A surprise late scratch of a potential top five NBA draft pick like the one of Kasparas Jakucionis prior to Wednesday’s game very well could’ve thrown a wrench in the Illini’s recent momentum.

Or, at the very least, it probably should’ve looked like it had some effect. A 39-point drubbing? A 34-4 first half run? Alright, I guess nothing can slow down this Illini train right now.

Illinois didn’t skip a beat in its second emphatic victory in three games — and a big reason for that was the trio of guys it had step up to pick up the slack for its missing leader.

As read on TCR last night, the Illini made more history on Wednesday. Ben Humrichous, Tre White and Morez Johnson all reached 20 or more points, marking just the third time since the 1938-1939 season that Illinois had three 20-point scorers in the same game.

The individual performances of those three were particularly notable because all three of Humrichous, White and Johnson put up their respective big nights in entirely different ways. And all three used Jakucionis’s absence to send a message about how far they’ve already come just a quarter of the way into conference play.

For Morez Johnson, Wednesday’s 20-point, 11-rebound double-double encapsulated everything he brings to the floor the second he steps on it. It was efficient — done in just 20 minutes — and was the result of his constant energy and activity that found himself around the basket on what felt like every possession.

Johnson’s been perhaps the most consistently impactful producer in the Illini rotation all season. His per-40-minute numbers are absurd — try 14.6 points, 17.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. His total rebound rate would rank in the top five nationally if he had the minutes to qualify. He just hasn’t gotten the opportunity to stuff the stat sheet as loudly as he did Wednesday. A well-deserved and long overdue breakout night.

Ben Humrichous’s explosive first half was the flashiest performance of the night, showcasing the ability to catch fire from deep that has always been there for him despite his December struggles. Humrichous nailed five first half threes and was a big reason the Illini’s lead ballooned in the midst of their dominating scoring run.

The most encouraging sign for Humrichous, though, is the way he’s beginning to diversify his game. Through December, Humrichous had attempted just 12 two-point attempts on the season, pretty much exclusively acting as a spot-up shooter on the perimeter. In just three games in January, Humrichous already has 14 attempts from two.

He flashed the ability to take advantage of mismatches with his size in some Marcus Domask-like mid post isos. He’s also gotten noticeably more aggressive attacking closeouts and finishing with force at the rim when the opportunity presents itself. Pair those things with a season-high 9 rebounds on Wednesday and you’ve finally got the version of Humrichous that makes Illinois its most dangerous self.

And quietly in the midst of everything else came another extremely productive Tre White performance. White reached 20 points and 7 rebounds in a similar manner to most of his recent production — doing a little bit of everything and doing it in a very efficient, inconspicuous manner.

Over the last 7 games, White is now averaging 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on remarkable 63.3% efficiency from the floor. He’s turned himself into a consistent second scoring option alongside Jakucionis when he’s out there while making the types of winning plays that result from competing to win, as Brad Underwood detailed Tuesday.

White has made significant strides in almost every area, from scoring off the dribble to rebounding to the defensive end, and it’s taken Illinois to an entirely different level. Wednesday’s performance showed once again how dangerous he can be when he’s attacking and playing with high energy.

As a whole, the Illini certainly hope they’re without their star player for long. But their response without him — particularly from the Johnson, Humrichous and White trio that will continue to be vital to their success — was a welcome sight.

Illinois proved they have the depth to survive a man down while also showing what things can look like when its complementary pieces are at their best. Right now, it’s hard to imagine anything slowing down the roll these Illini are on.