Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to knock off No. 2 Baylor

The No. 5 ranked Illinois basketball team will have a massive opportunity to knock off No. 2 Baylor on Wednesday night. 

After the release of the new college basketball rankings, the Illini are now ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation, three spots ahead of their previous No. 8 ranking.  Wednesday night’s Jimmy V Classic matchup will now be between two top-five teams as the Illini will play the No. 2 Baylor Bears at 10:00 PM EST.

Here are four keys for the Illini to knock off Baylor.

1. Continue to get production from freshmen guards

The Illini were able to put together a 2020 recruiting class that ranked No.16 in the nation.  This class is playing up to that ranking and maybe even better than that.

Freshman Adam Miller put the nation on watch during his Illini debut versus North Carolina A&T with a 28-point performance, which would tie teammate Ayo Dosunmu for a game-high.  Miller would also tally 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal in the debut.

The young guard is averaging 18 points per game so far on the year, shooting an eye-catching 59.4-percent from the field and a team-high 47.1-percent from three-point range.  His exceptional first week earned him the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honor.

Freshman guard Andre Curbelo has also been very productive for Illinois through his first three collegiate games.  Coming off the bench, Curbelo is averaging 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in just 16 minutes per contest.  The freshman point guard is shooting an exceptional team-high 72.2-percent from the field.

Curbelo’s best basketball this season came in the second half of the Illini’s victory over Chicago State, where he would score 16 of his 18 total points in the contest. He has also been great converting in transition ball for the Illini, as a dunk got Illini fans excited on social media.

Curbelo injured his ankle in the Illini’s recent victory over Ohio, though, but is expected to be available for Wednesday’s game.