5. Terrence Shannon Jr. did what superstars do
In the five huge questions article leading up to the Ohio State game, I wondered if the dynamic duo of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask would come through for Illinois against the Buckeyes. I also mentioned in that post that when one of the great players isn’t having a good game, the other picks them up.
Just hours later, Domask lays an egg for the Illini. A player who has averaged 21 points in the last four games and 15.7 points per game for the season dropped seven points against Ohio State. This was a brutal performance, but the dynamic duo came through, as Shannon picked his teammate up when he was down.
Shannon did what superstars do. He put up a big number in a crucial spot. He finished the Ohio State game with 28 points on 8-of-20 shooting from the floor and 2-of-7 from three-point range. He also did what he does best and got to the free throw line. Shannon converted 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.
I didn’t even mention Shannon doing a little bit of everything on the court. He had three rebounds, three assists, and two steals to go along with his game-high 28 points.
Shannon was aggressive toward the basket. He played with a bulldog mentality. The refs were blowing their whistles, so he took advantage of this fact.
I was also impressed with Shannon’s defense against the Buckeyes. He had the two steals, one of which was a breakaway dunk. He also guarded well on the perimeter. Shannon got around screens well and didn’t allow Ohio State to get a lot of open looks.
Big-time players come through in big-time games. Shannon put on his cape and led Illinois to a huge win in the Big Ten Tournament. He is a true superstar.