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Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat the Drexel Dragons

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks on Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) dunks on Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) controls the ball in the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) controls the ball in the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Speed the game up

This slide feeds off the first slide. Drexel hits a lot of their three-point attempts, but they don’t take too many three-pointers during a game. Why don’t they take a lot of shots? The reason is they are a slow-moving team.

The Dragons slow the game down. They don’t want to fun-and-gun each game. If they can get teams to play at their pace, then they have great success.

For the season, Drexel averages 67.3 possessions per game, which ranks No. 319 in the nation. That means they are one of the slowest teams in college basketball as far as getting to the hoop. Illinois, on the other hand, is completely different.

The Illini like to play a quick game. They want to run and rotate all game long. Illinois averages 73.7 possessions per game this season, which ranks No. 70 in the nation.

Drexel and Illinois are two completely different teams with two completely different game plans. The Dragons will try to slow the game down. Illinois needs to combat that, though. There are little things the Illini can do to speed the game up. Let’s rebound the ball at a high rate. Don’t turn the ball over more than usual. And let’s bury them early. Make Drexel have to speed up the game because they are down by 15 points 10 minutes into the game.

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