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Illinois Basketball: 3 weaknesses for the Illini against North Carolina A&T

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots a jump shot between Minnesota Golden Gophers center Daniel Oturu (25) and Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Michael Hurt (42) 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 guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots a jump shot between Minnesota Golden Gophers center Daniel Oturu (25) and Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Michael Hurt (42) 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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COLLEGE PARK, MD – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts to a play during the second half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on December 7, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

2. Lack of offensive possessions

As mentioned in the previous slide, Illinois wasn’t a good three-point shooting team last season. As a unit, the program was about middle of the pack when it came to overall shooting as well.

In 2019-20, Illinois shot 43.7-percent from the field, which ranked No. 160 in the nation. While that isn’t a horrible number, what worries me a little bit is the fact Illinois didn’t shoot well while possessing the ball on offense infrequently.

Illinois was one of the worst teams in the nation last year in offensive possessions. They only averaged controlling the ball 68.9 possessions per game, which ranked No. 272 in the nation.

Being on offense fewer times than the vast majority of college basketball doesn’t bode well when you are only shooting 43.7-percent from the field. This was apparent with the Illini scoring, as the program only averaged 70.7 points per game, which ranked No. 162 in the nation.

Illinois managed to win a lot of games last season still, though. This wasn’t due to their offense. Their defense is what really came through for the program. Without a stout defense, the Illini would have most likely lost a lot more.

I will be interested to see how Illinois controls the ball on offense against North Carolina A&T. The Aggies are the polar opposite of the Illini as they possessed the ball 76.9 times per game last season, which ranked No. 8 in the nation.

Again, this is a matchup of two teams in Illinois, who controls the ball and slows the game down, and North Carolina A&T, who likes to run and gun. Let’s see who breaks serve first.

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