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5 big observations from the Illinois basketball win over Maryland Eastern Shore

Illinois basketball didn't leave any room for questioning, as we trounced Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday.

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 23, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gives a hand to guard Tre White (22) during the second half against the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gives a hand to guard Tre White (22) during the second half against the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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3. Will Riley would get minutes in the NBA today

On Brad Underwood’s roster, it doesn’t matter if you start or not. He is going to get you a lot of minutes if you are good enough in his eyes. This season, Will Riley hasn’t started a game. He has been the sixth man for the Illini.

What does that mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Riley isn’t starting, but he gets starter minutes when the game is on the line. In the Maryland Eastern Shore contest, he logged just 18 minutes because Underwood went deeper on the bench.

In the 18 minutes Riley saw on the court, he put up a team-high 19 points. He also had three rebounds, one assist, and one block.

Every time I watch Riley, my jaw drops. This kid is incredible. The combination of size and talent is amazing. At 6-foot-9, he can play all the positions on the court. He has great handles of the basketball, he can shoot from anywhere, and his presence in the lane is unstoppable.

I firmly believe, if you dropped Riley in the NBA today, he could start for multiple teams and get double-digit minutes for every NBA franchise. He is tailormade for the next level.

What is even crazier is the fact that Riley is only 18 years old. He reclassified to be in the class of 2024. Just imagine how good he would be in high school right now.

Illinois has a special talent with Riley. He will only be here one season, but it is going to be fun to watch. Don’t be shocked if he shoots up the NBA Draft boards and becomes a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

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