Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini win over Valparaiso

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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 17: Dain Dainja #42 of the Illinois Fighting Illini makes a move in the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders during the first half at State Farm Center on November 17, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

3. Dain Dainja is just one step away from being dominant

When it was announced that Coleman Hawkins was going to be out in the Valparaiso game, the first thought I had was thankfully, Illinois has some great depth.

Being able to sub in a player like Dain Dainja to replace Hawkins is a great luxury. Dainja is a talented big man who can be a great player in the Big Ten. He showed his greatness on Friday night with a big game as well.

Dainja torched Valparaiso with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. When Illinois would get him the ball deep in the paint, he couldn’t be stopped. Dainja’s touch around the hoop continues to be borderline legendary for the Illinois basketball program. I would like to also sprinkle in the fact he didn’t turn the ball over once.

But there is a massive glaring issue with Dainja’s game that makes him somewhat of a liability.

Free throws.

In my lifetime, I have never seen someone as bad as Dainja at shooting free throws. He is horrendous. On Friday night, Dainja shot six free throws and missed every single one of them. It was painful to watch.

For the season, Dainja is now 0-of-9 from the charity stripe. If opposing teams are watching film and game planning for the future, fouling Dainja when they need the ball back is going to be folded in. Illinois can’t play Dainja down the stretch in meaningful games because he can’t make a free throw. If he would get this fixed, I believe Dainja would be nearly unstoppable.

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