Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat the Chicago State Cougars

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Nov 25, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Adam Miller (44) goes up for a shot against North Carolina A&T Aggies forward Jeremy Robinson (1) during the first half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. If the Morgan Park boys go off

Listen, I know it was just North Carolina A&T. The Aggies are a bad team and should get beat down by the Illini. But, man, it was fun watching the boys from Morgan Park go off.

To obliterate Chicago State on Thursday, they will need to go off again. Everyone expected Ayo Dosunmu to put up huge numbers for the Illini, though.

Ayo entered the 2020-21 campaign with expectations of winning a title and, in the process, moving up the NBA Draft board. He has done a great job with both things so far this season. Ayo finished the game against the Aggies with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 11-of-18 from the field.

The one mini surprise from the Orange and Blue on Wednesday was Adam Miller bursting onto the scene. I say surprise because no one knew how much of an immediate impact this kid would have on the Illini. But that question was answered fairly quickly.

Miller is the real deal. The kid has an NBA body as a freshman in college. He took control of the game from the tip and never let off the gas pedal. Miller finished the game with 28 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 10-of-12 from the field.

The Morgan Park boys are an incredible one-two punch. It is hard not to liken them to Deron Williams and Dee Brown from the 2004-05 national title run. Believe me, there will be articles about this down the road. But, for now, they just need to keep putting up big numbers so the Illini can continue pounding teams.

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