Illini Upend Iowa 80-75, No Worries
By Jeff Mayfield

[January 30, 2021]  I know you are not supposed to worry. I tell people not to worry all the time. But sometimes it’s hard to follow your own advice.

I admit I’ve been worried about this game for the last two weeks. I was worried that Iowa National Player of the Year candidate, center Luca Garza, might score 50 or 60 against us. I was worried that the Hawkeyes might make 20 or 30 3-pointers against us since they never seem to miss when we play them. Couple all that with the fact that Illinois has lost 2 of their last 3 home games, and there was plenty to worry about. Even Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Nueman was worried about this one.

Our Illini assistant coaches Geoff Alexander, Stephen Gentry, Chin Coleman, and Orlando Antiqua must have been worried too. They were so motivated-clicking and in sync all night and making multiple adjustments at just the right times. Even before the game they were making Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, and Jacob Grandison practice lots of shots especially 3-pointers and wow did that prove to be fortuitive.

Then Illinois went out and shot a whopping 59% from the field in the first half but only led by two little measly points, 43-41. That did not bode well for the Illini going into the 2nd half or so it seemed. But I didn’t count on Trent Frazier scoring 24 points. I didn’t count on Kofi Cockburn making another near double double against Garza, finishing with 9 points and 10 rebounds. I didn’t count on Jacob Grandson scoring his first Illini double double with 11 points, ten rebounds and one of the biggest 3-point daggers in Illini hoops history. I didn’t count on Andre Curbelo logging 8 assists against Iowa’s tough defense. I didn’t count on the Illini shooting 50% from the field. AND I didn’t count on the Illini making 14-17 free throws. Why was I worried? Maybe Alfred E. had snuck in somewhere between the fan cardboard cutouts!

Somehow the Illini made some terrific defensive stops in the last few minutes. Made their free throws AND executed the offense well the final few possessions! And even though Giorgi Bezhanishvili only scored 3 points and Da’Monte Williams and Adam Miller were held scoreless, all 3 played tough defense, grabbed timely rebounds, and made the hustle plays you have to make if you want to be a top ten team. Even Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk only got one minute of play but stuck his nose right in the middle of the action.

The Illini took a gutsy, gritty victory in the kind of game you must win at home in a game that saw 8 ties and the lead change 22 times. This huge win makes the Illini 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the Big Ten Conference standings. Illinois’ next game will be Tuesday night on the road at always tough Indiana. And now, I won’t worry…till the next one.

[By JEFF MAYFIELD]

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