Illinois basketball: 2019-20 season wrap-up for Alan Griffin

Alan Griffin was a big-time contributor coming off the bench in the 2019-20 season for the Illinois basketball team.

Here is the 2019-20 season wrap-up for Alan Griffin.

Expectations

During Griffin’s freshman season, he averaged 2.8 points, 0.4 assist and 1.6 rebounds. He shot 38-percent from the field and 30-percent from three-point range. But he only attempted 2.6 shots per game. Griffin didn’t get a ton of minutes in year one, as he averaged 7.8 minutes per game.

Before this past season started I predicted Griffin to average 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist per game while shooting 42-percent from the field and 35-percent from three-point range. I predicted this because I expected him to come off the bench and just be a spot-up shooter.

Reality

Griffin did better than what I predicted. He averaged 8.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game while shooting 49-percent from the field and 41-percent from three-point range. His shot totals increased as well. He attempted 6.4 shots per game. He also saw a bump in action up to 18 minutes per game.

Griffin was a spark plug off the bench and arguably the best sixth-man in the Big Ten. He was the best three-point shooter on the team and made energy plays. His play off the bench was a big reason this Illinois basketball team was able to win 21 games.

The only thing I had a problem with this season is when Griffin stepped on a Purdue player. But he later apologized for his mistake.

Future

After his breakout Sophomore season, Griffin won’t be returning to Illinois. He has decided to enter the transfer portal. I respect his decision to transfer. I can see him being an NBA player in the future with his ability to knock down shots.