Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Saint Peter’s

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 02: Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate their victory against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-55. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

4. Just another day at the office for Kendall Bostic

I would argue that Kendall Bostic is a boring basketball player. Before you shoot the messenger, let me explain.

Bostic doesn’t shoot three-pointers from the midcourt logo, she doesn’t do fancy dribble between-the-legs spin moves, and she isn’t going to pass a ball behind her back every game. She is not here for the theatrics. She is here for one thing and one thing only; to dominate.

Against Saint Peter’s, Bostic brought her hard hat and lunch pail to the game and went to work. He finished with a quiet 14 points, 10 rebounds, one block, and one steal in 19 minutes of action. All she does is show up, do her job, and win.

Bostic is a monster in the paint, and she has been her entire career at Illinois. She now has two double-doubles in three games this season. She had 12 double-doubles last season and nearly averaged a double-double with 10.2 points and 9.8 rebounds. Bostic is once against close to a double-double average this season with 14.3 points and 9.7 rebounds.

No one is going to talk about Bostic because, while she has great numbers, she isn’t flashy. But do you know who else wasn’t flashy? Tim Duncan. The Big Fundamental. He would just come to work, dominate, and win. That is who Bostic reminds me of on the court.

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