Both Illini and Buckeyes look to end four-game losing streaks

In Saturday’s 78-62 loss to Michigan State, emotions got the best of John Groce. Near the end of the game, the Illinois men’s basketball coach threw his suit coat and engaged in a one-sided shouting match with the referees that earned him a technical foul.

Groce knows there was a line that was crossed. He knows an example was set in front of his players, and it was not the example he would have liked to set.

“The difference between emotion and emotional is two letters,” Groce told media Wednesday. “There’s a very fine line. I thought the other day I broke that line.”

Groce is an animated coach. He wears his emotions on his face when the Illini are on the court.

Point guard Tracy Abrams said that can be a good thing.

Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!

  • Catch the latest on University of Illinois news, sports, and more. Delivered every weekday.
  • Stay up to date on all things Illini sports. Delivered every Monday.
Thank you for subscribing!

“We feed off it sometimes,” Abrams said. “It’s definitely good that guys see that coach cares just as much as we care.”

Four straight losses brought out that emotion in the form of a thrown coat, and it’s easy to understand why.

Illinois has struggled during the four-loss stretch, which included an ugly loss to Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., and a frustrating loss to Purdue at home. Thursday the Illini (13-6, 2-4 Big Ten) have a chance to end those struggles against an Ohio State team (15-4, 2-4) that is going through a similarly frustrating four-game losing streak.

Two squads gasping for breath square off at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, where Illinois hasn’t won since 2009. Both come in with identical 2-4 records in league play and on the verge of falling further behind the conference leaders.

“It’s not the way either team wanted it to go thus far,” Illinois forward Jon Ekey said. “It’s going to be an interesting game between two teams that are trying to find their way back.”

Only one of them can take a step in the right direction, and both have seen a significant drop in offensive production of late. Ohio State and Illinois rank eighth and ninth in the Big Ten in scoring, respectively and have both seen scoring and field goal percentage drops since conference play started.

Illinois used the four days since Saturday’s loss to Michigan State as a chance get back to, as Groce put it, “old-school, fall-type practices.” The Illini have focused on their individual skills during practice, as well as correcting some of their offensive woes. 

Groce said he wants to see the Illini more aggressive on offense, including leading scorer Rayvonte Rice. Rice has been suffering from a strained adductor muscle in his hip, acquired in the Jan. 12 loss to Northwestern. He still scored in double-figures against Purdue and Michigan State, but not near his season average of 17.4 points per game. Groce said Rice has been at his best physically since the injury.

“I want him in attack mode,” Groce said. “He’s at his best when he’s aggressive.”

He will need to be against the Buckeyes, who rank seventh in the nation defensively. But losses to Minnesota and Nebraska last week proved they can be scored upon. With two defensive-minded teams both struggling offensively, it’s likely that 60 points will be all it takes to win Thursday’s matchup. 

Sean can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter

@sean_hammond.