Illinois Basketball: 4 things the Illini need to change

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The ball goes through the hoop during warm ups before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Michael Finke /

2. Michael Finke needs to make some shots

I know, this sounds like one of those no-duh headlines. Michael Finke needs to make more shots, of course. More shots that go in for him means more points for the Illini. But, I think it is deeper than that.

What I mean is, Finke needs to get the ball closer to the rim. This will enable him to get easier shots, and he can see the ball going in the basket. He needs to get his confidence back that has clearly been lost for the last few games.

Finke is a great shooter and I don’t care what anyone says. We all have seen him drain deep shot after deep shot but he is currently in a funk. He went 0-of-3 last night from the field and 0-of-2 from three-point range. These aren’t good numbers but it is just a confidence thing.

Illinois should focus on getting Finke into the paint early in the games and getting him the ball. A few buckets early on Finke, and then he can step back out and drain some three-pointers. He is very similar to Kevin Love in that way. He needs to get his confidence early on in the game and the rest will be cake.

The Illini have some great scorers, they just aren’t scoring right now. There are little ways you can get their confidence up and this is one way to help with Finke’s shooting.

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