Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Michigan State

4. This was, arguably, the best game for Matthew Mayer

Big-time players need to step up in big-time games. Illinois has multiple big-time players on the team right now, and some of them didn’t show up in the first half.

Matthew Mayer was one of those players who was asleep through the first 20 minutes of the game. I don’t put the full blame on him, though. Illinois was playing a more isolation type of game with Terrence Shannon Jr. for most of the first half, so it was hard for anyone else to get going.

Through the first 20 minutes, Mayer would only have five points, one rebound, one assist, and one turnover on 2-of-3 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range. This would be an okay game for a reserve, but this is not what I want to see out of one of our star players.

If Illinois wanted any chance of pulling out the win on Friday night, we were going to need Mayer to come through in the second half. He did just that. Mayer would put on a performance in the final 20 minutes, going 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range for 14 points, two rebounds, and a steal.

Mayer would finish the game with 19 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. He also nailed down both of his free throws. I expect big-time scoring out of Mayer, but what impressed me most against Michigan State was his defense.

In the first half alone, Mayer would have four blocks. He would tack on two more blocks in the second half to finish the game with a total of six blocks. His defense in the paint was crucial for Illinois in stopping the Spartans from scoring.

I know Mayer has had some big games this season in the scoring department, but I believe this was his best game as a member of the Illini. He pulled Illinois through in the second half and had a great defensive showing. Mayer seems to really be coming into his own in Champaign.