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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini win over Austin Peay

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Augustana-Illinois Vikings at State Farm Center on November 22, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Augustana-Illinois Vikings at State Farm Center on November 22, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 22: Mark Alstork
CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 22: Mark Alstork /

1. This isn’t a good look

The Illinois basketball team was coming off three straight losses entering the game on Wednesday night against Austin Peay. This was supposed to be, essentially, a tune-up game for the Illini as they needed to get back on track and fix the holes in the program.

What this game against the Governors ended up being was a nail-biting struggle that eventually saw Illinois come out on top. Don’t get me wrong a win is a win, but I still expect much better out this ball club at this stage of the season. This was the 10th game of the year and we looked like that.

I do take into account that Brad Underwood is only now 10 games into his tenure with the Illini. His system is still being learned by the veterans on the team, and the freshmen are just getting acclimated to the college pace. I also take into account that Underwood has to teach old dogs new tricks.

With that being said, I am still disappointed with what I saw Wednesday night. That was the same team from the first half of the Maryland game. If this is the team we get the entire season, it will be a long one. I am not losing hope by any means, but you have to call a spade a spade. This team wasn’t good and it needs to be fixed fast.

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