2. Will Riley is playing with an incredible confidence
Just a few weeks ago, I was sitting here disappointed in Will Riley. As a fan, I thought Illinois was getting a five-star player who was going to change the game.
Sadly, the first couple of months of the Riley experience were not good. He looked lost on the court, and he wasn’t sure how to break out of the funk.
From January 1 through January 26, Riley played in eight games and averaged just 6.4 points per game. He was also just 4-of-21, 19%, from three-point range. Things were pretty bleak.
Illinois needed an answer with so many injuries and illnesses. I believe Brad Underwood gave the green light to Riley, and since then, he has flourished.
Riley has played with incredible confidence in the last three games. He has been Illinois’ best player, and I think there should be conversations about putting him in the starting lineup.
On Wednesday night, Riley continued his tear. He had 18 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Riley was 6-of-16 from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range. He hit some big shots, and Rutgers had such a hard time stopping him from getting to the basket and finishing.
Over the past three games, Riley has been a changed player. He finally had a chance to shine and hasn’t disappointed. In this three-game span, Riley is averaging 19.3 points per game and is 7-of-16, 43.8%, from three-point range. He has been incredible for the Illini, and while it was a tough loss, let’s give Riley some credit for turning a corner.