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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tevian Jones (5) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) high five fans in the tunnel that leads to the locker room at the conclusion of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tevian Jones (5) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) high five fans in the tunnel that leads to the locker room at the conclusion of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. No excuse for Alan, Samba and Tevian not playing

I got some push back on Twitter when I expressed that Alan Griffin, Samba Kane and Tevian Jones should be playing more. The fact they aren’t playing is confusing and, I think, is hurting the team.

Listen, I am going to support this team no matter what the coaching decisions are. I am going to cheer for each and every player to do well out there on the court even if I think they should probably be coming off the bench. With that being said, what the heck is going on with Brad Underwood’s rotations?

I am going to start with Griffin. He essentially didn’t play against Penn State. The Illini needed scoring but they didn’t put a scorer in the game. Griffin is a source of scoring. In the last six games leading up to the Penn State contest, Griffin averaged 11.8 minutes, 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Those are solid numbers off the bench. He should have seen time on Sunday.

Samba Kane saw some garbage time in the last few seconds against Penn State, but I think he could be used more too. The backup No. 5 right now is Adonis De La Rosa. He doesn’t look like he is up to speed yet. He struggles getting up and down the court. In the last six games leading up to the contest against Penn State, De La Rosa averaged 9 minutes, 1.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. I think having Kane get his minutes would have been beneficial to the team.

Jones didn’t even see the court against the Nittany Lions. This decision puzzled me. I see people telling me it is because he was suspended earlier this year or that his defense is bad. He served his time, so a previous suspension shouldn’t matter. Illinois is also bad at defense. They rank No. 259 in the nation in points allowed. If everyone is bad, why not put in the better offensive players?

Not playing these three freshmen frustrates me. I think they would benefit the team. Even if they don’t start, they should be coming off the bench.

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