After an upset loss to Nebraska on Thursday, No. 18 Illinois (14-7, 6-5) will take on Ohio State (13-8, 5-5) at State Farm Center on Sunday.
Must win for Illinois
The Illini have lost four of their last six games, including unranked defeats to USC, Maryland and Nebraska, as well as a close loss to a ranked Michigan State squad. The team has been without sophomore center Tomislav Ivišić recently. With no timetable for his return, the Illini need to figure it out without him.
Turnovers and inconsistent shooting have plagued the Illini all year, particularly evident in their loss to the Cornhuskers. The Illini are third in the Big Ten in turnovers per game and second to last in three-point percentage. In most cases, the turnovers haven’t been caused by their opponents, frustrating head coach Brad Underwood.
“Most of those (turnovers) were completely unforced and scouting report mistakes,” Underwood said.
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In terms of fixing the three-point shooting of the Illini, Underwood echoed a sentiment repeating all year: Keep shooting.
“If you’re that soft, that you’re not going to shoot it, I’m not going to play you,” Underwood said.
Underwood and sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn mentioned that shot selection is the focus heading into Sunday. However, Underwood made it clear that he still wants the team to shoot a lot of threes and take open looks.
The Illini have a lot on the line on Sunday. They are 6-5 in the Big Ten and will need a win to stay above .500. The team’s recent unranked losses also cast a lot of doubt on their NCAA Tournament possibilities. A strong win over the Buckeyes is necessary to bounce back in the eyes of fans and the media and help the Illini regain confidence. The Illini must come out with energy early to avoid having to dig themselves out of a hole.
Ohio State: On a hot streak
After losing three conference games in a row, each by two or less, the Buckeyes are now on a three-game win streak. One of those wins was a close victory over No. 11 Purdue, and the most recent was a 19-point trouncing of Penn State. Ohio State comes into this game with all the momentum, especially after a few tough losses for Illinois.
Junior guard Bruce Thornton, who averages a team-high 17 points per game while also shooting 45.1% from beyond the three-point line, leads the Buckeyes. Freshman guard John Mobley Jr. is also a sniper, shooting 41% while averaging 12.6 points.
“In my opinion, (Ohio State) has one of the elite backcourts,” Underwood said. “As I’ve watched film on them, it’s truly crazy that no one’s talking about their freshman … Mobley is outstanding.”
Potential starting lineup change
After the team’s loss in Lincoln, Nebraska, Underwood seemed to suggest a potential change in the starting lineup. His starters have no consistency. Each has stretches where they produce at a high level and have had multiple moments of lackluster performances. On Saturday, Underwood explained what he was thinking heading into Sunday’s matinee matchup.
“It’s mostly you start getting into comfort with a group,” Underwood said. “You’re always looking to improve. You guys have been around me for a long time, so you know I like the productivity that comes off the bench. I like hitting singles throughout the game and not just a grand slam every time. Yet, finding guys who work well together … We have gotten really comfortable with a group together that maybe analytically hasn’t been working.”
Despite questioning about his starters’ compatibility, Underwood was still unsure about any change he would make on Sunday. One player who definitely earns more time is Gibbs-Lawhorn. His energy and improvement are something Underwood has lauded many times throughout this season.
“His confidence is bigger than the State of Texas,” Underwood said.
Gibbs-Lawhorn has scored in double figures in six of the Illini’s last 10 games. He’s averaged 10.7 points per game off the bench during that stretch.
“Regardless of however much time I play, I’m ready to play at all times and bring some energy,” Gibbs-Lawhorn said.
Suits and Sneakers for Coaches vs. Cancer
This week is the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week. Underwood serves as the chair of the Coaches Council for the American Cancer Society’s partnership with Coaches vs. Cancer.
To help raise awareness, all coaches will wear suits and their best sneakers on the sideline on Sunday. Underwood will wear custom-painted Coaches vs. Cancer Nike Air Force 1s.
“I’m wearing a suit and some fancy sneakers that were made, and I am ecstatic that the little bit that we get to do to help means a lot,” Underwood said. “Coaches vs. Cancer has raised millions of dollars. We have an unbelievable network of coaches being involved. It’s time to put a stop to cancer.”
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