Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini vs Michigan State

By Rees Woodcock

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Illinois 70-59. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Jan 25, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) wrestle for position under the basket during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) wrestle for position under the basket during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Can we win the rebound battle again?

In the first half of the season, there was little to question when it came to rebounding the basketball. Illinois was one of the most dominant teams on the glass.

Illinois looked good even going back to the first Michigan State game. Without Kofi Cockburn suiting up, the Illini were able to dominate the glass. We outrebounded the Spartans 41-27 in the first game. That is an incredible number considering our best rebounder was missing.

Since that game, though, the Illini have been a mess in the rebounding department. We have only won the rebounding battle in three out of the past six games. Just this past Sunday, Rutgers dominated Illinois when it came to rebounding. They won the battle 42-26, which is extremely embarrassing for any Illinois basketball program.

On top of that bad performance, Illinois also lost the rebounding battle to Purdue and Wisconsin, and we only beat Indiana by one rebound in the past six games.

The Illini are in a rebounding funk, there is no doubt about that. A big question I have for the Orange and Blue on Saturday is can we win the rebound battle again? Illinois needs to start playing tough gritty basketball. This has been missing for quite some time now. We shouldn’t be losing the rebounding battle as often as we are. Illinois is better than that.

Next. 4 observations from the Illini loss against Rutgers. dark

Home/Illinois Basketball