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Illinois Basketball: 4 observations from the Illini win over Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 23, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) blocks Penn State Nittany Lions guard Izaiah Brockington (12) during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Illinois defeated Penn State 98-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) blocks Penn State Nittany Lions guard Izaiah Brockington (12) during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Illinois defeated Penn State 98-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – DECEMBER 23: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a basket in the fist half during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 23, 2020 at the Bryce Joyce Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – DECEMBER 23: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a basket in the fist half during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 23, 2020 at the Bryce Joyce Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

3. Free throws can be our friend

Illinois hasn’t struggled at much this season, but the one thing that hasn’t been our friend is the free throw line. We have been on the wrong side of the free throw numbers pretty much the entire year.

In the loss to No. 2 Baylor, Illinois shot 16 free throws compared to 24 free throws for the Bears. We lost the free throw battle against Missouri 31-28. Rutgers outshot Illinois in free throws 36-15. Even with the other team shooting more free throws, there is one thing the Illini can control and that is the rate at which we make free throws.

Illinois isn’t helping their case at the free throw line this year. While they seem to be shooting fewer free throws than most teams, they are also making them at a far lesser clip. Heading into the Penn State game, the Illini were hitting 68.3-percent of their free throws, which ranked No. 205 in the nation.

For the most part, Illinois has had a hate-hate relationship with the free throw line. That was until Wednesday night. The Illini were able to shoot 28 free throws against the Nittany Lions. That is a big number considering Penn State only shot seven free throws the entire night. Yes, that isn’t a type, seven free throws.

But what is even more impressive about Illinois’ free throw escapades is that they were hitting their shots from the charity stripe. The Illini made 82.1-percent of their free throws. Ayo Dosunmu was 10-of-11 from the line and Andre Curbelo was 9-of-9.

So, while the free throw line hasn’t been our friend much this season, Illinois was able to utilize the charity stripe against Penn State. We are going to be dangerous if the free throws are going down at a clip of 82.1-percent the rest of the season.

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