Purdue Win Opens Door for Strong Finish For Illinois

Let me say up front, I could not watch the Illinois basketball game Wednesday night as they hosted Purdue, but I intently followed on Twitter and watched highlights on a couple different sites.

So that said, here’s what I took away:

• All year I’ve been calling for Illinois to be a more balanced scoring team, Wednesday Illinois had just that. Four guys in double-figures. (Hill 18, Black 15 plus 13 boards, Nunn 14, and Egwu 11)

• Ahmad Starks (right) continues to be terrible. 1 for 9 shooting, with one assist in 23 minutes. That just won’t get it done and frankly, the only reason he gets playing time right now is because of how short handed the Illini are due to injuries and PG depth.

• My man Jon Rothstein tweeted earlier this morning Leron Black has arrived. While the double-double is great and undoubtedly a sign of progress, I need to see more of it before I’ll agree he’s “arrived”.

Leron Black has officially arrived in the Big Ten. Illinois first-year PF w 15 + 13 in a home win vs. Purdue. Illini now 3-4 in league play.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 22, 2015

• If Nnanna Egwu isn’t a first team All-Defense in the Big Ten, maybe the country, that will be a travesty. His offense has often left a lot to be desired, but you cannot deny the boy gets after it on D.

• 

  Not necessarily a takeaway from last night, but the maturation process for Jaylon Tate (right) has been nothing short of impressive. He’s never going to shoot the lights out guy or the prototypical combo-guard John Groce loves, but the kid is becoming more confident in getting in the paint, then dishing or drawing a foul. 6-6 from the line and six assists Wednesday. Tate is the facilitator this team has to have while Rice is out.

• I have no factual evidence to base this on, just a hunch I’ve had for a while, but I think Austin Colbert will transfer after the season has concluded. A single minute of action Wednesday on a night where having size was going to be a factor. Averaging around five minutes of action per game. He’s been a disappointment so far.

• 

  Kendrick Nunn (right) is finding his groove (scoring in double-figures in five of the last six games). Stroking the three ball with confidence, he's driving and dishing and showing he's healthy. Health was the big concern at the start of the year, and he's getting stronger and showing what he's capable of here late. To me he's a huge key for this team heading into the grind of the Big Ten schedule.

Illinois played a dismal first half, and somehow found themselves up two at the break. They grinded out the second half, Leron Black was crucial down the stretch with some big plays. Malcolm Hill is quietly becoming the go to guy. I say quietly because he’s really not getting much attention outside of Illinois/Big Ten circles. It’s nice to see Hill and Nunn step up and take the lead on the floor. I don’t know if they’ve been challenged by coaches or if it’s all on them, but they are the future of the program as currently constructed and are showing they’re up for it.

While I could sit and complain about Illinois couldn't close out Indiana and Michigan and about the putrid performance at Nebraska, the bottom line is, Illinois can right all those things at Minnesota Saturday and even their Big Ten mark at 4-4.

Illinois with a huge swing game Saturday at Minnesota. Illini are 3-4 in Big Ten. Have three of next four at home following game vs Gophers.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 22, 2015

With a favorable schedule ahead (vs. Penn State, Rutgers, @ Michigan State, vs Michigan), what if Illinois went to the final stretch run A) healthy, and B) with a winning mark in the Big Ten? Winning three of these next four is achievable and would give Illinois the opportunity at it’s first winning Big Ten season under John Groce.