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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- On the road recruiting recently, a song came on Illinois coach John Groces car radio about things best left in the past, Randy Travis Digging Up Bones.At Fridays media day, Groce said he wouldnt be digging much into a chaotic 2015-16 season that ended with a 15-19 record, three arrests and what seemed like endless injuries.Were not doing that, were moving on, Groce said.But the remains of last season, Illinois first losing season since 2008, were everywhere Friday.Before he took question from reporters, the fifth-year coach updated the health of the half-dozen key players who either missed some or all of last season with serious injuries or are out now.And he talked about how much the team would miss guard Kendrick Nunn, one of the three Illini players to be arrested last season. The other two, senior guard Jaylon Tate and redshirt sophomore forward Leron Black are both still on the team while Nunn, after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery, was kicked off the team and transferred to Oakland. A domestic battery charge against Tate was dropped while Black pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault and will sit out six games this season.Ive gotten to the point where very little surprises me, Groce said with a laugh, adding that he thought the team two seasons ago went through enough when point guard Tracy Abrams was lost for that season with a torn Achilles tendon.As Abrams worked his way back from that in 2015, he tore an anterior cruciate ligament and was forced to sit out the 2015-16 season. His injury was the first thing that went wrong for last seasons Illini.But, barring any other injuries or setbacks for Malcolm Hill, who is nursing an infected blister and should be back next week, or Jalen Coleman-Lands, who is out through this month with a broken bone in his hand, Groce should have his deepest, most complete team since 2013-14.His first recruits at Illinois -- a class that included Hill, Tate and Nunn and was among the top 25 in the country -- are all seniors.Abrams is back and, Groce says, healthy. That gives Illinois a handful of potential choices at point guard, something last seasons team lacked.And graduate-transfer center Mike Thorne Jr. was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA after going down early last season with a torn meniscus in his left knee.Most of the players, like Groce, say they dont want to talk about last season, what it was like as the roster grew shorter with injuries or seeing teammates arrested.Ive pretty much got amnesia about all of that right now, said Abrams, who is 24 and who in five-plus years on campus already has bachelors and masters degrees.Most of them talked Friday about wanting to do something special in the season that will start Nov. 11 against Southeast Missouri State. None of them were eager to define what that might be, but Groce assumes they all talk among themselves about getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, his first season at Illinois.For Black, though, special starts simple, with the fact that hes still on the roster.He was already out injured when he was arrested in February after threatening a bar bouncer with a knife. The moment he acted, he said, he knew he was making a mistake. One that might cost him.Im just not taking anything for granted because it all could have been taken away pretty easily, he said.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP NFL Jerseys From China . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. NFL Jerseys Outlet . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.clearancenfljerseys.com/ . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game.Liam Ridgewell has been at Portland Timbers for one-and-a-half years - and hes really enjoying life in MLS. The former Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom defender captained Timbers to their first-ever MLS Cup trophy last season, beating Columbus Crew 2-1 in the final.With another 2-1 win against Columbus last weekend to mark the opening game of the season, Portland now make the trip to California to face San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday - live on Sky Sports. Ahead of the game, we asked Ridgewell 10 MLS-related questions. Take a look at what he had to say as he tells us all about his own career and life stateside.What was it like winning the MLS Cup last season? Portland Timbers won MLS Cup in 2015 It was a huge achievement - for the city and for the organisation, it was massive. A lot of people didnt expect us to do it, nobody thought we could get anywhere near it, but we knew of the teams capabilities and we knew we could do it if we performed on the day.How did it compare to winning the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011? Ridgewell won the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011 On the day I was excited and said it was better than winning the League Cup but it is definitely on par with it.It was such a special thing with Birmingham, it might even have been a greater achievement to win the League Cup with them because we were such outsiders going against Arsenal, but winning the MLS Cup was a big achievement.As MLS Cup holders, when do you get to meet President Barack Obama? Winning MLS Cup means the chance to meet Barack Obama We havent been told when we meet him! Id say it will be when we play DC United away so thatll come towards the end of the season.It will be unbelievable to meet him, it will be extra special being the captain and being able to get a couple of minutes with him and to shake his hand. Itll be a massive thing, thats for sure.Whats the aim this season after winning MLS Cup last year? Portland Timbers surprised many by winning MLS Cup last season Its going to be a difficult year for us. Last year people were tipping everyone else. This year the spotlight is going to be on us in every game to keep on winning, so its going to be more difficult.But weve got the capacity in the team to carry on winning and go and do it again. We did it last year and made a couple of additions in the pre-season. Were looking good, looking strong so why cant we win it again? Its going to be very tough because people are going to be looking at us as champions and wanting to beat us, so its something weve got to get used to quite quickly.You play San Jose Earthquakes live on Sky Sports this weekend, whos their main threat? Ridgewell thinks Chris Wondolowski is one of San Joses most dangerous players Theyve got Chris Wondolowski, who is a very good centre forward and plays for the national team, he scores a lot of goals. Theyre a very strong outfit and Im sure this year theyll be looking to do a lot more [than last season] and are a team weve really ggot to look out for.ddddddddddddWhat Portland players should we be keeping an eye on this season? Portand Timbers Darlington Nagbe was called up to the US national team in November last year Darlington Nagbe is certainly running the midfield every time we play. Hes such a big player for us and to now get into the USA national team is even bigger.Hes going to go on and do bigger things and a lot more with his career. Were lucky to have him to be perfectly honest and is a good player to have in our team. With him and Diego Chara in the midfield, and if we can get Fanendo Adi scoring goals like last season with 16, well be up and running.Other than Portland, who has the most passionate fans in MLS? Seattle Sounders fans are known to be very loud and passionate about their club Seattle are very big rivals to us. They pack out their stadium, so theyre certainly passionate about their team.Whenever we play them with it being a derby. Theyre certainly very loud. Its always nice to play there and you certainly hear them thats for sure.Can MLS ever compete with the Premier League? Steven Gerrard (R) joined MLS last season I definitely think it can. The way the league is going theres a lot of investment into it, and theyre doing it the right way by not letting the investment get too out of control.When you get these players like Steven Gerrard, David Villa, Frank Lampard coming over here its a different lifestyle and type of place. Its enjoyable as well so theres no reason why it cant grow and get better. Your Lumberjack mascot Timber Joey… do you see him often? Timber Joey is a much loved figure in Portland We see him all the time! He travels with us to away games, we see him at home games before we go out and train...if were lucky enough we get to have a beer with him or see him out in Portland.Theres no other stadium in the world where you see someone cutting a log with a chainsaw. Its just incredible really and its such a good experience. You wouldnt get to experience that kind of thing back at home so its another perk of coming to play in MLS.Do you see yourself finishing your career in MLS? Liam Ridgewell (R) was on loan at Brighton during the off-season, and could see himself returning to play in England one day Id like to go back and play one day back in England but Ive only got a year left on my contract at Portland Timbers.Im talking to the club at the minute so hopefully that will go well but you never know how thats going to go so it could be my last season this year.Hopefully it isnt but it might be. I might be playing at home sooner than I expected but I think Im always going to come home with my kids being at home, my family. Id like to play at home one more time. Also See: MLS: Galaxy start with win WATCH: MLS top 5 young players Weekend Menu on Sky Sports WATCH: Federico Higuain over-head kick ' ' '