Illini Out-Slug Indiana, 69-60

[December 28, 2020] 

What’s better than an Illini basketball victory over Iowa, Michigan or Ohio State? That’s easy. A victory over the Indiana Hoosiers any ol’ day…and twice if it’s a Saturday [happy birthday to me]. But if you thought it was gonna be easy-you haven’t watched much Big Ten basketball yet this season. And I haven’t either, but what little I have watched tells me that the always tough Big Ten will be as the Grinch said, “3 sizes harder” this season.

Why do I say this? Just look around the league and the perennial favorites have already taken a loss or two. Northwestern is 3-0 and sits atop the league standings. And you didn’t think 2020 could get any weirder? Illinois has clawed and scraped their way to a 3-1 mark, but only the Minnesota game was well in hand most of the way.

Saturday, we saw the beloved for the first time this year [more on that experience later]. It was not an easy game to watch. Both teams were as frigid as the recent temperatures. And when the lids finally started coming off the rims, Indiana got more friendly bounces than the good guys and actually led most of the first half; though the Illini eked out a 29-27 edge at the intermission.

You would hope that a fire was lit at half-time and it might have been, though it took a few more minutes on the struggle bus for the fortunes to turn. With just under ten minutes left to play the Illini looked like they were in trouble and after another Hoosier spurt found themselves trailing 44-49. Fortunately, the lights finally came on. At last the switch was flipped. The guys who are supposed to be the go-to guys took charge and started being the go-to guys! I love when that happens. And when it happens our opponents will be in trouble. Such was the case as the men in white went on a 14-0 run and in many ways that was the ball game.

During the run, Kofi Cockburn took over ownership of the glass. Andre Curbelo flew down the court with ninja-like quickness, darting and dodging through traffic and was only slowed down when his jersey was grabbed, or he was body-checked in the lane/he’s also leading the Big Ten with 6.8 assists per game. Giorgi Bezhanishvili continues to come in in the 4-spot and deliver key minutes scoring enough, 7 points including a huge three- to keep the defense honest and hauling down some rebounds of his own. I have to laud Da’Monte Williams as well. This kid has put in all kinds of extra work the last couple of years and has the most complete game now of his career. He is an example of the development our players make in Brad Underwood’s system [shout-out to our Illini assistant coaches]. BTW, Williams 69+% from distance is the best in the nation! But “the Man” once again was Ayo Dosunmu. Ayo didn’t just score some circus lay-ups or throw in a couple shots. He erupted not for a few points but for 20 second half tallies and coupled with his important ten in the first half, finished the afternoon with 30 points and 5 assists. Only 3 players in the country have had 3 games or more scoring 30 points or more and Ayo is one of them. In fact, Ayo is the ONLY player in the NCAA who is averaging 20ppg, 5rpg, and 5apg! We don’t even carry those numbers in our nerf hoops’ clashes with our sons and we’re dominant…and also self-reported! Here endeth the lesson!

The Illini out-rebounded Indiana 40-28, only committed 11 turnovers, shot 44% from the field while holding IU to 39.7%, but most convincingly of all, converted 14-18 free throws. That right there-a commitment to consistently making free throws home and away-could take this team farther than they otherwise might go. We like to preach this often, “made free throws cover a multitude of sins!” Can we get a witness? Illinois also only committed 9 fouls-a point of emphasis the last several days-and it kept IU from picking-up free points at the line without time running off the clock. IU was led in scoring by Armaan Franklin with 23 points and Trayce Jackson-Davis who tallied 11.

All in all, when Illinois buckled down, took no names and started taking it to the Hoosiers, there was really nothing they could do. It was just a question of what the final margin would be. So, those who thought the league had gone all ACC with lots of high scoring offenses didn’t see that Illinois won this one, 69-60. We did.

What does it mean? It means the Illini took another step. It means that Illinois took care of business. It means that the Fighting Illini defended home court again. AND if they desire to make some noise this year, home wins will have to be a given [more on that in just a minute].

On the other end of the court-we know the IU fans don’t want to hear it, but it takes time to build it. We like Archie Miller. He’s not a mad man, he stays in the moment and coaches his guys as hard as he wants them to play. We think they will improve throughout the year and would not be surprised if Illinois struggles in the re-match over there in February. We’re not dissing the Illini. We just think IU will improve and be a lot better the next time we meet.

Having watched more hoops than the law ought to allow we can only give you our opinion. The Big Ten is by far the toughest league in the country-bar none. The champion of the conference will probably have 5 losses maybe even 6. Most other power 5 teams just ought to be glad that no one is making them play teams in our league or they could all add one more loss to their resumes. Once again, we ask you if increasing our amount of league games is the answer? We don’t think it is. We beat on and pulverize each other every night, then do it again for a few days in our Conference Tourney. By the time selection Sunday rolls around-We’re exhausted, and we haven’t even logged one minute of action. The Big Ten hasn’t won an NCAA title in 21 years…we don’t think it’s a coincidence…and maybe those LDN guys are not as crazy as they look […then again?]?

While it wasn’t the most beautiful win in the history of our program-it was a good solid victory and we can move on to the next contest. As we’ve always said, any day and every day is a great day for a win over Indiana.

[Illinois is now 7-3, 3-1 and will be off this week until they host Purdue Saturday at 5pm]

[LDN]