For the third year in a row, Illinois welcomes Eastern Illinois to kick off the season. But as the Fighting Illini prepare for Monday’s game in Champaign, Ill., they bear almost no resemblance to last season’s group. The Illini retain just two scholarship players — guards Ty Rodgers and Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn — and 9.6 percent of their scoring from last year’s Elite Eight squad. Head coach Brad Underwood reloaded with 10 new players, including three freshmen attractive to NBA scouts — point guard Kasparas Jakucionis, wing Will Riley and center Tomislav Ivisic. But freshmen must learn freshman lessons, regardless of their potential professional pedigree. While last year’s senior-heavy team entered the season opener with momentum after beating No. 1 Kansas in the preseason, this year’s crew enters Monday night’s opener following a 91-74 exhibition loss at No. 24 Ole Miss that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The veteran-laden Rebels shot 52.2 percent on 3-pointers, forced…..