Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini vs Indiana

3. Who will step up from the bench?

Illinois has a lot of good pieces on the team this season. We are a great defensive team when we want to be. We can knock down three-point shots with the best of the best as well.

But one thing that has been up and down is the bench play. There are nights when Illinois can get double-digit points and near double-digit rebounds from the bench. But then there are nights the bench can barely give us three-points and a couple of rebounds.

In the last game against Indiana, the bench didn’t do a ton for the Illini. As a unit, the Illinois bench finished with eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. But they also had three turnovers and six fouls in the game.

I think the biggest question I have for Illinois on Friday is who will step up from the bench?

Illinois can’t have the bench going 2-of-6 from the field. That just isn’t enough production if the bench is receiving a combined 41 minutes of action. We need more than that.

I think the bench play is going to be even more important in this game than last game considering we probably won’t have Jacob Grandison on the court. I believe he is still dealing with a shoulder issue. That means Coleman Hawkins is likely to get the starting nod again.

Andre Curbelo, RJ Melendez, and Luke Goode are the players I am eyeing to have big games off the bench. I think it is possible for these three, and maybe even Brandin Podziemski, to help lead us to a victory on Friday.