5. How does Illinois change the gameplan against the Hoosiers?
I know losses happen. Sometimes you go on the road and the opposing Big Ten team is too much. Illinois didn’t look good on Wednesday against Northwestern, but I thought a big reason why we failed to come out with a win was due to the style in which we played.
Illinois had been playing such a great team game the past few weeks. We were moving the ball around the court and finding the open man. We were gelling as well.
On Saturday, I want to see if we can get back to that style. Will Illinois change the game plan against the Hoosiers?
I love it when Illinois players are aggressive toward the hoop. I want to see that throughout the game, but I also believe we can’t be a bull in a china shop. There has to be a purpose for the aggression.
The thing that frustrates me at times is when Illinois brings the ball up the court, and when we don’t have the numbers, an Illini player drives to the hoop in an attempt to either get fouled or get a tough bucket. That doesn’t make sense. That type of aggression is not needed.
I like it when Illinois does have the numbers coming down the court. That is when we should take it to the hoop. But when Indiana has more players than Illinois in transition, it is time to slow things down and move the ball. Swing it around the perimeter and try to find someone like Luke Goode or Justin Harmon standing in their spot.
I would love it if Illinois did more probing too. When we aren’t finding open looks from three-point range, dump it down to Coleman Hawkins. Let him back his man down or get another defender to double-team him. That leaves an open man out on the perimeter for a shot.
Illinois needs to stop playing some much selfish basketball. We need to play as a team and work together to get buckets. When we are at our best, everyone is touching the ball.