4. Kasparas Jakucionis is still riding the struggle bus
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Illinois basketball team on Sunday. Yes, we won the game and that is by far the most important part. There were so many Illini players who looked good too.
I loved how numerous Illinois players played against the Buckeyes, but sadly, Kasparas Jakucionis was still riding the struggle bus. He still doesn’t look like his normal self, and I think there are multiple reasons for his struggles.
Jakucionis finished the Ohio State game with eight points, seven assists, three rebounds, and one block while going 2-of-8 from the field and missing all five of his three-point attempts.
The biggest issue for Jakucionis is that I still think he is injured. I don’t think he is fully healthy yet, and it shows in the numbers.
Before Jakucionis went down with a left arm injury, he was 29-of-70, 41.4%, from three-point range. He was one of the most dangerous players in the country. He got injured, and his first game back was against Indiana. In the six games since returning, Jakucionis is 7-of-33, 21.2%, from three-point range.
While I think Jakucionis is clearly still hurt, I also believe teams are doing a better job not letting him get loose. They are double-covering him, and when they do play him one-on-one, they aren’t letting him get space. Defenses are getting smarter against the young guard, and it is affecting his game.