Illinois Basketball: Preview of games 11-15 for the Illini
By Eric Bruce
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Whether the Illini were good students or not will be on full display over these next five games. Illinois faces stout competition throughout, including game “one” against UNLV on December 9. The Rebels are a tough out for any team, as evidenced by the fact that Arizona only beat them by three in overtime. Granted that was a home game for UNLV and Arizona is still finding an identity, but to hang with a team of that talent bodes well for UNLV’s season.
The Illini and the Rebels will clash at the MGM Grand, not on the UNLV campus. Nonetheless, this is obviously a home game for the Runnin’ Rebels, a team that sits at 7-2 entering this contest. Their other loss was on the road to a good Northern Iowa team.
The Rebels finished a dismal 11-21 last year, including 4-14 in the Mountain West. But this is a different team.
UNLV is led by 7-foot, 245-pound five-star freshman, Brandon McCoy. This top 10 recruit chose UNLV over many other programs and he is excelling, as expected. He is currently averaging 20 points per game, with 12 rebounds. He is joined in the frontcourt by the top Junior College transfer in the country, Shakur Juiston. Juiston is 6-foot-7, 215-pounds, and also averages about 12 rebounds per outing.
The Runnin’ Rebels also boast a capable backcourt with excellent guards in Jovan Mooring (13.8 ppg), Jordan Johnson (13.6 ppg and 7.8 assists), and Kris Clybourn (10.3 ppg). All in all, UNLV has five players averaging double digits and they clean up on the glass.
UNLV and Illinois are well matched in the categories of offensive and defensive adjusted tempo, at least statistically speaking per kenpom. This should be a fun contest if the Illini can find a way to limit McCoy’s touches and someone can get hot from the perimeter. It’ll be really fun if the Illini can head back to Champaign with a win. But that will not come easy