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

For the first time this season, the women’s Illinois basketball team has hit a rough patch.

The Illini have been playing some of the best basketball I have seen in program history. We started the year 14-2 but have now dropped three out of the past five games.

There are a few reasons for this rough patch, but Illinois has a chance to get right against Michigan State on Sunday.

Here are three things to watch for in the Illinois basketball game against Michigan State.

1. Can Illinois get Adalia McKenzie going

There have been various reasons for the success of the women’s Illinois basketball program this season. One of the big reasons for the winning has to do with Adalia McKenzie.

McKenzie, a former four-star recruit, is now in her second season with the Illini and has been tearing it up on the court. This season, she is averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Her contributions have been huge for the team.

But, as of late, McKenzie has hit a rough patch. Illinois has lost three out of the past five games, and we struggled against a bad Northwestern bunch. During this stretch, McKenzie has only averaged 8.6 points per game. She had five points in the Ohio State game, eight points against Northwestern, and just two points in the loss to Purdue.

Against Michigan State, Illinois is going to need to get McKenzie going again. This is a big game for momentum moving forward and for the real NCAA tournament prospects this program has this season.

2. Will the Illini start hitting from three-point range again

Illinois basketball used to be one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. At one point, we were hitting our three-point shots at a clip of 41.3%. But that great shooting has come to an end in the worst way.

Over the last five games, the Illini have been putrid from three-point range. We are only hitting our shots from distance at a clip of 28.3%. This drought includes going 4-of-26 from three-point range in the loss to Purdue, which is 15.4%.

We need our usual three-point shooters to step up. Genesis Bryant, a player who had a six-game stretch this season when she went 33-of-55 from three-point range, has only hit 2-of-12 in the past two games.

Makira Cook has also struggled lately from three-point range. She is just 2-of-16 from beyond the three-point arc in the last three games. If Illinois could get the shooters going again, then we will start consistently winning.

3. Let’s get Illinois to crash the boards again

I have been impressed with the Illini this season. They have dominated in many areas, including in the rebounding department.

Illinois won the rebounding battle in each of the first 17 games this season. We have a rebounding margin of +173 rebounds in those games combined. But, in the last four contests, the Illini haven’t been as efficient on the glass.

Just in the last four games, Illinois has a combined rebounding margin of -13. We barely beat Minnesota and Indiana on the glass, but over the last two games, Illinois lost the rebounding battle with Northwestern by seven and Purdue by nine.

I can’t put any of the lack of rebounding on Kendall Bostic. She has been sensational this season. Bostic has had double-digit rebounds in six out of her past seven games.

One player mentioned above who has been in a funk lately is McKenzie. She is such a good player, and when she is not playing well, the team feels the impact. Not only has she been cold in the scoring department, but she hasn’t been rebounding well lately.

McKenzie averages 6.0 rebounds per game, which is second on the team behind Bostic. But, over the past three games, McKenzie has a total of eight rebounds. She is averaging just 2.6 rebounds per game. That is why we are losing our rebounding battle. Illinois relies on McKenzie to be the great player we know she is, but she is just in a funk. Once she gets going, Illinois will start dominating once again.