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Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

By Rees Woodcock

Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) turns the ball over against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) and guard Da'Monte Williams (20) during the second half of their game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on March 6, 2021.Osu Mens Bbk 0306 Kwr 31
Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) turns the ball over against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) and guard Da'Monte Williams (20) during the second half of their game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on March 6, 2021.Osu Mens Bbk 0306 Kwr 31 /
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Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) grabs a rebound in front of Ohio State Buckeyes forward Zed Key (23) during the first half of their game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on March 6, 2021.Osu Mens Bbk 0306 Kwr 11
Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) grabs a rebound in front of Ohio State Buckeyes forward Zed Key (23) during the first half of their game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on March 6, 2021.Osu Mens Bbk 0306 Kwr 11 /

2. Hit our rebounding average

Especially as of late, the Illinois basketball team has been on-point with their rebounding. Overall, they are one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to rebounding the ball as well.

Through Thursday, the Illini average pulling down 40.2 rebounds per game, which ranks No. 13 in the nation. This is a great number that not many Illinois teams in the past could match. In the first game against Rutgers, even the current Illini team couldn’t match their own number.

Illinois only managed to pull down 34 rebounds in the December matchup against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers ended up winning the rebounding battle 35-34. While losing the rebounding battle isn’t fun and is a big reason we lost the game, I am not focused on the number of rebounds for Rutgers. I am more focused on the Illini hitting their rebounding average.

Having over six rebounds fewer than our season average is going to get us a loss quickly. Each rebound can equate to roughly one point. If the Illini manages to hit their rebounding average, then we win the first game by three-points instead of losing by three points.

Ayo Dosunmu led the Illini with nine rebounds in the first game against Rutgers. Kofi Cockburn only managed to pull down seven rebounds. From there, Giorgi Bezhanishvili was third on the team with three rebounds. That type of rebounding production is unacceptable.

When Illinois rebounds as a team, they win more as a team. In the win against Ohio State just days ago, the Illini had seven players with at least four rebounds. That is what I want to see against Rutgers. I want everyone hitting the glass hard. If that happens, and we come close to our season average of 40 rebounds, then this should be a solid win for the Orange and Blue.

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