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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Minnesota

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket and loses the ball against Amir Coffey #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at State Farm Center on January 16, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the basket and loses the ball against Amir Coffey #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at State Farm Center on January 16, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini are seen during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini are seen during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. This was an NCAA tournament team

Heading into this season, I was expecting the Illinois basketball team to be competitive and make the NCAA tournament. Through 16 games this season, that expectation looked ridiculous.

Sure, there were a few good games in there for the Illini that didn’t go the way of the Orange and Blue. Illinois about knocked off No. 3 Gonzaga in what would have been a huge win. They looked like an NCAA tournament contender there.

I also liked how they played at Notre Dame and against No. 2 Michigan as well. But, both of those ended up being losses as well. Wednesday night against Minnesota was a different feel, though. What I saw out there on the court was the embodiment of my preseason expectations.

Illinois pummeled Minnesota. They were playing at a level I had yet to see this season. This team showed me that they could play to that NCAA tournament level. Ayo Dosunmu led the way for the Illini and is clearly an All-Big Ten player this year. Trent Frazier started to heat up. Giorgi Bezhanishvili was sensational. Everyone played well.

I would love for this Illinois basketball team to play like this the rest of the season. If this was the team we would have gotten to start the year, I am sure we would be ranked by now.

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