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Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Indiana

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 01: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center on March 1, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 01: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center on March 1, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts from the team bench after a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts from the team bench after a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Best game for Giorgi in a long time

There are players who hop on the struggle bus and can’t make a basket or have a hard time with certain teams. But then there is the driver of the struggle bus. That is Giorgi Bezhanishvili.

Giorgi has been pretty bad this season. Illini fans were used to this kid pulling down rebounds and scoring the ball at a high rate. But that hasn’t happened this season. He seems to have lost his touch around the rim as well. All of these things contributed to him being relegated to the bench for the Orange and Blue.

But Giorgi rose from the dead on Sunday afternoon against Indiana. This was probably his best game over the last couple of months, if not the season. He was everywhere on the court on both defense and offense, and he gave Indiana fits.

Even though his stat line wasn’t great, I thought this was a sensational game from Giorgi. He finished the game with 6 points and 6 rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. What the stat line doesn’t show is how daunting Giorgi’s defense was for the Hoosiers.

Indiana struggled all game with Giorgi’s defense. He was able to body up against players who were a couple of inches taller than him. His ability to get under the skin of the Hoosiers was just phenomenal.

Next. 3 observations from the Illini victory over Northwestern. dark

Overall, I think Giorgi was overlooked in this game. If he can continue this type of play off the bench for the Illini, then I think we have a shot to go far in the postseason.

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