Illinois basketball starts the second season on Thursday night against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Illini finished the first season 20-11 overall and middle of the pack in the Big Ten. We didn’t win the Big Ten regular season, but the Big Ten Tournament provides a second season of sorts. It gives the Illini a chance to make a run and get some hardware.
Every team is 0-0 at this point. Everything resets. It is time for the Illini to flip a switch and start playing up to the roster’s potential.
Here are three big questions for the Illinois basketball team against Penn State
1. Can Illinois prevent the three-point shot?
The biggest issue I have had with the Illinois defense this season is our three-point coverage. We aren’t a good three-point shooting defense, and it is our fault through and through.
When the opposing team gets hot from three-point range, it is due to Illinois not getting through screens and not closing out strong enough. We tend to just go under a screen, which then leaves the opposing player open with space for a three-pointer.
If Illinois wants any chance to knock off Penn State, we are going to need to play three-point defense. The last two times these two teams played, it was a blood bath in favor of Penn State.
The Nittany Lions were able to go 12-of-28, 42.9%, from three-point range in the last contest. In the game back in December, Penn State was even better than that. They were 12-of-24, 50%, from three-point range in that 15-point blowout.
The frustrating thing is the fact I know Illinois can play three-point defense. I see it in the second half of most games. Against Purdue, we were able to shut down the Boilermakers in the second half. That is what I want to see throughout the Penn State game.
If Illinois can hold the Nittany Lions to less than 40% shooting from three-point range, then I think we can win this game by double-digits. I am hoping we come out strong and bring the defensive fight to them.