Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Maryland

4. RJ Melendez is becoming one of our best players

Even though Illinois did fall to Maryland, I still take some big-time positives out of this game. One of the positives is how well RJ Melendez has been playing.

To begin the season, I was extremely worried about Melendez. This was supposed to be his year to shine after he received serious playing time toward the end of the 2021-22 campaign. Melendez looked great at the end of last season, so he should start the season looking good this year as well.

In the first four games, Melendez had a hard time gelling with his new teammates. Pretty much the entire squad around him were players he never played with, so the adjustment was extreme. In this stretch, he would average 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 assists per game. He was also 7-of-23 from the field, which was 30.4%.

It was not a good first four games for Melendez. But the talented wing has really come around in the last four contests. He has found his role on the team, and now he is blossoming into the big-time player we all thought he could be this season.

In the last four games, Melendez is averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. He has been incredible from the field, going 18-of-32, which is 56%. And unlike the 21.4% he was shooting from three-point range in the first four games, Melendez has hit 47% from three-point range in his last four contests.

Melendez finally found his groove. This kid is playing some of the best basketball on the team, and he is quickly becoming one of our best players. Look for him to start being in the conversation as one of the best players in college basketball in the coming months.