BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Mike Thorne Jr. had two constant companions every time he was on the Illinois bench Tuesday night.
Playing against Indiana in his first game since tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Nov. 28 against Iowa State, Illinois wasn’t going to risk Thorne tightening up sitting on the bench when he was out of the game. Instead, he was upright and staying loose behind the Illini bench with strength coach Adam Fletcher and athletic trainer Paul Schmidt.
Thorne played 16 minutes against the Hoosiers in two- to three-minute spurts, changing the dynamic of the Illini offense and adding a rebounding element when he was in the game.