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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini vs Iowa

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 27, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action against Caleb McConnell #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 16: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in action against Caleb McConnell #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 16, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3. Can Illinois narrow the turnover margin?

I didn’t think I would ever say this, but the Illinois basketball team takes care of the basketball. We are a team that doesn’t turn the ball over that often.

To start the 2021-22 campaign, the turnovers were getting out of hand. Illinois was coughing up the ball too frequently, and it hurt us in some big games.

Illinois had 23 turnovers in the one-point loss to Marquette. We had 15 turnovers in the four-point loss to Arizona. And we gave up 18 turnovers in the close win over Kansas State. Turnovers matter greatly, and since we flipped to 2022, the Illini have been sensational in the turnover department.

Before January 1, Illinois was averaging a dismal 14.3 turnovers per game. This number was one of the worst in the nation at the time. But, since January 1, this team has been extremely efficient with the ball. The Illini have only averaged 9.7 turnovers per game since that date.

Illinois continued their great ability to take care of the ball in the last game against Penn State. While we narrowly clipped the Nittany Lions by five points, the main reason we won the game was probably the fact we only had nine turnovers in the game.

A big question I have for Sunday night is can Illinois narrow the turnover margin against Iowa? I want to keep the margin close, and the last time the two teams played, it was not close at all.

Illinois had 18 turnovers in the first game compared to only four Iowa turnovers. Somehow, we still won the game 87-83. If that turnover margin was close, that game was going to be a blowout. Let’s make sure to take care of the ball so we can lock up a top-two seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

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