5 huge questions for the Illinois basketball team against Maryland

2. Will the Illini have a more efficient game from three-point range?

Illinois has been about average from three-point range this season. We are currently hitting at a clip of 34.6%, which ranks No. 138 in the nation.

In the first game against Maryland, the Illini struggled greatly from three-point range. Most of the roster couldn’t get anything going, and this killed us in the end.

I want to see if that three-point shooting has changed. Can Illinois have a more efficient three-point shooting game against the Terrapins?

Game one against Maryland was ugly. Illinois was 6-of-22, 27.3%, from three-point range. The only players who were able to hit from distance were Marcus Domask and Luke Goode, who went 2-of-4 and 3-of-7, respectively.

It was mainly the second half when Illinois went cold. We shot 5-of-8 from three-point range in the first half, but Maryland made adjustments and tightened up the perimeter defense in the second half. Illinois shot a putrid 1-of-14 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes of action.

I have a hard time seeing Illinois have that bad of a shooting night again. If we just let our inside game open up the outside game, then we should not have much of a problem against Maryland. Keep driving and dishing. That creates open looks.