No. 25 Illinois (3-1) lost its first game on Wednesday night, falling to a talented No. 8 Alabama team. A 100-87 final score looks rough on paper, but there’s plenty to take away from an early test for a young team if they are willing to learn. There were lots of learning experiences in the first half. Now, they’ll need to practice applying those lessons and build off of their stronger second half.
Kylan Boswell (B+): It would be generous to give anyone an “A” rating after a double-digit loss while giving up 100 points. However, junior guard Kylan Boswell was pretty close. He’s the most experienced player on the roster in ranked matchups like this one, and he showed up in the second half.
After averaging just five points through three games, Boswell dropped 17 on Alabama. It wasn’t just the number of points scored but how he did it. The Champaign native came out of the locker room aggressively after halftime. This aggression showed in all aspects of his game. He flew for rebounds, ran the floor and hit a massive three to bring the game within single digits for the first time in 19 minutes.
His defense was physical, and he played a large role in holding the Tide’s leading scorer this season to no points. Competitive games require veterans to step up. Illinois will need this version of Boswell for the rest of the year.
Kasparas Jakucionis (C+): Wednesday night was the most comfortable that freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis has looked shooting the basketball. He beat his previous career high by 11 shots attempted and finished with 15 points.
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He got into trouble facilitating the ball, though, and finished with six turnovers. Those numbers are understandable for a freshman in his first game against a legitimate opponent. But it’s not the kind of thing a team can usually overcome. He struggled to defend and found himself half a step too slow when Alabama drove to the paint.
Tomislav Ivisic (B-): The Croatian started to find his flow from deep tonight, connecting twice. Sophomore center Tomislav Ivisic continues to be a consistent option on offense, as he posted another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
He also added a steal and a block on the defensive end. He wasn’t elite, but he defended at the rim pretty well. Ivisic got in trouble a few times when he got stuck further from the basket, but overall, it was another solid night for the big man.
Ben Humrichous (B-): Graduate student forward Ben Humrichous was efficient against the Tide, knocking down three of his six long-range attempts. However, he didn’t contribute much else statistically. He got caught lacking on the defensive end a few times, but his offensive production led to a productive night. Would love to see him be more aggressive in the future, especially in a game like this.
Tre White (C-): Wednesday wasn’t junior guard Tre White’s best outing with the Illini. He consistently lost his assignment on defense and failed to make an impact on offense. He is a veteran on the roster, which made this performance disappointing, especially allowing so many open threes.
Miscommunications are expected with such an inexperienced group, but as a junior, White should be doing more. Boswell and Humrichous began to settle into their roles against Alabama, but White’s role still seems unclear after four games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (C): As always, sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn played with intensity and hustle that can’t be matched on this Illinois team. While that effort is appreciated, it’s hard to leave him in when he isn’t hitting shots.
Gibbs-Lawhorn missed all five shots from the field and recorded zero assists. There is plenty to learn from this game for Gibbs-Lawhorn, but sometimes, the shot just doesn’t fall.
Morez Johnson (B-): When Illinois was in dire need of some physicality tonight, freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. stepped up. After a somewhat rough first half where the big man missed his defensive assignment multiple times, Johnson responded very well in the second.
He only played nine minutes due to foul trouble, but roughing up Alabama wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. He finished through contact twice for some tough buckets and grabbed four rebounds. If Johnson can keep this level of physicality without fouling, he will earn more minutes down the stretch.
Will Riley (B+): Freshman forward Will Riley provided the only solid outing on Wednesday with a superb offensive game. Like most others, he found comfort in the final 20 minutes and knocked down three of his four three-point attempts. He also got fouled — again — on an attempt from behind the line.
He led the Illini attack with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists. His rating will slip, however, due to his defense and free-throw shooting. He was bullied several times on defense and only hit three of his seven free throw opportunities. To be elite and live up to his five-star billing, he has to hit from the charity stripe in big games.
Carey Booth (D): It might be a little harsh, but sophomore forward Carey Booth only played three minutes for a reason. He missed his only shot attempt and picked up a foul in the limited action.
Defense was a struggle for the Illini during much of the game. Booth isn’t physical enough to play the four or the five against these more talented opponents. When his shot isn’t falling from behind the arc, Booth hasn’t proven himself to be very useful this season. Head coach Brad Underwood has shown how quick his leash is, and it’s unlikely to change.
@benfader7
