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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Saint Peter’s

By Rees Woodcock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 02: Genesis Bryant #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini interacts with teammates in the first half of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second round of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 02: Genesis Bryant #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini interacts with teammates in the first half of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second round of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 02: Jada Peebles #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates her basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with teammate Genesis Bryant #1 in the first half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 02: Jada Peebles #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates her basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with teammate Genesis Bryant #1 in the first half of the game in the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on March 2, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

5. Illinois needs this defense moving forward

I have to take a step back and realize that this was just a terrible Saint Peter’s team. The only win this program has had this season and last was this past Monday against Central Connecticut.

With that being said, I am happy with what I saw out of the Illinois defense against the Peacocks. Saint Peter’s only scored 33 points and shot 21.8% from the field and 10% from three-point range. But the Illini defense goes beyond the bad shooting performance from their opponent.

Illinois was active on the defensive end. We were communicating well in transition. Even when the Illini went mainly with bench players, they were communicating as well. It impressed me when Camille Hobby got back in transition and was calling out defensive assignments.

I also loved seeing active hands. Illinois was quick defensively, and there were numerous times we were able to cause turnovers or at least disrupt Saint Peter’s offensive flow because of great defensive quickness.

Despite this game being a blowout, I think Illinois can learn and build on the performance. This should give this program a lot of confidence moving forward. We need that confidence as No. 16 Notre Dame awaits this weekend. If we can take some semblance of this defense into that game, then we have a shot to knock off a big-time program.

Next. 5 observations from the Illini loss to Marquette. dark

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