Illinois Basketball: 3 big questions for the Illini against Penn State
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.