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Illinois Basketball: Getting Nichols and Griffin going would be huge for Illini

ByRees Woodcock|
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 16: Fans look on as Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) walks down the hallway to the locker room at the conclusion of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 16, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 16: Fans look on as Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) walks down the hallway to the locker room at the conclusion of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 16, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Illinois basketball team is overseas sightseeing and playing a few exhibition games to get primed for the upcoming season.

It has been an interesting few days with most of the Illini taking in all of the great culture from around the world. But I say most Illini because Kofi Cockburn and Andres Feliz couldn’t make the trip. There were some travel issues, so Cockburn is in New York and Feliz is in the Dominican Republic, according to the Illinois men’s basketball Twitter account. They will both be back before August 26, though.

Despite missing two big pieces to the Illini having a successful season, the Orange and Blue carried on. Their first game was against CUS Insubria on Tuesday. The result was ugly for the opposing team as the Illini won the game 118-56.

With these exhibition games overseas, and really anywhere, you have to take the results with a grain of salt. The competition level isn’t there and the players might not be in it 100-percent. You also have to think the coaches are just trying to figure out who gels with who the best on the court. With that being said, the results got me a little excited about the upcoming campaign.


As expected, Ayo Dosunmu led the way with 27 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. He shot 11-of-15 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point land. This kid is primed to have a great season.

There were a few players who had good games that need to show out this season. One of those players is Alan Griffin. This kid put up 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists in the 24 minutes of action on Tuesday. 11 rebounds is an incredible number for a guard. I don’t expect that number to be in double-digits often, but it is nice to see him starting to get into a groove.

The other player who played well was Kipper Nichols. This kid didn’t play well last season, so any confidence he can build overseas will be great when he comes back over. He ended the game on Tuesday with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

I am pretty excited about the upcoming season. Illinois has a lot of talent that will be on display. If we can get Nichols and Griffin clicking on a nightly basis, the Big Ten better watch out.

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