Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Monmouth

3. We got a glimpse of the Illini three-point potential

Coming into the Monmouth game, the Illinois basketball team had been struggling from behind the three-point arc. We were firing up shots quickly and without a purpose.

Illinois was shooting just 32.1% from three-point range before Monday night. This is a drop from the 35.9% from three-point range we shot last season. But I knew this Illini team had better shooters than 32.1%. I figured Brad Underwood would get Illinois playing well again, and against Monmouth, the Illini three-point shooting shined.

The Hawks had to deal with multiple Illini players dropping bombs from deep. Illinois would finish the game going 14-of-33 from three-point range, which is 42.4%. There isn’t a team in college basketball that will be able to stop the Illini if we are shooting that well.

Illinois spreaded the wealth beyond the three-point arc as well. Jayden Epps had a huge night, going 5-of-9 from three-point range. He is a big-time sparkplug off the bench. I couldn’t ask more of this talented freshman.

Terrence Shannon Jr. made Monmouth feel his wrath. He was 4-of-9 from three-point range and ended up dropping 30 points. Illinois also had Sencire Harris go 2-of-3, Skyy Clark was 1-of-1, and RJ Melendez was 1-of-3 from three-point range on the night.

The potential of being a great three-point shooting team was always there for the Illini. On Monday night, we got to see what this team could do when they are shooting well. The college basketball world should be scared.