Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over UNLV

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on a pair of shortsduring a first round game of Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 19, 2018 in Lahaina Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

4. Samba Kane needs to be the starting No. 5

I don’t know who to thank here. I want to start off by thanking Brad Underwood, Jesus and the basketball Gods. Finally, Illinois fans had a chance to see Samba Kane get some more playing time, and he was everything I had hoped and dreamed.

It wasn’t making sense to have Adonis De La Rosa coming off the bench as the main backup to Giorgi Bezhanishvili. Adonis is not the same player right now that he was when he was with his previous teams. He is less than a year off his surgery on his knee. He isn’t mobile enough due to the injury. Let’s continue having him on the bench until he is 100-percent.

Kane stepped into the primary backup role and was sensational for the Illini. He finished the night playing 16 minutes and, in that time, he dropped eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. He also added two blocks and a rebound as well. He was what Illinois has been missing at the No. 5.

Honestly, I think there is a case to make for Kane starting over Giorgi. I know that might not be popular right now, but I think Kane is a smarter basketball mind. Giorgi is a stronger player, but he makes way too many bad decisions on the court. In four more minutes of action, Giorgi only finished with nine points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field. He also had two rebounds and an assist. But, he did have two turnovers and three fouls.

Let’s go another game with the same rotation and see what happens. I think Kane outplayed Giorgi on Saturday. If he does it again against East Tennessee State, then I think Kane should see the starting job go to him.

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