3-2-1 RECAP: Illinois Overwhelms D-II Lewis for 83-50 Victory

The three major takeaways from this exhibition win for the Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois certainly didn’t start on time in its 83-50 exhibition victory over Division II Lewis University but managed to overwhelm the undersized and less athletic Flyers after a long slow start.

Here are three major takeaways from this exhibition win for the Illini: 

VERY SLOW, SLOPPY START...and MIDDLE

It took a long time for the Illini, and specifically sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu to resemble the preseason hype that both had coming into this 2019-20 season.

The Illini found themselves down 14-2 early and 21-9 with eight minutes and 43 seconds left in the first half. Dosunmu, who is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft, was 0 for 4 from the field, 0 for 3 from 3-point range and had three turnovers in a horrid first half where he played 17 minutes.

The Illini, which were playing with just 10 scholarship players tonight after the suspension of Tevian Jones, also got no bench production in the first half. Alan Griffin, Kipper Nichols and Da’Monte Williams combined to shoot 0 for 4 from the field and committed a total of four fouls. Griffin was a minus-7 and Nichols was a minus-5 in their combined 10 minutes of action.

COCKBURN ALREADY A FORCE

Kofi Cockburn showcased early on why his presence will be needed throughout this 2019-20 season. The 7-foot, 290-pound center had a team-high nine points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action in the first half. Cockburn’s force was noticed on the defensive end as a rim protector against a smaller, four-out and one out offense presented by Lewis. Cockburn finished the evening with 16 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. The Cockburn-Giorgi frontcourt combination was showcased for several stretches in this exhibition opener and logic would suggest it will be implemented until proven it doesn’t work against better teams.

BENCH HELP?

The first Illinois bench points came on a pair of free throws by Alan Griffin with 13 minutes and 38 seconds left.

The Fighting Illini bench, which featured guards Grffin, Da’Monte Williams and fifth-year senior forward Kipper Nichols, accounted for just one field goal and Griffin’s two free throws through the game’s first 30 minutes. Nichols and Griffin both had a negative plus/minus after the first half.

With only 10 scholarship players, Illinois will need a better execution on both ends of the floor from its reserves, especially Nichols as the only veteran frontcourt presence off the bench.