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Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini win over Rutgers

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 3, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) reacts after making a dunk during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) reacts after making a dunk during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Jacob Grandison (3) of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action in the game against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the NCAA Basketball Tournament second round at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Jacob Grandison (3) of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action in the game against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the NCAA Basketball Tournament second round at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

3. Bench came through

Leading up to the Rutgers game, I detailed in my big questions article that the Illini is a three-pronged program. They have Kofi Cockburn, Alfonso Plummer, and then the bench.

On Friday night, all three prongs were clicking. Plummer led the way with 24 points while Kofi added 13 points and 15 rebounds. The bench really came through for the Illini, though. They provided a lot of spark for the Program.

By the end of the game, the bench would put up 28 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two steals with shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point range. They were absolutely sensational.

The leader of the bench was Jacob Grandison. He was a starter to begin the season, but since coming back from an illness a few games ago, Brad Underwood has been bringing him off the bench. This move has worked well for the Orange and Blue.

Grandison finished the Rutgers game with 16 points and four rebounds while going 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from the three-point arc. He is the sparkplug Illinois needs off the bench to help get the team going.

I was also excited to see Underwood continuing to trust Luke Goode. Goode had a chance to play 10 minutes and put up six points and two assists and was 2-of-4 from three-point range. The bench is shaping up to be a pretty good unit.

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