CHAMPAIGN — Illinois expected to be a work in progress as it moved into a new era of basketball.

The Illini had to replace 69 percent of the scoring from last season, the highest percentage since they entered the 1998-99 season. And it has been 13 years since the Illini lost their top three scorers in the same year.

Throw in seven newcomers, only one of whom has played at the college level, and it was bound to be bumpy in the early going.

So for all the positives through two games, there have been just as many errors to correct in practice and in front of a crowd. That is partly why Illinois scheduled early home games against the likes of Loyola, SIU Edwardsville and Lipscomb (8 tonight, BTN) to open the season.

"I've told you before scheduling is harder than recruiting," coach Bruce Weber said Wednesday.

Unfortunately for the Illini (2-0), a rash of injuries — and one suspension — haven't allowed them to take full advantage of a soft early schedule.

Devin Langford probably will be sidelined for the next three to four games as he nurses a broken finger. Myke Henry didn't practice Wednesday and will be sidelined for the second straight game tonight, Weber said. Tracy Abrams has a toe injury that has "flared up" but is expected to play, he added.

Illinois gets one player back. Crandall Head will return from a suspension that kept him out of two exhibition games and two regular season games.

"He's baaack," assistant coach Jerrance Howard said as Head came out of the tunnel for practice Wednesday.

"He just has to slow down and be solid and be disciplined in his life and on the court also," Weber said, adding, "He's intelligent, he has great athleticism, (and) he can be a guy that can change the game for you."

Lipscomb (1-1) was picked to finish sixth in the 10-team Atlantic Sun Conference. Tonight's game is part of the Cancun Challenge. Regardless of the outcome, Illinois will advance to face Richmond on Tuesday in Mexico.

Illinois has shown it has the potential to be a strong defensive team. Most important, it will force more turnovers than last season. But the UI offense, in part because the rotation is still in flux, looks like a unit that is finding a way to replace the scoring production that left.

"I think our defense is far ahead of the offense as far as chemistry goes," senior Sam Maniscalco said. "That's what you expect (at this point in the season)."