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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Michigan State

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Michael Finke
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Michael Finke /

3. Michigan State showed why a big man is crucial

Am I beating a dead horse here? Well, I can’t help it. Man, Michigan State absolutely tore up the Illini with their big men. They were just dominating the entire night and the Illini had zero answers for them.

Michigan State did whatever they wanted whenever they wanted when it came to the paint on Monday night. They have three players who are 6-foot-7 or taller who start and they are all super athletic.

Nick Ward, who is 6-foot-8, only had seven points and two rebounds but he is a bruiser. He threw his body around and the Illini struggled with his size. But, the two main problems for the Illini were Jaren Jackson and Miles Bridges.

I would like to see Bridges’ height measured. I have a hard time believing he is only 6-foot-7. That is what ESPN has him listed at but I would take a guess he is closer to 6-foot-8 or even 6-foot-9. Or maybe he is just a freak athlete so no matter who is guarding him, they all look like they are just spinning in circles as he drives by.

Illinois didn’t have an answer for Bridges as he went for 31 points and pulled down eight rebounds. His running mate, Jackson, held his own too. He went for 21 points and had 11 rebounds. He is 6-foot-11, so no wonder why the Illini struggled there.

The game against Michigan State really accelerated the need for a big man. There aren’t any left for the class of 2018 and after talking with a recruiting person, I believe Illinois is going hard after a grad transfer big man. The market will eventually open when seasons start coming to an end. I will be curious to see who is on the market.

Illinois can’t head into 2018 with status quo on the paint production. They are either too small or not skilled enough to handle big men like Michigan State has. This is a big problem that needs to be fixed soon.

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