Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Rutgers

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) throws an underhanded shot at the basket as Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Shaq Carter (13) provide defensive coverage during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. The bench came through again

Illinois was one point shy of hitting the 100-point mark. That is an impressive feat considering how much scoring you need to be able to do that. The Illini needed a complete team win and they got it.

The starters did their thing. Giorgi Bezhanishvili went off for 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting from the field. He was sensational for this program. Ayo Dosunmu, Aaron Jordan and Trent Frazier all hit double-digit scoring as well. These three were big for the team. But, the bench is what really put the Illini over the top.

Everyone who came off the bench on Saturday scored for the Orange and Blue. Andres Feliz is turning into one of the best bench players we have had in a long time. He dropped nine points for the Illini. Adonis De La Rosa came in with five points. Kipper Nichols had four points on two baseline jumpers. Alan Griffin and Tevian Jones each added two points.

The bench ended up producing 22 points for Illinois on Saturday. This squad is a big part of this team and what winning will occur in the future. It makes me happy that only one player will be departing from this bench as well. The Illinois bench is becoming a strength.

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