Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Indiana

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) moves to shoot the ball while Indiana Hoosiers forward Race Thompson (25) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) moves to shoot the ball while Indiana Hoosiers forward Race Thompson (25) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Mar 6, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood talks with player Alfonso Plummer (11) during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood talks with player Alfonso Plummer (11) during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Bad time to have a bad game for Alfonso Plummer

I have been impressed with Alfonso Plummer’s offensive abilities this season. We have all watched him light up the scoreboard with his amazing three-point shots and ability to drive the lane.

On Friday, he had none of that. It was like the Monstars zapped his playing ability, and he forgot how to play the game of basketball.

Plummer would finish the Indiana game with six points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal while shooting an abysmal 2-of-12 from the field and 2-of-7 from three-point range. I believe one of those three-point shots that went in was the first shot of the game. So, in the final 39 minutes, Plummer was 1-of-11 from the field and 1-of-6 from the three-point arc.

The thing that frustrates me the most is that Indiana wasn’t playing great defense. It’s not like they were shutting Plummer down. He was just having a bad game. In fact, it was his second-worst shooting game of the season. His 16.7% from the field was only topped by his Wisconsin game back in February when he shot 14.3%.

These types of bad shooting nights don’t happen often for Plummer. It is not like he has had 10 sub-20% shooting nights this season. He has only had two sub-20% shooting games and only five sub-30% games. That is not bad. We know Plummer is a really good player. Hopefully, this is his last stinker of the season.

Home/Illinois Basketball