3. Keep wielding the power of Morez Johnson Jr.
Illinois’ defense needs to show up against Nebraska. Locking down the Cornhuskers would be a good way to create turnovers and points on the other end of the court.
Having Ben Humrichous clicking would be huge too. Those are two big ways to beat Nebraska. The last thing I want to mention is the paint presence for the Illini.
On Thursday night, I want Illinois to show Nebraska that we have a dominating starting center. No, it’s not who has been starting. The kid’s name is Morez Johnson Jr.
It would be nice to have Tomislav Ivisic back in action, but Brad Underwood said on Wednesday that he would again be out for, at least, another game. That means Illinois to keep riding with Johnson at the No. 5 spot.
What most people don’t know is that while Johnson is our backup center, he was still a borderline five-star recruit. He is a freshman who has put up incredible numbers while playing limited minutes.
This is another chance for Johnson to show his amazing talent. He was a huge part of why Illinois had a comfortable win on Sunday against Northwestern. Johnson finished that game with 15 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and one assist.
One of the most impressive things about Johnson’s game that goes unnoticed is his offensive rebounding ability. While he can suck up rebounds on both ends of the court, he is averaging 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.
To beat Nebraska, Illinois needs to keep Johnson in the game. He is an important piece to the Illini and someone who can help get us another big victory without a fully healthy lineup.