Illinois Basketball: 5 thoughts from the Illini box score against the Madrid All

Dec 4, 2012; Champaign, IL, USA; The Big Ten logo displayed on the court before the game between the Western Carolina Catamounts and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Bradley Leeb-USA TODAY Sports

CHAMPAIGN , IL – NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Illinois basketball was in action on Sunday, as we took on the Madrid All-Stars.

It isn’t a game that counts for anything. The Illini are overseas in Spain taking on some talented squads in a series of exhibition games.

The first game was against Madrid. Illinois would come away with the victory, 84-73, and no one but the 122 who were in attendance to got watch the game play out.

There is a box score, though. While a box score doesn’t tell the whole story, it does give Illinois fans a tiny window inside what happened on the court. It also gives me the ability to overanalyze some numbers on a page in an exhibition game.

Tim Anderson’s first game in charge was successful, as the Illini would go on to beat the Madrid All-Starts, 84-73. This was a true team effort as well.

Each Illinois player suited up for at least six minutes in the game. Shocking starter, AJ Redd, played the least in the contest with the previously mentioned six minutes. Every other player logged double-digit minutes on the court.

With it being an exhibition game, it is smart for Illinois to play everyone and to try to figure out some chemistry in the offseason. This enables the youngsters to get up to speed too.

Both freshmen, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Amani Hansberry, saw 11 minutes of action against Madrid. Gibbs-Lawhorn would finish with five points, one assist, and one steal on 2-of-6 shooting from the field. He also had three fouls and a turnover. Hansberry managed two points and a rebound on 1-of-3 shooting from the field.

While this is just an exhibition game, it does have some value. Illinois can see who works well together, and we can use that heading into the season.