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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Chattanooga

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 18, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith (13) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo (5) in the second half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith (13) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo (5) in the second half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 11: Trent Frazier #1, Andre Curbelo #5 and Alfonso Plummer #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the Big Ten Championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

In what was nothing short of a miracle, but the Illinois basketball team managed to take down the Chattanooga Mocs.

This was an ugly game by the Illini. We only led for 25 seconds the entire contest. Yes, that isn’t a typo, 25 seconds. But those 25 seconds were all that mattered. This game came down to the wire, and Illinois pulled out the win. We are advancing to the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons.

Here are five observations from the Illinois basketball win over Chattanooga.

1. Illinois was so bad from three-point range

To start the 2021-22 campaign, the Illinois basketball team was one of the best three-point shooting teams. We couldn’t be stopped from long range, and this enabled the program to win some big games.

But the three-point shooting ability started to dwindle as the season wore on. Illinois’ great single-digit ranking started to sink into the teens. The ranking then slipped into the 20s. Entering the game on Friday night, the Illini were shooting 36.7% from three-point range, which ranked No. 39 in the country.

Shooting 36.7% from the three-point arc isn’t a bad number, though. But Illinois hasn’t been that type of three-point shooting team in quite some time. The bad three-point shooting reared its ugly head against Chattanooga.

Illinois only shot 3-of-17 from three-point range against the Mocs. Two of our starting guards, Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams, were a combined 0-of-7 from deep. The only player to actually make a three-point shot was Alfonso Plummer, and he didn’t heat up until the second half.

The fact the Illini can shoot 17.6% from three-point range and still win the game is amazing. Just think about how big of a blowout this game could have been if we were playing average basketball.

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