NCAAB · 1 year ago

March Madness: 5 Things We Learned About the Illinois Fighting Illini

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Free Throws Are a Concern
Illinois has played well during the tournament, but there are a few concerns. The chief issue against Iowa State was the free throw shooting. Illinois managed to get to the line 29 times but only made 15 of their attempts. That’s just 51.7 percent on a high volume of free throws, and it nearly cost the Illini a game they largely controlled throughout. The struggles were almost universal. Terrence Shannon was only 5-10, Coleman Hawkins and Quincy Guerrier were both 2-4, and Dain Dainja was unsurprisingly 1-4. Only Luke Goode and Marcus Domask were perfect from the line. Failing to capitalize on free throw opportunities would prove fatal against the UConn Huskies on Saturday.

Illinois' Odds to Win 2024 National Title: +1400
1. Terrence Shannon Continues To Be a Star
All-American guard Terrence Shannon continues to carry the Illini and is playing like one of the two best players in the country. Beyond Zach Edey, no one is dominating like Shannon. Foul trouble limited him to only 22 minutes, but he was 10-19 from the field with four three-pointers and 29 points against the nation’s top defense. Shannon added five rebounds and three steals to round out a fantastic performance as Illinois hung on late against the Iowa State Cyclones.

SportsGrid's March Madness Coverage
2. Timely Shooting Saved Illini
Illinois was only 9-29 on three-pointers against Iowa State’s top defense, but they made timely shots to stymie runs and hold on to their lead. Illinois got two threes early from Terrence Shannon to establish an 11-2 lead. Iowa State made a couple of solid runs and cut the deficit to two points on three separate occasions deep in the second half. Marcus Domask got to the basket for a critical bucket the first time while drawing a foul. Reserve guard Luke Goode nailed three-pointers the second and third times, re-establishing some breathing room for the Illini.
3. Offensive Illinois Has Defense Step Up
Ken Pomeroy’s (KenPom) advanced statistics models have Illinois rated as the number one offense in the country. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood knows their defense must improve to advance in the NCAA Tournament, and it has shown up in a big way during March. The Illini made some timely stops in the Big Ten Tournament to grab that title, and they limited Iowa State to 39.7% from the field and only 69 points in a tightly contested game. The Cyclones only made six three-pointers in the game, and the frontcourt of Milan Momcilovic, Curtis Jones, and Tre King combined for only 17 total points.

Illinois (+8.5) vs. UConn
4. Coleman Hawkins = Elite Glue Guy
Terrence Shannon is a star, and transfer Marcus Domask is a strong second-scoring option (although he struggled against Iowa State), but Coleman Hawkins holds everything together for the Illini. The senior is not the thickest player, but his ability to defend guards through big guys with good athleticism, length, and movement is critical to Illinois's lineups. His emergence allowed Brad Underwood to move big guy Dain Dainja to the bench and limit his minutes to 15-20 per game as a post scorer. Hawkins made two three-pointers, tied for the team lead with six rebounds, and had three assists and two steals in 32 minutes of action. His versatility will be critical against UConn in the Elite Eight.
5. Free Throws Are a Concern
Illinois has played well during the tournament, but there are a few concerns. The chief issue against Iowa State was the free throw shooting. Illinois managed to get to the line 29 times but only made 15 of their attempts. That’s just 51.7 percent on a high volume of free throws, and it nearly cost the Illini a game they largely controlled throughout. The struggles were almost universal. Terrence Shannon was only 5-10, Coleman Hawkins and Quincy Guerrier were both 2-4, and Dain Dainja was unsurprisingly 1-4. Only Luke Goode and Marcus Domask were perfect from the line. Failing to capitalize on free throw opportunities would prove fatal against the UConn Huskies on Saturday.

Illinois' Odds to Win 2024 National Title: +1400
1. Terrence Shannon Continues To Be a Star
All-American guard Terrence Shannon continues to carry the Illini and is playing like one of the two best players in the country. Beyond Zach Edey, no one is dominating like Shannon. Foul trouble limited him to only 22 minutes, but he was 10-19 from the field with four three-pointers and 29 points against the nation’s top defense. Shannon added five rebounds and three steals to round out a fantastic performance as Illinois hung on late against the Iowa State Cyclones.

SportsGrid's March Madness Coverage

March Madness: 5 Things We Learned About the Illinois Fighting Illini

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