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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini at Purdue

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 2, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) reaches for the ball as Wisconsin Badgers guard Lorne Bowman II (11) moves up court during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) reaches for the ball as Wisconsin Badgers guard Lorne Bowman II (11) moves up court during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 21: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins looks to pass around Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half during a college basketball game at the XFinity Center on January 21, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 21: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins looks to pass around Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half during a college basketball game at the XFinity Center on January 21, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

3. Can the Illini play perimeter defense?

A specialty for the Illinois basketball team this season, especially of late, is quality of defense. The Illini have been playing some of the best defense in college basketball.

In four out of the past seven games, Illinois has given up fewer than 60 points. In 10 out of the past 12 games, we have given up fewer than 70 points. This defense is clicking right now.

One of the reasons Illinois dropped that first game against Purdue is due to the fact we weren’t playing solid perimeter defense. The Boilermakers were hitting shots from the three-point arc. They were 8-of-18 from deep, which comes out to 44.4%.

Giving up over 40% from three-point range is not something Illinois is used to doing. We are actually one of the best teams in the country in three-point defense. Illinois’ opponents are only hitting 30.8% of their three-point shots this season, which ranks No. 56 in the country.

Just look at the three-point shooting by Illinois opponents since that loss to Purdue back in January. Illinois has played five games since that loss and our opponents are shooting just 23.6% from three-point range during this stretch.

Can the Illini play better defense on the three-point arc? That is a big question that will be answered. Purdue had the second-best percentage from three-point range against Illinois this season. I don’t want to see that again.

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