Illinois Basketball: 5 big questions for the Illini against Houston

Illinois basketball is set to take on the Houston Cougars on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

This is a huge game for the Illini. Last season, the Orange and Blue had our hopes dashed by Loyola Chicago in the same round. We are back again and looking to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2005 postseason. Illinois will have to get through Houston first, though.

Here are five big questions for the Illinois basketball team against Houston.

1. Can Illinois hit three-pointers?

A big part of Illinois’ game is being able to shoot the ball from three-point range. There was one time this season when we prided ourselves on the three-ball.

But that point of pride has gone by the wayside. Illinois isn’t a three-point shooting team anymore, and that has been made clear by the inability to convert from distance over the past couple of months.

On Friday night against Chattanooga, the only Illini player to make a three-pointer was Alfonso Plummer, and he didn’t make one until the second half. As a team, the Illini went 3-of-17 against the Mocs.

A big question I have for Illinois is can we make three-pointers against Houston?

I am not saying we need to become a stout three-point shooting team, but Illinois needs to have the ability to scare the opposing defense with a three-point shot going in. That wasn’t the case against Chattanooga, but Houston is a different animal.

The Cougars have a good three-point shooting defense too. For the season, they are holding opponents to just 29% from three-point range, which ranks No. 11 in the country. Houston torched UAB on defense as well. The Blazers shot just 26.3% in the first round against the Cougars.