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

4. Welcome back Matthew Mayer

Indiana fans are probably celebrating that they beat Illinois last Thursday, but there is one big caveat to that victory. We didn’t have a healthy Matthew Mayer.

When one of your best players, if not the best player, is sick, then the team isn’t going to be playing to the best of their abilities. I believe that is what happened in the Indiana game. While the Hoosiers still may have won, if Mayer was healthy, it would have been a much closer game.

On Tuesday night against Ohio State, we got Mayer back on the court healthy again. He was sensational in every facet of the game. Mayer would finish with 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks while going 3-of-9 from the field and 2-of-6 from the three-point arc. He also hit 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.

The offensive abilities of Mayer are fun to watch. He can move well around the court and find open space. His ability to create his own shot is also incredible. Mayer draws so much attention that it helps his teammates get open.

While Mayer’s offensive prowess is impressive, I think his defense is really what helps Illinois the most. He is the most underrated defensive player in the college game. When a team gets the ball inside, Mayer seems to always be there to block shots. He is smart and times his blocks well. This is why, if we had a fully healthy Mayer, I think Indiana would have struggled more in the paint.

It was nice having Mayer back on both ends of the court. His presence and activity helped Illinois extend the lead in the second half and ultimately win the game.