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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini win over Indiana

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 24: Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Leron Black (12) shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 24, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 24: Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Leron Black (12) shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 24, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 24: Da’Monte Williams
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 24: Da’Monte Williams /

4. Aggression saved the Illini against Indiana

This season there have been times where I yelled at the television because Illinois isn’t being aggressive enough. They have settled for shots and haven’t driven the ball like they should be doing.

What being aggressive does for a team is it gets them to the free throw line. This will give the program free points, but the Illini have been on the losing end of the free throw margin way too many times this season.

In the last game against Michigan State, the Spartans shot 28 free throws to Illinois’ 14. The previous game, Wisconsin shot 21 free throws and the Illini shot seven. You have to go all the way back to the Braggin’ Rights game against Missouri to find the last time Illinois shot more free throws than their opponent. In that game, the Illini clipped the Tigers in free throws, 27-21.

The game on Wednesday night was different, though. They put Indiana on their heels most of the night and this got the Hoosiers in foul trouble. Illinois ended up getting to the free throw line 32 times compared to Indiana’s 29 free throws. This was the difference in the game. The Illini took advantage of a situation where they could get to the charity stripe and make some shots.

Illinois needs to continue to stay aggressive. If they do this, they will continue to win games and improve their record. I want to see Trent Frazier continue to drive the ball. Illinois needs to get better at entry passes but Leron Black should continue being a focal point as well. He is amazing on the block. Stay aggressive and you will win games.

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