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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts off the bench during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts off the bench during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Dain Dainja (42) moves the ball to the basket during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Dain Dainja (42) moves the ball to the basket during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Dain Dainja is only missing free throws

Earlier this season, I threw out into the atmosphere that Dain Dainja might be better than Kofi Cockburn. In most ways, I still believe that to be true.

Dainja is more athletic than Kofi was on the court. He can move better, and his ability to roll to the basket is much quicker than what we saw with Kofi.

I also like Dainja’s touch around the hoop. I think he is money from within seven feet of the rim. He has a nice little shot, and he can shoot a little big man fade away. If he had the same usage as Kofi, I believe Dainja would have just as good or even better numbers.

But there is one thing that Dainja could actually be worse at than Kofi, and that one thing is free throw shooting. Yes, I didn’t think you could get much worse than Kofi at shooting from the charity stripe, but Dainja said hold my beer.

On Saturday against Penn State, Dainja couldn’t stay on the court because he couldn’t make free throws. Penn State would start fouling him, a la hack-a-Shaq, because Dainja is bad from the free throw line. He would end up going 2-of-7 from the charity stripe.

For the season, Dainja is now shooting a putrid 45.2% from the free throw line. A player as skilled as Dainja, someone who is averaging 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 17.6 minutes per game, can’t make a stinking free throw. A FREE THROW!

It is so frustrating. Dainja is literally a free throw ability away from being one of the best players not only on the Illinois basketball team, but he could be one of the best players in all of college basketball. He is a massive human who is extremely athletic, can guard on the perimeter, and has a nice touch around the hoop. He just can’t make a free throw.

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