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Illinois Basketball: 3 observations from the Illini win over Wisconsin

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on January 08, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on January 08, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 08: Kobe King #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers attempts a shot while being guarded by Kipper Nichols #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half at the Kohl Center on January 08, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 08: Kobe King #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers attempts a shot while being guarded by Kipper Nichols #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half at the Kohl Center on January 08, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Defense came through big-time

No matter how good Griffin is on the court, if you don’t have a defense then we won’t win games. Brad Underwood realizes this, and that is why the Illini have been incredible on the defensive end of the court.

You might challenge this considering Wisconsin just put up a 70-spot, but they could have scored a lot more if it wasn’t for a few adjustments throughout the game. The main player I am looking at for Wisconsin is Kobe King.

King was tearing the Illini up for most of the game. He only missed three shots the entire night. By halftime, he was 4-of-6 from the field for 8 points. King then started the second half even hotter. He made four straight buckets within the first four minutes of the second half.

So, with 16 minutes to go in the game, King was 8-of-10 from the field for 16 points. Wisconsin also had a six-point lead at the time. That is when Underwood and the coaching staff clearly put more of an emphasis on guarding King.

In the final 16 minutes of the game, King touched the ball 11 times on offense. He only managed to get up three shots during this time. Illinois continued to front King almost the entire second half. They weren’t letting him get out of their sight. The only time he would get open and make a shot was when he would juke the Illini players.

I was impressed with the adjustments that were made and the defense this Illinois to played in the second half. I truly believe this is the reason we won the game on Wednesday night.

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