May I have your attention please: Illinois basketball is officially back.
Wow, what a game on Monday night. The Illini took center stage and performed admirably, as Jackson State was drowning in the three-point shooting that Illinois brought to the table.
You can’t put too much on this victory because it is Jackson State, but Illinois looked like a much-improved three-point shooting team. We have some new players who are injecting life into the lineup, and the future seems extremely bright.
Illinois was one three-pointer shy of tying the program record on Monday night. This great shooting led the Illini to a huge 113-55 win over Jackson State.
Here are five massive observations from the Illinois basketball win over Jackson State
1. David Mirkovic continues to wow
I loved what I saw from Illinois in the exhibition game against Illinois State. The player who stood out the most in that game was David Mirkovic.
While I was pleased with what Mirkovic did against Illinois State, you had to take it with a grain of salt. It was just an exhibition game. What Mirkovic did on Monday night was solidify something I have been thinking. I think this kid is one of the best players on the team, if not the best player.
I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I truly believe Mirkovic has a skillset that is rare. He wowed me against Jackson State, going for 19 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. Mirkovic also shot 7-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range.
Offensively, Mirkovic can shoot from all levels. He is great inside, but you can’t slack off of him on the perimeter or he will knock down a three-pointer. He is a great facilitator of the ball, too. Mirkovic gets to the perimeter, and Illinois runs well with the pick-and-roll off of him. He starts setting screens, and this enables the offense to run well.
On the defensive end of the court, Mirkovic is no slouch either. He brings the energy and gives everything he has ever possession. As a freshman, Mirkovic is already one of the best players on the team. I think he could easily be an All-Big Ten type of player this season.