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Welcome to “Green Street,” your dose of women’s college basketball news from Illini best writer and AP Top 25 voter Joe Vozzelli. He will be covering Shauna Green’s Illini team and the women’s game in general on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.

Kendall Bostik He played all but 38 seconds of Illinois’ 83-74 victory over No. 19 Florida State on Thursday night.

The fifth-year senior forward logged 39 minutes, 22 seconds and got in the third-year coach’s face as the Illini pulled off an impressive season-opening win at State Farm Center. Shauna Green He actually goes all the way to nine with his rotation against the Seminoles.

However, Green had no choice but to play Bostic for almost the entire match. Not with the young striker Shay Bollin He suffered an injury against FSU and continues to progress “day-to-day,” according to Green.

Bollin was introduced to the media Wednesday before Illinois’ opener against FSU. Bollin’s absence and season-ending injury to the 1.80-meter center Lety Vasconcelos It meant Illinois was thin on frontcourt options.

But while Bostic faced a tough 6-2 rout of the Seminoles, he showed no ill effects, being a major catalyst in the Illini’s upset win. Makayla Timpson.

The 6-2 Bostic was at his best against Timpson, and the Kokomo, Ind., native finished with 18 points and nine rebounds on 8 of 10 shooting. Timpson had slightly better numbers with 22 points (11-of-18 from the field) and 14 rebounds.

Still, Green was impressed with Bostic’s overall night.

Especially with little or no rest.

“It’s unheard of, you just don’t have five players that can play at this level for that long,” the Illinois coach said. “There was a 30-second period where I took him out and then I ended up giving him a break. So we have to keep him there, obviously we know we haven’t done that because of some injuries. “He’s got depth at that position but how good of a player he is against an elite athlete, a great player. “I’m very proud of his defense and I know (Timpson) made some tough shots, but I thought (Bostic) did a great job.”

Before Illinois played the Seminoles, Bostic received a scouting report on what to expect, and not just from the Illini coaches.

Angie BostikKendall’s mother shared a photo to X on Thursday morning of Kendall with her father at the Ubben Basketball Complex. Kevin.

“Last first game!” Angie Bostic’s social media post read. “I love this photo of KB and Kev shooting at Ubben. It’s also special to have it on the wall behind him. Even though he’s 23, he still reaches out to his dad before the match to spot his opponent.”

“His first Aries. His favorite Aries. His forever Aries.”

Kendall Bostic explained after Illinois’ win against FSU that scouting sessions with his father have long been part of his routine in preparation for games.

“He’s a coach and he never stops being a coach, but we both have a love for basketball,” the fifth-year forward said. “Like, when we go home for Christmas break, we usually go to a high school (basketball) game together, a random high school game in the community. Just watch basketball. You know, I always ask him: What do you think? What do you see? He’s like, God loves him, this He’s doing everything with the scouts, he’ll send these paragraphs and watch things.

“I have a great relationship with him in basketball. He helped me get to where I am today. I didn’t have any coaches. I played in AAU and trained with my father. I appreciate his success. I’m here today because he brought me here, I always talk to him before the games.” I would like to hear your opinions.”