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Illinois Basketball: 5 thoughts from the Illini box score against the Catalonia All-Stars

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 02: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on March 2, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 02: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on March 2, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

While we didn’t get to watch it on Sunday, Illinois basketball did manage to round out the trip to Spain with another win.

The victim this time around was the Catalonia All-Stars. This game sadly wasn’t streamed on Vimeo, but the Illini, who were down by four points after the first quarter, would switch gears and take control of the game.

A seven-point halftime lead would turn into a 21-point lead by the time the fourth quarter started. Illinois would then go on to an easy 103-69 victory over Catalonia.

Even though we didn’t get to watch the game, the box score says 1,000 words. Yes, it is that time. Let’s overanalyze a box score of a game I didn’t get to watch.

Here are five thoughts from the Illinois basketball box score against the Catalonia All-Stars

1. Niccolo Moretti might be our point guard

I was drooling over the performance Niccolo Moretti had against Valencia days ago. He was great with the basketball, and it was surprising how well-equipped he was on the court.

Seeing this type of performance in back-to-back games was needed, though. I wanted to see Moretti perform well against the Catalonia All-Stars, and according to the box score, he did.

Moretti would finish the game on Sunday morning with seven points and four assists on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, and he knocked down his lone three-point shot. I am also impressed that Moretti can lead Illinois in assists, and he only had one turnover in 20 minutes of action.

I saw someone pose the question, is Moretti the next Andre Curbelo? I can confidently say, no. Curbelo was good with the ball, but he was way too careless, and the turnovers canceled out the good he brought to the court.

Moretti isn’t careless. This kid has great handles, and his basketball mind is equally as impressive. In the last two games, he has had eight assists to just three turnovers. That is a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. If you look at 2022-23 stats, that would have ranked No. 46 in the country, which is incredible.

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