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Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from Illini loss to Michigan State 2.0

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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2. More scoring help is needed

I really like the players that are on the Illinois roster right now. I think they are all good individuals, but the one problem I have with them as players is they can put the ball in the hoop at a high enough rate.

There are very few natural scorers on this Illinois basketball team. The most natural playmaker is Trent Frazier. He has been able to put up points this season, but he hasn’t shot well as of late. That hurts the team.

Leron Black is up there with Frazier in ability to score. It really is amazing how good of a shooter he has become over the last year. If he was on a team that was ranked in the top 20 in the nation, I think Black would be looked at as a potential NBA Draft pick this year. But, he isn’t, so he is getting lost in the mix.

I also like how Kipper Nichols can shoot the ball as well. He didn’t have a great game against Michigan State, but he clearly has great touch from deep. I feel comfortable with him shooting the ball.

As far as pure scorers go, that is about it for the Illini. The rest of the team has a really hard time putting the ball in the hoop. There is no one else to go to if the team needs a bucket. That is why I can’t wait until Ayo Dosunmu comes to Champaign. He is going to be another player who can go and get a bucket. He will do wonders for this program.

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