Illinois basketball is set to take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
This is the first Sweet 16 game for the Illini since the national title run back in 2005. I believe Illinois is ready to take on a tough defensive team in Iowa State, but there are some things that need to be ironed out throughout the process.
Here are five crucial questions for the Illinois basketball team against Iowa State
1. Will Illinois wield our power in the paint?
It is funny that a Brad Underwood-coached team, one that he admitted he wanted to shoot over 40 three-pointers per game, has some great talent in the paint.
Illinois trots out a starting lineup that can do wonders in the paint. When they get tired or there is a mismatch, we can bring more talent off the bench to play around the bucket.
So, can Illinois continue the paint dominance? Can we wield our power in the paint against the Iowa State Cyclones?
I love what Illinois can do in the paint, and that doesn’t mean at the No. 5 spot. I would argue our starting No. 5, Coleman Hawkins, isn’t even a top-two paint player on the team.
Illinois has Marcus Domask who, at 6-foot-6, can get into the lane and cause chaos. He is able to back his man down and finish better than anyone in recent memory.
The Illini then bring Dain Dainja off the bench. He plays a more traditional big man role, but he has the athletic ability and feet that don’t say prodding center. He is an x-factor for the Illinois basketball team.
Iowa State has some size, which worries me a little bit. But they aren’t a physically imposing team. They aren’t going to come into this game and steamroll Illinois in the paint. I think we can out-physical them on Thursday, and that is a great power to have.