Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini win over Nebraska

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders perform during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Kipper Nichols /

3. Kipper Nichols is developing into a Big Ten caliber starter

Over the last half of the season or so I have written some articles about how the Illini are void of talent on the floor. They only have two Big Ten starting caliber players who are Trent Frazier and Leron Black.

I have preached about this the last few months, but another name is starting to emerge for this Illini team. I may have to start adding Kipper Nichols back into the fold as a Big Ten caliber starter. He has been sensational as of late.

Nichols helped Illinois defeated Nebraska on Sunday. He ended the game with 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from the three-point arc. This production has been pretty consistent over much of the Big Ten season as well.

There have been a few stinkers in there for Nichols, though. He failed to score in both the Wisconsin games and this hurt the team. But, even with those two bad games, he has averaged 11.8 points per game in the last 12 contests. Those are some pretty good numbers.

I am not to the point where I think Nichols is a Big Ten caliber starter just yet. He is still a high-level backup right now. But, I think there could be a day this season or possibly next where I feel comfortable with him being a starter for this program.

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