Illinois Finds Relief in Win Over Rutgers
By Jeff Mayfield

[February 18, 2016]  As a former coach I have really felt Illinois’ pain this season. My first season as a head coach was a lot like this campaign for the Illini. Lots of injuries, some players who chose not to return, and some who were still pining for the way things used to be, made for a long and laborious sub five hundred season.

When we were able to snatch a victory here and there back in my day, it felt more like relief than it did ecstasy. That’s the way last night’s 82-66 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights felt to me again. It’s always good to get a home win. And it’s always good to get a Big Ten win. But when you’re playing a team that everybody on the planet expects you to beat, even in a struggling season like this one, there’s not as much joy in it as I wish there was.

The Illini had great contributions from Malcolm Hill who posted a double double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, but how ‘bout the job Maverick Morgan put up by tossing in 17 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots? In my estimation, he is our most improved player this year by far. Kendrick Nunn made strides to right himself by tallying 16 points with the help of 4 made 3-pointers. Jalen Coleman-Lands, Khalid Lewis and D.J. Williams rounded out the balanced scoring with 9, 8 and 8 points a piece.

The Illini forced 16 turnovers while making only 10, shot 46% from the field, and held their own in the rebounding battle tying the Scarlet Knights 32-32! However, the reason I say you can chalk this one up more in the relief category than the joy column is that this contest may have been decided before the game even tipped. Rutgers’ leading scorer Corey Sanders was not available as he’s serving a two-week suspension for breaking some unspecified team rules. Since he scored 39 points when these teams met just two weeks ago, having him out of the lineup was just too much for the Scarlet Knights to overcome.

It’s hard to feel sorry for anyone else after everything the Illini have been through this year, but you did have to feel bad for Coach Eddie Jordan as at times Rutgers was almost hapless. They are certainly a different team without Sanders on the court and hopefully we’ll find an answer for him in the future.

The Illini next will make a trip to cheese land Sunday to visit Wisconsin followed by hosting Indiana at home next Thursday.

[By JEFF MAYFIELD]

Note:  My favorite player: currently is not a member of the Illini or any college player on any team for that matter. Neither is my favorite player on an NBA roster. My favorite player is #20 for the Panthers! Congrats to former Lincoln resident Payne Mayfield who just finished his season leading his Jayvee and freshmen hoops teams in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. Nice going #20!

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