Balanced attack would benefit Illini against No. 7 Villanova

Every season has a handful of games that you circle on the calendar as soon as the schedule is released.

Illinois basketball’s Tuesday evening matchup with Villanova is one of those games.

The undefeated, seventh-ranked Wildcats represent the toughest test of the nonconference slate for Illinois. The Illini enter the game having barely tumbled out of the AP Top 25 and clinging to the No. 25 spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

After falling in its first matchup against a ranked team — 70-61 to then-No. 15 Miami — Illinois has what will be its last chance to pick up a win over a ranked opponent in the nonconference portion of its schedule.

Will the season be ruined if the Illini take another “L” on Tuesday? Of course not. But for a program with a recent history of missing out come Selection Sunday, a big nonconference win could do wonders when the calendar hits March.

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This game also takes on some added significance when you look at its circumstances. As part of the Jimmy V Classic, it will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York and be broadcast nationally on ESPN. It’s yet another opportunity for head coach John Groce to showcase his program on the national stage.

Illinois won’t be favored to win this game, but it is expected to be competitive. Many fans will be disappointed if the Illini’s execution is similar to what it was against Miami, when they struggled at times on both ends of the floor. And if they do struggle in a similar fashion against Nova — I’m talking 33 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent from 3-point range — the Illini will almost certainly lose.

Villanova is one of the most balanced teams the Illini will face all year. The Wildcats feature six players all averaging at least 8.9 points per game, and they feature two seniors and three juniors in their starting lineup. This is a team capable of beating you offensively from anywhere on the floor, then locking down on the defensive end with their 1-2-2 zone press. Villanova’s frontcourt is also capable of giving the Illini some trouble. Big men JayVaughn Pinkston and Daniel Ochefu have been solid for the Wildcats so far this season.

In order for it to be a competitive game, I think Illinois will have to mirror Villanova’s balanced approach on the offensive end. We’ve seen the Illini display a balanced attack before, especially in games against Coppin State, Austin Peay, Brown and Indiana State, when Illinois had at least five players score in double figures.

I realize that Villanova is vastly superior to those four teams. But I’d still like to see some of the Illini’s other scoring threats take the pressure off Rayvonte Rice and Malcolm Hill, the team’s two leading scorers. In Illinois’ last three games, Rice and Hill have accounted for 47.6 percent of the Illini’s point totals. While it’s great that these two have stepped up when called upon, the team has a better chance to be successful when those two don’t have to shoulder quite as much of the scoring load.

That’s why the X-factor in this game is Aaron Cosby. The Illini’s transfer two guard torched Villanova two years ago for 21 points when he played for Seton Hall, so we know he’s capable of lighting up a Nova squad that featured several of the same players Cosby faced in the last matchup. We’ve also seen Cosby score in bunches at times in orange and blue, but the redshirt junior slumped through the Baylor and Miami games shooting-wise. If Cosby can find his stroke Tuesday, (assuming Rice and Hill don’t disappear) Illinois will have a great shot to win.

Another week, another huge opportunity for Groce and Co. A win Tuesday would likely solidify an impressive nonconference resume and raise expectations of what this team can accomplish going forward.

But a loss adds considerable pressure to pick up marquee victories come Big Ten season.

Alex is a junior in AHS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aroux94.