Illinois Basketball: 5 big questions for the Illini against Houston

3. Can things change at the free throw line?

There are numerous things you can’t control in a basketball game. When a bad foul doesn’t go your way it is frustrating. When the ball goes flying off your leg and out of bounds, it can be demoralizing. But the free throw line is one of the few things you can control in a game.

Illinois was not good from the free throw line against Chattanooga. The team finished 13-of-22 from the charity stripe with the Illini big men the biggest culprits of the bad three throw shooting.

Kofi Cockburn got to the foul line the most, but he only managed to make 5-of-10. His backup, Omar Payne, received four minutes in the game and earned three free throws. He would only make 1-of-3 in the game.

One of the big questions for the Illini against Houston is can things change at the free throw line?

If Illinois makes 16-of-22 from the charity stripe, that game is put away a little earlier than the last second. Free throws matter greatly, and we need to start converting or they will bite us in the butt.

Kofi is going to continue to get fouled in future games too. He is going to have to start making his foul shots. Not only will it help Illinois win now, but NBA scouts would want to see him making free throws too. If he can convert at the charity stripe, Illinois will go far in the NCAA tournament.