Illinois Basketball: Orange and Blue Scrimmage Recap
On Thursday evening, Fighting Illini fans were able to get their first look at the 2013-14 squad. The game is broken down into four quarters, with the players alternating teams following each quarter. In total, the blue team won 59-51, though both the orange and blue squads won two of the four quarters.
The orange team won the first quarter 16-10 and third quarter 18-13, however the blue team dominated the second quarter 20-3. The fourth quarter regulation ended in a tie, sending the final segment into a sudden death where Rayvonte Rice hit the game winning shot on a putback.
Below, I have compiled every player's statistics for the night. While the Illini only have 10 eligible scholarship players on this year's roster, walk-on Mike LaTulip and transfers Ahmad Starks, Aaron Cosby and Darius Paul all played their part in the scrimmage.
Nnanna Egwu—17 PTS, 6 REB, 3 PF, 8-9 FG, 1-1 FT
Jon Ekey—6 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 2-7 FG, 2-5 3PT
Joseph Bertrand—4 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-1 FT
Rayvonte Rice—17 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 4 PF, 6-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT
Tracy Abrams—6 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 4-4 FT
Maverick Morgan—6 PTS, 3 REB, 1 PF, 3-11 FG, 0-4 FT
Austin Colbert—4 PTS, 4 REB, 2 PF, 2-7 FG
Malcolm Hill—6 PTS, 6 REB, 3 PF, 2-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
Kendrick Nunn—6 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 4 PF, 2-5 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-3 FT
Jaylon Tate—6 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 2 PF, 2-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-2 FT
Mike Latulip—15 PTS, 2 REB, 3 PF, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 10-10 FT
Ahmad Starks—6 PTS, 2 AST, 1 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-1 3PT
Aaron Cosby—9 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 3 PF, 3-7 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT
Darius Paul—2 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 3 PF, 1-4 FG
Of the 14 players, 11 switched teams at some point during the night. Both redshirt seniors Ekey and Bertrand only played on the orange squad while Cosby only wore blue. One intriguing lineup on the night was that of Egwu, Paul, Rice, Cosby and Abrams, which is a potential preview of the 2014-15 starting lineup.
On the night, Egwu, Rice and LaTulip were the team's three leading scorers. While Egwu and Rice's scoring production should come as no surprise, the sophomore walk-on Latulip had an incredibly efficient night. Scoring 15 points on only four shot attempts is unheard of at any level, as he was able to get to the charity stripe 10 times and converted on each and every attempt.
LaTulip will be in direct competition with Tate for the backup point guard position for the remainder of the offseason, as well as throughout the year. LaTulip's 10 free throw attempts are a testament to his work ethic and conditioning, but also an alarming cause of concern for the Illini defensively.
The three projected starters not named Rice or Egwu all put up numbers similar to bench players not named LaTulip. Nonetheless, expect to hear Abrams', Bertrand's and Ekey's names called out prior to the season opener just three weeks from now.
