The Illinois basketball team continued their hot start, beating Chicago State 97-38.
The Illini reminded us that we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, putting up 97 points against Chicago State. After beating North Carolina A&T yesterday, the Illini looked like an elite team, displaying their balance on both sides of the ball.
The Offense: A
Coming off of scoring 122 points yesterday, Illinois almost put up triple digits once again.
The Illini shot 60-percent from the floor, going 36-of-60. After breaking the school record for three-pointers in a game against North Carolina A&T, the Illini were able to make seven of their 18 attempts. I love this team’s ability to spread the court and essentially play with four guards on the court at a time.
The most impressive part of the offense in today’s game was their ability to drive to the lane. If the Illini can keep a balance of outside and inside shooting, this offense will be tough to guard. Ayo Dosunmu led the team with 22 points on the day, shooting 61.5-percent from the floor and going 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
The Defense: A+
Despite Chicago State being a less-talented team, the Illini shut down any momentum that the Cougars had. Illinois forced 16 turnovers, had six steals, and outrebounded Chicago State 39-9 on the defensive boards.
The Illini were locking up the Cougars, as Chicago State shot only 27.8-percent from the floor for the day. The Cougars just could not get anything going, and the Illini were able to force the Cougars into rushing many possessions, disrupting their flow.
Ayo Dosunmu: A
The preseason national player of the year candidate once again looked to be in mid-season form.
The junior guard had 22 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Dosunmu has come out the gate hot, showing why he is the true leader of this team. His shot is looking smooth and his ability to drive to the basket is next level.
Adam Miller: A-
Miller once again showed he looks like he is a veteran in the Big Ten.
The true freshman put up 15 points, going 5-of-9 from the field. His transition to the team as a freshman looks seamless, and he will only get stronger as he builds chemistry with his fellow Illini.
After showing off his long-range shot yesterday, Miller showed off his mid-range game today which looks just as good. The Big Ten is going to have a tough time guarding this kid.
Andre Curbelo: B+
Curbelo had a very strong finish to the game, showing why Illini fans are so excited about the Puerto Rican native.
Not only was Curbelo’s shoe game strong, his play on the court was also impressive. He ended up with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
The only reason why I don’t give him a higher grade is for his four turnovers. Of course, there is expected to be some hiccups from a true freshman early, but there were certainly times where you can tell his game needs work. Specifically, his passing and his decision making could improve to take him to the next level.
Kofi Cockburn: B+
The big man finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks. I was still expecting a little more from Cockburn going up against a smaller and weaker Chicago State team, but nonetheless he looked strong. He had 3 turnovers, and shot 66.6-percent from the free throw line, bringing down his grade a little bit.
Trent Frazier: B+
Frazier needed to have a good bounce-back game after his 2-of-10 shooting performance yesterday.
Frazier ended up with 14 points and 4 rebounds. He looked smooth and calm once again. All of his points from the floor came via the three-point ball. Overall, it was a good game from the senior guard.
Da’Monte Williams: B
Williams once again showed he can spread the court, making a nice three-pointer from the corner in the first half.
Less of a shooting factor in this game, Williams was still able to finish with 9 rebounds and 5 points.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili: B-
The Georgia native was much less of a factor in this game, finishing with 4 points and 3 rebounds. However, Giorgi once again looked a lot more comfortable on the floor. He will be a very solid fifth man to replace Kofi off the bench when he needs a rest.
Jacob Grandison: C
Grandison had himself a nice debut yesterday, but was much less of a factor in this one.
Despite finishing with two points, Grandison was still able to get 5 rebounds with 2 assists. He was once again one of the first guys off the bench for Brad Underwood, showing that he will likely be a factor for the Illini this season.
The Illini look to wrap up their season-opening MTE against Ohio tomorrow.