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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Arkansas

By Rees Woodcock

Illinois' Matthew Mayer plays with only one shoe after it fell off during the NCAA men's basketball tournament first round match-up between Illinois and Arkansas, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.0316 Illinos Arkansas 001 Arw
Illinois' Matthew Mayer plays with only one shoe after it fell off during the NCAA men's basketball tournament first round match-up between Illinois and Arkansas, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.0316 Illinos Arkansas 001 Arw /
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Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) reaches for the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Makhi Mitchell (15) during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) reaches for the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Makhi Mitchell (15) during the first half at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Turnovers killed the Illini once again

All season long, I have been sick and tired of Illinois’ sloppy play. We rarely ever take care of the basketball, and nothing changed when we entered the NCAA tournament.

Illinois ended the season averaging 12.8 turnovers per game, which ranked No. 218 in the nation. Honestly, that number even feels a bit low.

Out of the past 13 games this season, Illinois has lost the turnover battle in seven of those contests. When we play against good teams, we tend to increase our turnovers as well.

In the five-point loss to Purdue, Illinois ended with 15 turnovers in that game. We dug ourselves into a 21-point hole against Northwestern and somehow won that game. Illinois had 16 turnovers in that contest.

But when you enter the NCAA tournament, you are supposed to be better with the basketball. Things are supposed to improve in some form or fashion, but they didn’t. Illinois had one of the worst games of the season when it came to turnovers.

The Illini would finish the first-round exit with 17 turnovers to Arkansas’ 11 turnovers. Losing the turnover battle by six is an easy way to get eliminated from the postseason.

I think what hurts the most is who racked up the turnovers. Coleman Hawkins, someone who is supposed to be a big leader on this team, ended the night with six turnovers. There were some amazingly bad passes by Hawkins that killed any Illinois momentum.

Matthew Mayer, Dain Dainja, and Terrence Shannon Jr. each ended the Arkansas game with at least two turnovers as well. Our veterans coughed up the ball way too often, and it killed the Illini. This was one of the most undisciplined teams I have seen, and it showed on Thursday night.

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