offseason.

Last season for Baylor, Mayer averaged 9.8 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Shannon, a Chicago native, averaged 10.4 points per game, 2.6 rebounds and 2 assists last season for the Red Raiders.

The Fighting Illini tip-off their basketball season Nov. 7 against Eastern Illinois at home. Last season, Illinois finished the season 23-10 and had a second round exit to No. 5 seeded Houston.

The season, the Fighting Illini hope their two transfer pieces can be what they needed to get over the hump.