It is easy to read too much into pre-season basketball scrimmage games like those the Illinois basketball team played in Belgium and France last month. But then again, it is worth reviewing these games for a few reasons.
It tells us a little bit about who is alive and kicking, and who isn’t, and what the team chemistry looks like.
In addition to playing competitive basketball, the point of a trip like this is to build team cohesion. Similar to a family, they bond while touring a foreign country. The team does everything together, from visiting tourist attractions, to traveling and just hanging out together.