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Illinois Basketball: 3 ways the Illini can take down Nebraska

By Jalen Wilson

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a play during the second half of a college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 15, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 72-57. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a play during the second half of a college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 15, 2020 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 72-57. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 07: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 07: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. Get good penetration inside the paint

Illinois has been good this season at penetrating opposing defenses. They are a team that is good when it’s players can penetrate and facilitate. Pushing the ball inside on the Nebraska defense would help Illinois on offense. If the Illini are able to get by players on the perimeter, that will cause the Nebraska defense to collapse and help free up shooters on the outside.

There are three good players who are able to get by good perimeter defenders. Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier and Andres Feliz are the Illini experts at this skill. Ayo is probably the best at getting by defenders as his absence in the second Rutgers game hurt Illinois’ facilitating. If Ayo can’t get into the paint, Feliz and Frazier are good secondary options when it comes to penetrating defenses.

If Illinois can push the ball inside and force defenses to collapse it will have a big effect on the game. If shooters can knock down shots it will make the Nebraska defense stop collapsing. This will give Illinois more one on one opportunities.

When offensive players get by defenders in forces the opposing team big man to help. If that happens Ayo, Frazier or Feliz can dump the ball off to Kofi Cockburn or Giorgi Bezhanishvili for a layup, dunk or a potential opportunity to get to the free throw line.

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