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Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Nebraska

By Rees Woodcock

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - FEBRUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a win after a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - FEBRUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a win after a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Alan Griffin #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Center on February 11, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Alan Griffin #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Center on February 11, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Illinois’ rotation looks good

A few games ago, Brad Underwood did something that I really haven’t seen him do much since becoming the Illinois head coach. He adjusted his lineup.

Giorgi Bezhanishvili is an emotional leader on this Illinois basketball team. He was playing the No. 4 spot for the Illini, but that wasn’t working so well. Giorgi has had a terrible season thus far. Last night against Nebraska only added to his rough year.

The Cornhuskers held Giorgi to zero points and five rebounds while shooting 0-of-6 from the field in the 13 minutes of action on Monday night. Honestly, though, this ineffectiveness didn’t have much to do with Nebraska’s game plan. Giorgi has just lost his touch. That is why he is now riding the pine.

Underwood’s big rotational switch a few games ago was sending Giorgi to the bench and inserting Andres Feliz back into the starting rotation. This has proved to be a great move considering, since we have been healthy, Illinois is now 2-0 with a victory on the road over No. 9 Penn State.

I also like this rotational change because they work well together. Illinois now goes with four guards and a big man. This is the type of basketball I want to see. It will create mismatches athletically. But we also have a big man to come off the bench in Giorgi. This helps if Kofi gets in foul trouble or needs a rest.

Illinois’ bench still has Alan Griffin as a scoring spark too. I am comfortable with the rotations we have right now. This lineup moving forward will do some damage in the postseason.

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