Ohio State looked like a much better team than the Illinois basketball program in the first half on Sunday.
The Buckeyes came out and were hitting nearly every shot they took from three-point range. While that was going on, the Illini were trying to find some chemistry again, as this is the first game we have had our full lineup back in action in nearly a month.
Illinois was down 42-36 at halftime after a run to end the first half by Ohio State. In the second half, the Illini flipped a switch. Certain players started to take over the game, and Ohio State didn’t know what to do.
The Illini started to work well together. We played team basketball, and the result was a massive run to end the game. Illinois forged ahead and took down the Buckeyes, 87-79.
Here are five massive observations from the Illinois basketball win over the Ohio State Buckeyes
1. Morez Johnson Jr. is such a force in the paint
Earlier in the season, Brad Underwood didn’t play Morez Johnson Jr. a lot. He was getting fewer than 20 minutes in each game, and we didn’t get to see the full scope of what the kid could do.
Over the past three games, Underwood has needed to find an answer for Illinois’ struggles. That answer has clearly been the usage of Johnson. He has now had at least 25 minutes in each of the past three contests, and Illinois has found a monster in the paint.
Against Ohio State on Sunday, Johnson showed his full repertoire of skills. He finished the game with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and one block. Johnson was 6-of-8 from the field and made 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
I can’t count how many times Johnson’s incredible ability to rebound the basketball gave Illinois another chance at points or at least gave us a jolt when we needed it.
There were so many times when I was confused about how Johnson could possibly come down with the rebound. Ohio State would have three or four players around him, and Johnson would still rip the ball away and cause chaos in the paint.
In the last three games alone, Johnson is averaging 11.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per contest. Those numbers will only continue to grow as Johnson grows as a player. We are only tapping into his potential.
2. Illinois got such a huge boost from Will Riley
Honestly, the outcome for Illinois was looking pretty bleak at halftime. Ohio State went on what I believe was a 6-0 run, and the Illini had a hard time handling the Buckeyes’ shooters.
Illinois needed some type of spark in the second half. We needed someone to step up, as we didn’t have anyone taking over the game and things seemed a bit off.
That is when Will Riley took control. Riley played 13 minutes in the first half and only had four points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field. He was nearly a non-factor. But Riley hit another gear in the second 20 minutes of action.
In the second half alone, Riley had 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. He also had two rebounds and one assist.
This was an incredible half of basketball by the five-star freshman. Riley finally stopped settling for shots from long range and started to get aggressive toward the basket. He was driving and creating contact. Riley has great length, and he used that to get the ball over the defenders as he was getting fouled.
Illinois finally got vintage Riley. He is someone who can take over a game with his size and athletic ability. Settling for shots from NBA range is what opponents want. Riley didn’t do that in the second half. He took over, and it was so fun to watch.
3. Brad Underwood needs credit for the lineup change
We are in year eight of the Brad Underwood era. He has been a great coach for the Illinois basketball program, but he is not without flaws.
Throughout the years, there have been lineup issues with the Illini. Someone isn’t playing well, and a bench player is really coming along. During those times, I have called for Underwood to have a lineup change, but nothing happens. It is almost like he doesn’t listen to me. Weird.
In the last observations article, after the loss to Nebraska, I wanted a lineup change. I wanted to see something different, as not just one but three Illinois starters were struggling greatly.
I was shocked to see a lineup change on Sunday. Underwood decided to change things up and try to get some new chemistry and energy on the team. He changed his stripes, and that was needed greatly.
Against Ohio State, Underwood had Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous come off the bench. The Boswell benching was way more surprising, but I was a fan of both decisions.
Tomislav Ivisic was back after his health issues, so he started on Sunday. Underwood also shifted a bit and started Morez Johnson Jr. and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. These two decisions were huge for Illinois. Those two young players bring so much energy to the Illini, and it shows on the basketball court.
I think Illinois found a spark with the lineup they went with against Ohio State, especially in the second half. Underwood has had issues in the past, but you have to give credit where credit is due. Underwood made changes, and Illinois came out victorious.
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.
5. The Illini fended off great Ohio State three-point shooting
It is so tough when the opposing team shoots well from three-point range. It is hard to beat any program when they are hot.
Ohio State came out firing against the Illini on Sunday. In the first half alone, the Buckeyes hit 6-of-11 from three-point range and weren’t cooling down. They didn’t cool down much in the second half either, as Ohio State made 5-of-12 from three-point range.
When an opponent shoots 47.8% from three-point range as a team, that is so tough to beat. Illinois managed to do that on Sunday, though. This was the worst three-point shooting percentage the Illini have allowed this season, but somehow, we fought through the hot shooting by the Buckeyes.
This was a gritty win for the Illini. We usually lose these types of games. I have to give a lot of credit to our paint presence. While Ohio State was hitting from outside, they struggled to get anything going around the hoop.
The Buckeyes ended up with a better three-point shooting percentage than they did a two-point shooting percentage. Ohio State only shot 16-of-50, 32%, from two-point range.
Having Tomislav Ivisic back helped so much. There were multiple times Ohio State drove to the basket only to realize that a 7-foot-1 monster was waiting. I also appreciated the defensive effort by Morez Johnson Jr. When he wasn’t rebounding and blocking shots, he caused Ohio State to change their shot just by making an effort.
Illinois could have folded in the game against Ohio State. We could have called it quits after the Buckeyes were suffocating us. But we didn’t. This team fought and worked through issues to come away with a huge win over the Buckeyes on Sunday.