Illinois Basketball: Lessons from Fighting Illini exhibition win over IUP

Curbelo is a legit point guard

Coming out of Long Island Lutheran High School the 6’0 point guard from Puerto Rico was ranked No. 45 when he committed to Illinois. The scouting report on him at the time only put his size and his outside shooting into question as they were labeled ‘average’. His basketball IQ, playmaking, decision making, ball handling, and vision were all ‘above average. Now 6’1 and just five pounds heavier that assessment remains spot on.

Despite averaging more points, assists, rebounds, and having better free throw and field goal percentages while averaging four fewer minutes, Curbelo started zero games while Adam Miller started all of Illinois’ thirty-one games. Curbelo, however, only trailed Ayo Dosunmu for the team lead in turnovers per game, a category that he should lead this season.

While it must be noted that the five turnovers versus IUP were an improvement from the 10 turnovers he committed versus St. Francis, it is clear that he will not be averaging over seven turnovers a game this season and this is what exhibition games are for.

Plus, it also must be mentioned that he still has a positive assist/turnover ratio, assists he tallied up by initiating the fast break, off the ball screen, and by taking his defender off the dribble.