Illinois Basketball: 3 things to watch for in the Illini game against Virginia

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Nov 18, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell (10) dribbles against Illinois Fighting Illini forward Matthew Mayer (24) during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Will the Illini be able to slow down Virginia’s efficiency

I am shocked by Virginia not being good on the defensive end of the court. That doesn’t seem like a typical Cavaliers team. But Virginia is still an extremely efficient team, and that is always scary.

Coming into the game against Illinois, Virginia is one of the most efficient teams in the country. They currently sit with an effective field goal percentage of 62.7%, which ranks No. 3 in the nation. On top of that, they have a 2.185 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 4 in the country.

So, on Sunday, I am going to be keeping an eye out to see if Illinois can slow down Virginia’s efficiency. It is going to be hard, but I think we can do it.

In the big win over No. 5 Baylor, Virginia was extremely efficient. They hardly missed from the field, shooting 55.6%. They also hit 64.3% of their three-pointers, which is an insane number.

Virginia wasn’t sloppy with the ball either. They had 20 assists to just 14 turnovers. This team knows how to win games, and they are a scary team to play.

I think Illinois’ tough defense is going to be a test for the Cavaliers, though. I believe the Illini have one of the best defenses in the country, so the great Virginia shooting percentage will likely go down. I fully expect them to have more than 14 turnovers as well. It should be a fun game.

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