CHAMPAIGN — Giorgi Bezhanishvili was the last Illini to leave Lou Henson Court after shootaround ahead of Wednesday night’s game against Wisconsin. The freshman forward spent time getting some extra shots up, but mostly he hung out with his teammates who were doing the same.
Bezhanishvili danced, of course. He also rapped along to some American, but also German hip-hop, as music pumped through the State Farm Center speakers. He was simply in his element.
That didn’t change when the 8:12 p.m. start against the Badgers happened. Bezhanishvili outplayed Wisconsin All-American Ethan Happ from the opening tip, but even his 20 points and eight rebounds — his third 20-point performance of the season and third straight game with six offensive boards — wasn’t enough for Illinois in the 72-60 loss.