CHAMPAIGN — Andres Feliz was back on the bench to start Sunday's game against Northwestern. His start at Purdue turned out to be a one-time change to Illinois' lineup.
But off the bench is where Feliz has been at his most dangerous this season for the Illini. Where he's shown exactly why Illinois coach Brad Underwood dipped into the junior college ranks for the 6-foot-2 guard out of Northwest Florida State.
The way Feliz plays is the personification of Underwood's system —in your face defense and the same type of aggression on the offensive end. Feliz flashed it all Sunday against the Wildcats with a career-high 26 points as Illinois snapped its three-game losing streak with an 81-76 victory in front of 13,924 fans at State Farm Center.