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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Valencia

By Rees Woodcock

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 26: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after making a shot in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on February 26, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 26: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after making a shot in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on February 26, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 16: Ty Rodgers #20 and Terrence Shannon Jr. #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Illinois Fighting Illini look dejected as they leave the courted after being defeated by Arkansas Razorbacks 73-63 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 16, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 16: Ty Rodgers #20 and Terrence Shannon Jr. #0 of the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Illinois Fighting Illini look dejected as they leave the courted after being defeated by Arkansas Razorbacks 73-63 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 16, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. We kind of know what Illinois is on offense

There is no reason to sugarcoat things when it comes to the Illinois basketball program. I am excited about this season and the future, but wow, we are not good at shooting the basketball.

In the first game in Spain, Illinois was just 3-of-25 from three-point range, which comes to 12%. No, that isn’t a typo. 12%. In game two against Valencia, Illinois managed to improve its shooting numbers, going 6-of-28 from three-point range. While improved, this is still just 21.4%.

When the season starts, there is going to be an adjustment in minutes, and therefore there will be an adjustment on who is shooting the ball. So, this will likely change the three-point shooting percentage for the better.

While we aren’t good at shooting the three-point shot, there are two areas where Illinois excels when it comes to offense. Those two areas are transition offense and slashing.

I mentioned in the previous slide that I love it when Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn brings the ball up the court. He is quick and decisive with the basketball. This gets Illinois moving. Pulling down a rebound and pushing the ball up the court is at an A+ level for this Illini team.

When we do go into a halfcourt offense, Illinois is at its best when players are consistently slashing toward the basket. I believe we have the players who can distribute the ball, and now we need guys like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Justin Harmon to slash to the basket and get to the rim.

It is early, but I believe we know what Illinois is on offense. We are a team that thrives in the paint. That is where we need to shoot the ball for the vast majority of the time. Anything outside the paint is a mystery. Let’s score in transition and when in the halfcourt, let’s space the floor and have slashers. That is Illinois basketball.

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