Welcome to “Good Morning Illini Nation,” your every day dose of school basketball information from Illini Beat author and AP High 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll provide insights each morning on Brad Underwood’s crew:
Illinois restricted Iowa to simply four of 14 pictures within the remaining 7 minutes of Friday evening’s recreation. Luka Garza solely had two factors in that part. The Hawkeyes took 14 extra pictures, however the Illini have been extra environment friendly of their 80-75 victory.
“I feel it was a successful mentality,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood stated. “That is what we have been speaking about. Perceive that while you go into this time of yr and also you go into the postseason that is on the way in which, you must have the mindset to determine learn how to win a recreation and the ball would not all the time are available. How are you going to win that? It’s important to be very pleased with what you do on the defensive finish.
“Fran McCaffery would not get sufficient credit score for the way good a coach he’s on the offensive aspect. Sure, they’ve superb gamers. In the event you can cease them, I really feel like we will try this towards anybody within the nation.”
Garza scored 19 factors however wanted 18 pictures. Jordan Bohannon made 2 of 6 pictures. Jack Nunge was 2 of seven. Joe Wieskamp, who tied Garza with 19 factors, was a minimum of 5 of seven from Three-point vary.
“That is a top-tier three-point capturing crew,” Illinois senior guard Trent Frazier stated of the Hawkeyes. “You are going to surrender some baskets when you will have gamers in your crew who can play 25 an evening and shoot the ball from the Three-point line so properly.
“It is about what sort of baskets they’re getting. We made them hit plenty of powerful pictures. In the case of late recreation, we’re rewarded. These pictures aren’t all the time going to return in.”
