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Illinois Basketball: Keys to success for the Fighting Illini in 2019-20

By Lukas Harkins

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Illinois’ defense pressures (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Illinois’ defense pressures (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

2. Interior defense improves.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood loves to run an aggressive defensive scheme. They gamble on passing lanes and are physical underneath the basket. While this led to superb steal and turnover rates as a result of their terrific guards last season, the Fighting Illini struggled inside.

They allowed opponents to shoot 53.6% from 2-point range (308th in the nation) and exhibited a block rate of just 7.3% (268th). They definitely did not protect the paint well and that was a major issue with their defense. It is also important to mention that Illinois ranked very close to the absolute bottom of the country in free-throw rate allowed.

Additionally, Illinois really struggled on their defensive glass. Opponents secured offensive rebounds on nearly one-third of their misses last season. The Illini ranked 307th in offensive rebounding rate allowed and that needs to improve heading into this coming season. The team consistently allowed second-chance opportunities and that was particularly detrimental to their defensive efficiency.

If the Illini improve on the defensive glass, this could, in turn, drive down their 2P% allowed as opponents would have fewer easy chances at the rim.

It is clear that the Fighting Illini struggled in the paint defensively last season and they will need to improve in that facet of the game. Kipper Nichols, Bezhanishvili, and Kofi Cockburn look poised to be the main pieces in the frontcourt this year. They will need to answer the call and take significant strides on the defensive end of the floor. Highly-touted guard Ayo Dosunmu is also a strong rebounder that can help underneath.

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