Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat the Wisconsin Badgers
4. The ball needs to be moving
Wisconsin is arguably the best defensive team we have played this season. It is going to be extremely difficult to score on the Badgers. But the way to get points is to keep the ball moving when on offense.
When Illinois goes on their mini droughts where they can’t get a bucket, it tends to be that the ball isn’t moving, and players are standing around. This can’t happen against the Badgers or they will eat us alive. The ball needs to continue swinging around.
Illinois can’t go into hero ball either. When a player brings it up the court, they can’t be the only member of the team to touch it. That ball needs to start moving and continue moving. When it is a one-man show, then the team doesn’t get involved and we tend to lose games.
The ball moving also helps find Kofi Cockburn down in the paint. This goes back to the earlier slide of Kofi needing to have a big night because Wisconsin is weak in the paint. When the ball is moving, we can let Kofi work on the inside to establish position. This will allow for easier entry passes to the big man, and in turn, he will score at will.
Next. Illini report card against the Indiana Hoosiers. dark
If Illinois can just get everyone involved and continue moving the ball, things should work out for them on Saturday. We can’t have players settling for three-pointers just because the ball comes to them. Let’s continue moving the ball and trying to find the open man. This is how we beat Wisconsin.