Illinois Basketball: 5 big changes for the shorthanded Illini

3. Marcus Domask hit another level

I’ve already mentioned Marcus Domask a couple of times during this slide show, but I can’t get enough of how well he is playing right now. Domask has been incredible in the new leadership role he has earned.

Coming into the Fairleigh Dickson game, I hadn’t been that impressed with Domask. The kid had a few good games, but for the most part, he wasn’t playing well. Even against the Knights, he didn’t shoot well but still managed to hit season-highs in assists, blocks, and steals.

In the past two games, Domask has hit another level. He has become Illinois’ go-to guy on the offensive end of the court. The Illini are running isolation plays for Domask, and he is nearly unstoppable within 10 feet of the basket.

Domask is averaging 29.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in the past two games. He has also hit 19-of-32, 59.4%, from the field in this stretch.

I think the most impressive part about Domask is that he isn’t stubborn. He knows his weakness, and he doesn’t try to force things on the offensive end of the court.

In the first 12 games this season, Domask was 11-of-57 from three-point range, which is 19.3%. He was also taking 4.8 three-point attempts per contest. Over the last two games, which were the second and third-highest scoring totals of the season, he is a combined 2-of-3 from three-point range.

To be effective and dominant, Domask doesn’t need to shoot from three-point range. This kid is a close-range sniper, and as long as he knows his limitations from deep, he is going to continue leading Illinois to some big wins throughout the 2023-24 season.