Andrej Stojakovic Is Illinois' Answer To Kylan Boswell's Absence Vs. Maryland

Illinois cannot recreate nan effect of Kylan Boswell. It’s impossible. Players tin beryllium similar, but they’re ne'er identical. That is nan beauty of basketball. Each subordinate possesses a unsocial accomplishment group – and for illustration a fingerprint, it tin ne'er beryllium replicated.

So erstwhile nan Illini lost Boswell to a manus wounded successful practice, alternatively of turning to Mihailo Petrovic aliases Brandon Lee – a brace of guards who were expected to spot an uptick successful minutes pursuing nan nonaccomplishment of Boswell – coach Brad Underwood turned to a different candidate: helping Andrej Stojakovic.

Andrej Stojakovic powers Illinois past Maryland

The adjacent force on nan docket was Maryland, a nine led by 5-foot-11 defender David Coit, who had poured successful a prodigious 73 points successful his erstwhile 2 outings. Boswell would person been nan earthy defender to cheque him, but that was evidently nary longer an option.

Cue Stojakovic. We had already seen nan 6-foot-7 helping unopen down Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and return Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton retired of nan crippled successful nan 2nd half of Illinois' triumph successful Columbus past month. But could Stojakovic do nan aforesaid to nan flame-throwing Coit? The reply was a resounding yes.

After Coit connected connected his first effort of nan title – a heavy contested long-distance propulsion – it looked for illustration nan Illini were successful statement to beryllium connected nan incorrect extremity of different violative detonation from a Big Ten star. But pursuing that make, Coit went 0-for-7 from heavy and conscionable 4-for-14 from nan section (finishing astatine 5-for-15), arsenic Stojakovic put nan handcuffs connected nan Terrapins defender and tossed nan cardinal away.

Chasing him astir nan three-point line, battling complete screens, contesting shots – and blocking 2 of them – Stojakovic was stuck connected Coit for illustration gum to nan bottommost of a middle-school desk.

Underwood has challenged his helping to go Illinois’ go-to stopper – and connected Wednesday he answered nan bell. With Purdue up next, Stojakovic’s expertise to fastener up prima guards whitethorn genuinely beryllium tested if Underwood elects to delegate him to Boilermakers constituent man Braden Smith, which appears to beryllium nan apt scenario.

But that protect masterpiece was conscionable nan second-best portion of Stojakovic’s night. Again, without Boswell, nan (perhaps basic) statement of reasoning was that Petrovic and Lee would beryllium earning heftier minutes. Instead, nan Illini conscionable put nan shot successful Stojakovic’s hands and fto him make magic.

And though we whitethorn not judge successful supernatural occurrences, Stojakovic's efforts judge were ace – but they were thing but natural. Scoring 30 points and connecting connected a season-high 4 threes, Stojakovic had nan hottest of hands.

But moreover if his 4-for-7 showing from heavy was a head-turner, Stojakovic still did overmuch of his harm astatine nan cup. He is crafty, diversion and a interaction seeker to nan fullest extent. A relentless attacker, Stojakovic is going to will himself to nan tin for 2 (either points aliases free throws). It’s what he does.

Stojakovic is intelligibly astir comfortable arsenic nan No. 1 option, arsenic he thrives successful high-volume situations. And successful nan adjacent period aliases so, without Boswell successful nan fold, Illinois will request this type of Stojakovic to compete pinch – and, ideally, hit – nan likes of Purdue, Nebraska and Michigan State.

The Illini don’t want to trust connected 1 subordinate offensively, but if they’re forced to – which tends to go nan only prime down nan agelong of tight games – Stojakovic made it abundantly clear they will beryllium successful safe hands if and erstwhile nan clip arises.