In true Illinois basketball fashion, we went into Ann Arbor and demolished Michigan.
Just a little over a week ago, the Illini lost to Duke by 43 points. This was the biggest loss in program history. Things were not going well, as this was our third straight loss too.
Brad Underwood got Illinois back on track, though. A big win over Iowa gave the Illini some confidence. But Michigan was a different animal. This was a solid Wolverines squad that ranked No. 15 in the country. On top of that, it was on the road on Senior Day.
Illinois didn’t care. This was supposed to be a different Michigan team now that Juwan Howard was not the head coach, but clearly he being in the building rubbed off on Dusty May.
The Illini hung tough in the first half, taking a lead by one point into halftime. The game was close in the early stages of the second half until Illinois caught fire. Big shot after big shot put Michigan behind the eight ball. The Wolverines couldn’t rebound, figuratively and literally. This led to a 93-73 thumping of Michigan and the ninth straight win for Illinois in the series.
Here are five glorious observations from the Illinois basketball win over the Michigan Wolverines
1. Kylan Boswell helped set the tone for Illinois
I will be the first to admit, Kylan Boswell hasn’t been one of my favorite players this season. There have been times when he is jacking up three-point attempts, and he isn’t doing what is best for the Illinois offense.
On Sunday afternoon, Boswell was exactly what this Illini team needed, though. He was the spark, the energy, the grit, that Illinois had to have against the best Michigan squad I have seen since before the pandemic.
Boswell helped keep Illinois strong in the first half. He dabbled in three-pointers, but he didn’t fall back on the shot. Boswell continuously went to the hole and drew contact in the first 20 minutes. This set the tone for what the Illini were going to do against the Wolverines.
Driving to the basket and getting easier buckets helps put points on the board. We aren’t good at shooting from three-point range, and seeing Boswell do this helped drive other Illini players to do the same.
In the first half alone, Illinois was 11-of-23, 47.8%, from two-point range. This helped keep us afloat when we shot 3-of-14, 21.4%, from three-point range in the same half. Boswell played a huge part in the scoring, as he had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.
Boswell not only set the tone for Illinois, but I would argue this was potentially his best game as a member of the Illini. Giving Illinois 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal on the road against No. 15 Michigan on Senior Day is a huge performance. This type of Boswell is a deep NCAA tournament run type of Boswell.
2. Offensive rebounding effort needs to be sustained
The impact of the loss of Morez Johnson Jr. has been felt on the Illinois basketball team. His rebounding ability, specifically on the offensive glass, is missed dearly.
Illinois hasn’t been the same when it comes to rebounding the basketball. We just don’t have the bodies or ability to go up and get key rebounds. Well, I thought that was the case anyway.
Michigan came into the game on Sunday with a massive size advantage due to Illinois having one of our two big men out. Instead of the Wolverines dominating the glass, Illinois came out and punched them right in the mouth.
For the game, Illinois dominated the rebounding department. We beat Michigan 43-32 in rebounds, which is an incredible number considering the talent we are missing.
Since Johnson went down with the broken wrist, Illinois has not been the same team when it comes to rebounds. In the last three games, we haven’t had more than 31 rebounds in a game. We are a combined -28 in the rebounding battle in those three games as well.
So, it is pretty crazy Illinois went into Ann Arbor and took on a top-40 rebounding Michigan Squad and pulled down 11 more rebounds than the Wolverines.
The offensive rebounding is what really blew me away. While defensive rebounds are good, getting second chance points is what really sets teams apart at the end of the day.
Illinois was able to snag 19 offensive rebounds against Michigan. Nearly half of our rebounds were on the offensive end of the court. This was the most offensive rebounds the program has had since January. If we can give that type of effort on the offensive glass the rest of the way out, Illinois will be an extremely tough out.
3. Illinois played a nearly flawless second half
The importance of the first half against Michigan can’t go unnoticed. What Kylan Boswell did to help the Illini stay in the contest was huge and enabled us to have a one-point lead going into halftime.
Illinois wasn’t shooting well in that first half either. We would have still won the second half with the gritty play that we saw in the first half, but the game would have been much closer. Thankfully, Illinois hit one of those insane switches and everything was going our way in the second 20 minutes of action.
You know what I am talking about. Like in the game against Oregon earlier this year. When Illinois is in this mode, we are unbeatable. It is like we can close our eyes and chuck the ball up from halfcourt and it would go in the bucket. Those special runs are so fun to watch, and Michigan was on the receiving end of a glorious 20-minute stretch on Sunday.
