CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With Illinois’ senior leader out of the lineup for the first time in his collegiate career, the Illini needed everybody to step up and help fill the void.
Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic
certainly played his part, leading Illinois to its eighth-straight win in a 89-70 demolition job against Maryland at State Farm Center on Wednesday night.
After veteran guard Kylan Boswell fractured his wrist in practice on Monday, head coach Brad Underwood had less than two days to figure out how the Illini could make up for the absence of the engine of their squad. It’s now easy to say Stojakovic was probably one of Underwood’s main focal points, knowing what he’s capable of.
“It’s him, it’s gonna be him for a lot of nights,” Underwood said. “He’s got to want to accept that challenge.”
Stojakovic took care of business on all sides of the court. The guard racked up 16 points in the first half and sent the Terrapins home with a statline of 30 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
Illini fans are very familiar with his ability to score at the rim. But tonight he revealed a new strength in his game, tallying more than two threes in a single game for the first time this season after nailing four out of five from long-range in the first half.
With the absence of one of the best defending guards in the nation and Illinois’ second-leading scorer in Kylan Boswell, perimeter defense looked like a challenge for Illinois. Especially when you’re up against senior guard David Coit, who scored 73 points in the Terrapins’ last two games.
But Stojakovic didn’t back down. In fact, he stepped up massively. He tallied four blocks, forcing Coit to shoot 5-15 from the field and 1-8 from long range, while also showcasing his physicality on the glass snagging 6 defensive rebounds.
“Defense should be easy,” Underwood said. “Defense is just effort and a desire to want to, then it’s my job to make doggone sure that he’s ready to do that and demand that he does it.”
Having scored just 11 points in his last two, Stojakovic stepped foot on the court with hunger. Not only did the guard get back to his scoring ways, but he also made it clear to the Illini faithful that he can defend, too, and will continue to improve that part of his game while Boswell is sidelined.
“He’s got all the tools to be an outstanding, outstanding defender,” Underwood said.
A game like this will certainly boost his confidence, but will also leave Illini fans wondering how much more he has to offer.
