Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat the Iowa Hawkeyes
By Collin Allen
4. Win the battle of the boards
One thing both of these squads have in common is their ability to rebound the ball. Iowa ranks No. 9 in the nation with their 41.8 rebounds per contest. Illinois ranks No. 24 in the nation, averaging 40.5 boards per game.
Additionally, the Hawkeyes rank No. 31 in the nation in the offensive rebounding category, averaging 12.7 per contest. Iowa’s go-to player Luka Garza is a crucial key to this feat, leading the Hawkeyes with 8.9 boards per game. Iowa junior guard Joe Wieskamp sits just behind Garza in the rebounding category with 6.7 rebounds per game.
For the Illini, sophomore big man Kofi Cockburn has been a key factor in the Illini’s rebounding success this season. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year leads the Orange and Blue with 10.3 boards per contest.
Illinois will need to be aggressive, dive on the floor for loose balls, and box their men out if they want to defeat the Hawkeyes in the battle of the boards. If the Illini can do this — especially on the offensive end — they will be put in a great position to control the game.
If the Illini are able to prioritize on guarding the perimeter, containing Luka Garza, starting off strong, and winning the rebounding battle, there is absolutely no reason they should lose this one.
Next. 5 things the Illini need to fix before the Iowa game. dark
With a win, Illinois would improve to 11-5 on the season and 7-3 in the conference, leap-frogging the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten standings.