Illinois played a nearly flawless second half of basketball. I will always give credit where credit is due. This game was still a two-possession game until Ben Humrichous hit a couple of big three-pointers. He has been terrible this season, and he still was defensively, but his shots around midway through the second half really widened the margin and gave Illinois some crucial momentum.
As a team, Illinois actually took care of the basketball too. We had one turnover in the second half, and I can probably count on one hand the number of halves of basketball that have one or fewer turnovers for the Illini in the last couple of seasons. For this group specifically, one turnover in a half of basketball is unthinkable.
The three-pointers were dropping too. When Illinois gets hot from three-point range, or even shoots just 35% or better, we are nearly unbeatable. Against Michigan, the Illini hit 47.8% from three-point range in the second half. Dropping 11-of-23 from three-point range in the second half suffocated the Wolverines.
What we saw in the second half against Michigan was one of those special runs that have occurred a few times this season. Illinois played A+ basketball in that final 20 minutes, and it showed by us putting up a 62-spot.
4. Tre White did what he was brought to Illinois to do
I have mentioned knowing roles quite a few times this season. There were periods of time when Illinois players didn’t know their roles. Brad Underwood recruits players for certain jobs that need to be done.
An example is Ben Humrichous. He was brought in to be the Illinois three-point shooter. We were lacking talent from beyond the three-point arc, and Underwood went out and snagged Humrichous. That is why it has been so disappointing this season when Humrichous can’t hit shots.
In my eyes, Tre White was brought in to be a utility player. He is someone who could enter the program and do a little bit of everything for the Orange and Blue. I am thinking a player like Quincy Guerrier or a high-level Da’Monte Williams.
For the most part, White has been that for the Illini. He has tried to stray away from that role at times, as he thinks he is an ace three-point shooter, but White is starting to settle into his role at the right time.
On Sunday against Michigan, White embraced his role and took it to another level. He did everything for the Illini. White finished the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and one block while only having one turnover in 32 minutes of action.
Those numbers are all phenomenal. The 19 points were a team-high, and he was efficient going 6-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three-point range. But I want to focus on the other numbers, specifically the rebounding.
White’s effort on the glass cannot go unnoticed. He was huge for the Illini throughout the game. White registered his second double-double of the season. The other one came on the road, against a top 15 program, in a blowout win. The game was against No. 9 Oregon.
It was fun watching White crash the glass. It has been what Illinois has been missing. Over the last couple of games, I have mentioned the idea of burning Ty Rodgers’ redshirt. We need someone like Rodgers who might be undersized, but he is a monster rebounding the basketball. White settled into that role on Sunday, and it paid off in a big way.
5. This might be the streakiest Illinois team ever
What a wild ride the season has been thus far. Illinois basketball has looked like the best team in the country at times, but then there are times I think we can lose against nearly any program in the nation.
I would argue this might be the streakiest Illinois team I have ever seen in my lifetime. When the good is good, it is incredible basketball. When the bad is bad, I want to punch a hole in the wall. It is an emotional roller coaster like no other.
That is also what makes the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA tournament so intriguing. I mean, just think about it for a second.
Illinois is probably going to enter the conference tournament as a No. 6 or No. 7 seed and get the single bye. If we win that first game in the second round, No. 2 Michigan will be waiting. Illinois just beat them by 20 points.
If the Illini can replicate the second half of the Michigan win in every game, then the Big Ten Tournament could be ours. That is a legitimate possibility.
What is also a possibility is a first-game exit. Illinois laid some eggs this season. What is lurking from No. 10 through No. 15 in the Big Ten standings is a little scary. We have fallen to Northwestern, USC, Nebraska, and Rutgers. All four programs could be our second round matchup.
The same can be applied to the NCAA tournament. Illinois has the ability to play like we did in the second half against Michigan and in the game against Oregon. That is A- or better basketball. Playing like that will punch our ticket to, at worst, the Sweet 16.
There is also a chance Illinois plays like we did in the second game against Michigan State or against USC. That type of play will get us bounced quickly. Let’s say we enter as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. A No. 11 or No. 12 will be licking their chops.
Who knows what Illinois will look like in the coming games. It has been a wild ride this season and one that I don’t want to get off of yet. So, buckle in and enjoy.