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Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat Purdue

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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Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler (10) dribbles the ball while Illinois Fighting Illini guard Adam Miller (44) and forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) defend in the second half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler (10) dribbles the ball while Illinois Fighting Illini guard Adam Miller (44) and forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) defend in the second half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Collapse on Trevion Williams

It seems that in the Big Ten, there are players who have been around forever. Wisconsin seems to always have these players. But, this season, Purdue has one of those players in Trevion Williams.

I feel like Williams has been with the Boilermakers for the better part of the 2010s. Since the kid stepped onto the court for Purdue, he has been sensational. He continues to dominate this season as well.

Williams isn’t getting the most minutes on the court by any means, as he only averages 24.4 minutes per game, but he is putting up fantastic numbers. He is currently averaging 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, both of which lead Purdue.

So, how do you stop the Boilermakers? You stop Williams.

Illinois needs to collapse on Williams every time he gets the ball. You have to double-team the big man so he can’t get to the hoop and score at ease. Once this kid gets into a rhythm, he starts dominating. We can’t let that happen.

Collapsing on Williams and having multiple Illini guarding him will help expose his tendencies to not take care of the ball or not be aware of his surroundings. Williams hasn’t had a game this season with fewer than two turnovers. In fact, he has had three games with three or more turnovers. Double-teaming him would likely cause him to cough up the ball more often.

Illinois being aggressive with guarding Williams might get him into foul trouble as well. In seven out of the 11 games Williams has played this season, he has had three or more fouls. Let’s get him flustered and out of the game quickly.

Everything goes through Williams on the court. This kid is Purdue’s leader in points and rebounds. I want Illinois to collapse on him and make others win this game for the Boilermakers.

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