The women's Illinois basketball team is entering the New Year with a ton of steam, but will face their greatest test when they take on the No. 7-ranked Maryland Terrapins in Champaign.
The Illini have been blowing the doors off of their opponents to start the season, ranking No. 23 in the country with a scoring margin of 24.3 points. This has been Illinois' best start in program history, winning 12 of their first 13 games, including a 10-game winning streak that started on November 18.
This program has made a complete 180 ever since they hired head coach Shauna Green. But on Thursday, they will be facing off against their hardest opponent of the year, the Maryland Terrapins.
This will be a major test for Green's bunch, as they have really only faced a cupcake schedule of sorts all season long. But what are some questions that we should be asking ourselves before we enter this matinee bout in Champaign?
1. Will Maryland's lock down defense be too much for Illinois to overcome?
The Illini have been one of the most lethal teams in the country so far this season. There is no disputing that. As of writing this, the Illinois offense is averaging 81 points per game, which ranks them No. 29 in the country.
The problem, however, is the fact that they haven't faced a team that shuts opponents down quite like Maryland. The Terrapins have been extremely tough to score against so far this season, only allowing 53.7 points per game, which puts them at No. 19 in the entire country.
This Maryland team is no joke. They have a distinct size advantage over the Illini, with three members of their starting five measuring over six feet tall. If anything, this is going to have to be a game where Illinois' quickness and ability to spread the ball around will have to be their primary focus.
2. Can Illinois' young frontcourt stand-up to Maryland's experience?
The Illinois frontcourt has been absolutely sensational this year, with forwards Berry Wallace and Cearah Parchment leading the charge. The two underclassmen have been pivotal parts of the Illini's success this season, averaging 17.6 and 11.1 points per game, respectively.
The youth of the Illini will be put to the test as they take on three of Maryland's most experienced players: 6-foot-3 senior Yarden Garzon, 6-foot-1 junior Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, and 6-foot-2 senior Saylor Poffenbarger.
These three women, including the rest of Maryland's squad, have been dominating the glass all season long. They have been using their immense size to outmatch their opposition, leading to a No. 2-ranked rebound margin of 16.5.
If Illinois wants any chance at winning this game, they are going to need to get to the ball early and often. If they let Maryland play their game, this might be over before we reach halftime.
3. Will the Illini be able to find success from the three-point arc?
There have been multiple occasions during Illinois' 10-game winning streak when they've blown out an opponent but struggled from behind the three-point arc. Sure, it's hard to knock them for that when they're dominating a team by 30+ points, but they were still key performances that caused concern.
The reason for that is because of games like the one against Maryland. The Illini aren't necessarily the biggest three-point shooters in the country, ranking No. 298 in the country, averaging 16.7 three-point attempts per game. But you still need to be able to shoot the long ball, which may pose a problem against a Maryland squad that allows a measly 29.1% three-point percentage to opponents.
Sure, Illinois can shoot with the best of them. Maddie Webber has been known to go off from deep, and Berry Wallace is always good for a couple. But it will be interesting to see how they react against a much more stout defensive unit.