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Illinois Basketball: 3 ways the Illini can beat Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) walks across the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) walks across the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 07: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) claps as he gets into a defensive position during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 7, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 07: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) claps as he gets into a defensive position during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 7, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Illini defense has to be solid

I know this seems like an obvious way to win the game, but we aren’t going up against a bad offense like we have against Purdue. This Penn State team can put up points in bunches.

This is the best Nittany Lions team I have seen in probably my lifetime. They are averaging 77.5 points per game, which ranks No. 25 in the nation. The leader of this scoring machine is Lamar Stevens.

Stevens’ name comes up in just about every statistical category for Penn State. But he leads the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game. This is an impressive number. Overall, they have three players who are scoring in double figures, the other two being Myreon Jones and Mike Watkins who are averaging 14.1 points and 10 points, respectively.

This won’t be a one-sided affair, though. Illinois is coming in with a solid defense as well. We average giving up 65.2 points per game, which ranks No. 60 in the nation. So, something will have to give this Tuesday.

Illinois’ main focus should be on handling Stevens. I believe we might need to go back to Giorgi Bezhanishvili to start the game against Stevens. He would give us the best chance. I would imagine Giorgi gets in foul trouble, and that is when you bring in Tevian Jones. Jones has the length to be dangerous against Stevens.

The No. 4 spot for the Illini is huge when it comes to the defense. I would say if we can hold Penn State to less than 65 points, then we have a shot at winning this game. Defense will be crucial.

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