Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 2019-20 season wrap-up for Giorgi Bezhanishvili

By Jalen Wilson

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 02: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) puts his arms up to pump up the crowd during the college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 2, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 02: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) puts his arms up to pump up the crowd during the college basketball game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 2, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Giorgi Bezhanishvili struggled this season when on the court for the Illinois basketball team.

Here is the 2019-20 season wrap-up for Giorgi Bezhanishvili

Expectations

In Giorgi’s freshman season, he was a breakout player averaging 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 54-percent from the field while shooting 6.3 shots per game. Giorgi, at times, was the best player on the court for the Illini and became a fan favorite to Illinois fans.

For the 2019-20 season, I predicted Giorgi to average 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game. I also thought he would shoot 57-percent from the field. These were my predictions because Kofi Cockburn was coming in, so Giorgi wasn’t going to have to crash the glass and score as much.

Reality

Giorgi didn’t live up to what my predictions were for him. His 2019-20 season had averages that consisted of 6.8 points 4.8 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game. He shot 42-percent from the field while only taking 6.3 shots per game.

It is fair to say this was a sophomore slump as Giorgi had a hard time trying to gel with Kofi this season. Due to Neither of them being able to stretch the floor, it clogged the paint and hurt Illinois’ offense. He was also very inconsistent on offense, which caused him to be benched for Andres Feliz. His defense was also bad as he looked lost at times while on the court.

Top 7 transfers the Illini are pursuing. dark. Next

Future

Giorgi will be entering his junior season in 2020-21. Hopefully, he will bounce back from this bad season and be a positive for the Illinois basketball team going forward. But as far as his pro career goes, I don’t see him going to the NBA, but he has a good chance of having a great international career.

Home/Illinois Basketball