5 big observations from the Illinois basketball win over Maryland

4. Luke Goode isn’t just struggling offensively

I am a big Luke Goode supporter. I think he has a great ability to make shots from three-point range, and his hustle is fun to watch.

Having Goode playing well down the stretch is important for the success of the Illini. But I will say, Goode hasn’t been playing well lately. He is currently on one of his worst stretches as a member of the Illinois basketball program.

During the Terrence Shannon Jr. suspension, Goode was playing well. He had multiple double-digit scoring nights and was 9-of-21, 42.9%, from three-point range in the final four games of that suspension.

Since Shannon returned and Goode went back to the bench, the Fort Wayne native has not been the same. Over the last four games, he had a total of nine points and has shot 3-of-15, 20%, from three-point range. But the problems with Goode are bigger than on the offensive end of the court.

Defensively, I haven’t seen Goode struggle this badly since he arrived in Champaign. He is having a hard time keeping up with the opposing player, and he is fouling at a high clip. Goode has 12 fouls in the past three contests.

I don’t know if this is the case, but it kind of feels like Goode is harboring an injury. His defensive decline happened so quickly, and this has me a bit worried. Even when Goode wasn’t hitting from the field, he always had solid defense. That doesn’t seem to be the case now, though. We need Goode for the final stretch.