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Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Purdue

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 05: Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) and Purdue center Matt Haarms (32) jump for the ball during the opening tip of a college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 5, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 05: Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) and Purdue center Matt Haarms (32) jump for the ball during the opening tip of a college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 5, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 05: Illinois guard Alan Griffin (0) shoots during a college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 5, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 05: Illinois guard Alan Griffin (0) shoots during a college basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini on January 5, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Alan Griffin continues to standout

Many fans, including myself, were clamoring for Alan Griffin to play more last season. You could see this kid had some special traits in his game. But that didn’t happen. Finally, we are starting to see him play some minutes this year.

For the third-straight game, Griffin has received at least 20 minutes of action. He has impressed in each contest too. He put up 18 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes against North Carolina A&T. He had 17 points and 9 rebounds in 25 minutes against Michigan State. And, against Purdue, he continued to ascend.

Griffin finished the game against the Boilermakers with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist in just 20 minutes of action. He was all over the court. The two blocks are still stuck in my memory. He had an amazing court presence and vision to be able to land those two blocks.

The shooting amazed me too. Griffin was 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. He is loaded and ready to fire at a moment’s notice. He brings an energy and life to the floor that few players bring. When I see him and Trent Frazier on the floor running the backcourt, I think that gives this program the best chance to win.

Griffin continues to stand out for the Illini. He has a chance to do some really special things while in Champaign. Let’s see if our head coach can maybe, just maybe, give him more than 25 minutes in a game.

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