5. Brad Underwood has to make some adjustments
This was not a good night for Brad Underwood. He and his coaching staff had a rough game, and it manifested in different forms.
I mentioned in the last slide how Underwood didn’t sub in Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. This kid has been great for the program this season, and Underwood only played him three minutes in the game. That was unacceptable.
A big issue that continues to pop up with Underwood is that he needs to adjust when players are struggling. This is definitely a blind spot for him, and his stubbornness gets in the way of the flow of the game.
The Gibbs-Lawhorn situation is a lack of adjustment. He could have helped give this program a spark. Another lack of adjustment is riding with Kylan Boswell so much. That goes hand-in-hand with Gibbs-Lawhorn not playing.
Another adjustment that needs to be made is that Ben Humrichous needs to come off the bench. He could be a spark guy for the program as a sixth or seventh man, but he isn’t a starting player in the Big Ten. He is playing 31 minutes, and I am not sure if he is talented enough to play 13 minutes. Bring Humrichous off the bench.
Let’s move Will Riley into the starting lineup. I know it is fun having a weapon like Riley coming off the bench, but right now, Illinois needs him starting. He is too good not to start for the Illini. While Riley is getting starter minutes, he isn’t leading the game off. Have him take Humrichous’ starting job.
Those are just a few of the adjustments that Underwood isn’t making when it comes to players. On the court, he is struggling with change.
Underwood likes to shoot as many three-pointers as possible, and he has said this in numerous interviews. That isn’t working with this team. Feed the ball in the paint to two of the best big men I have ever seen for this program. You are wasting talent by jacking up three-point shots at a high rate.
Creativity isn’t great for the Illini either. Underwood needs to adjust his style to fit his players. Kasparas Jakucionis is a great point guard. Illinois needs to get him and Tomislav Ivisic or Morez Johnson Jr. into more pick-and-roll situations. These three could be like the 1990s Utah Jazz with John Stockton and Karl Malone. Bring basketball back to the basics.
At the end of the day, do I think any of this will happen? No, I think Underwood might be too stubborn to make the changes. Hopefully, I am wrong.