Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini victory over Iowa
By Collin Allen
3. Andre Curbelo put on a show
Saturday evening, Andre Curbelo proved exactly why he was named the Big Ten Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year. The freshman standout came in and immediately provided a huge spark for the Orange and Blue.
This spark included two fast-break slam-dunks that got the bench, as well as the Illini fans in attendance, ecstatic.
Curbelo finished the game with 12 points by shooting an efficient 6-of-8 from the field. The Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year contributed in many other aspects as well. He finishing the contest with 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists, and 1 block.
Something that won’t show up on the stat sheet, however, is the heart and hustle Curbelo brought to the game. He was flying around the court, laying out on the floor for loose balls, constantly going for steals, and getting his teammates excited after big plays.
The Illini absolutely fed off of Curbelo’s energy in the win. The freshman guard will absolutely be one of the most entertaining players to watch in the NCAA tournament this March.