Illinois basketball has had some trying games over the past several weeks. It all started when star freshman Kasparas Jakucionis missed a few games because of an injury. The Illini could handle Penn State without him, but then they slipped up on their home floor against USC. He made his return in the very next game as Illinois crushed Indiana in Bloomington. That win led to a highly anticipated match-up with Michigan State.
Sure Jakucionis was back, but he was a non-factor in the game with the Spartans, as he quickly fell into foul trouble and only played nine minutes. He eventually fouled out of that game. The struggles in that game started to show a bigger issue, especially with the lineup for Illinois.
Changes to Illinois’ Starting Lineup has the Illini Back on Track
Jakucionis is back to his normal self, but the rest of the lineup for the Illini has struggled in some very tough games. The lineup issues came to a head during four of their last seven games which resulted in losses. There has also been health issues for the Illini’s starting center, Tomislav Ivisic. Him not being able to play certainly changed the direction of the team.
Kylan Boswell brought plenty of leadership when he transferred to Illinois from Arizona, but during the Illini’s stretch of four losses in seven games, he hasn’t been up to par. He along with fellow previous starter Ben Humrichous have struggled as of late, andCoach Underwood certainly hinted at a lineup change following the team’s loss at Nebraska.
Underwood Stays True to His Word
Underwood wasn’t kidding as the Illini rolled out a different lineup in Sunday’s clash with Ohio State. The best part was that Ivisic made his return from dealing with a bout with mono. He missed three games because of it, and his ability was certainly missed. Having him back is going to help, but that wasn’t the biggest dramatic change to the lineup on Sunday.
Your starting lineup vs. Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/rYsAVecL8J
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 2, 2025
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn has been a great guard off the bench for the Illini, and his impressive play during this recent rough stretch was rewarded. He got the start against the Buckeyes and continued to show his tenacity. Boswell is a very capable player in his own right, but the way Gibbs-Lawhorn has been playing, he deserved a start. It also appears he should be starting to move forward.
Moving Boswell to the Bench Pays Off
Boswell certainly responded well to coming off the bench. Sunday’s game with the Buckeyes seemed bleak throughout the game, as Ohio State gave Illinois everything it could handle. Boswell was able to score 14 points off the bench, and that was paired with another bright performance from freshman Will Riley, who finished with 24.
Highlights from No. 18 Illinois' 87-79 victory over Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/eGjFSXXX4l
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 3, 2025
The Big Ten has proven to be very tough this season, but even at 7-5 in the conference, Illinois can still make up plenty of ground with games against the likes of Purdue, Michigan, and a rematch with Michigan State in Champaign ahead on the schedule. Those three teams are currently the top three in the league.
The changes to the starting five were needed. If Boswell can continue to play as he did against the Buckeyes coming off the bench, then the Illini are going to still have something to say in the Big Ten and beyond.
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