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Illinois Basketball: 3 ways the Illini can beat the Iowa Hawkeyes

By Rees Woodcock

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 25: Michigan Wolverines forward Austin Davis (51) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 25: Michigan Wolverines forward Austin Davis (51) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 21: Purdue Boilermakers guard Nojel Eastern (20) backs into Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on January 21, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 21: Purdue Boilermakers guard Nojel Eastern (20) backs into Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers on January 21, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Continue with lockdown defense

A wise man – Illinois tight end Luke Ford – once said, to beat a team you have to score more points. This is true and to score more points, we have to force Iowa to score fewer points.

Illinois’ lockdown defense has been something to marvel at the last few months. They have played some of the best defense I have seen this team play in years. I attribute a lot of this to coaching and the Illini players gelling with the scheme the coaches are implementing.

Numbers are showing how good the Illini have been on defense too. They are currently giving up 63.8 points per game, which ranks No. 45 in the nation. That is a great number. Opponents are struggling to put the ball in the hoop. They are only shooting 40.5-percent from the field, which has the Illini No. 55 in the nation.

It sounds simple, but Iowa has a great offense. Their inside out game is tremendous with Luka Garza. They can the ball down to him and defenses traditionally collapse on him and there is a wide-open three-pointer on the perimeter. Illinois is going to have to play disciplined defense and trust Kofi Cockburn can handle Garza.

This is going to be a tough game for the Illini. Iowa’s offense is great, but we have a great defense. This should be an interesting matchup. If Illinois is clicking on defense, then I think we win this game.

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