Illinois Basketball: 3 keys to beating Baylor in 2020 Jimmy V Classic matchup

1. Three-point shooting

The Illini have to be able to shoot the ball against a tough defense if they want to pull the upset.

The Illini and Bears will tip-off at 10pm eastern time on Wednesday, so they’ll need to be energized and get the 3-ball going. If they can’t shoot from distance, they’re going to have a rough time.

Adam Miller comes into the game as the best shooter on the team, averaging 18 points per game and shooting 47% from deep. He turned in a special debut performance against North Carolina A&T, scoring 28 points and hitting 6-of-8 three-pointers, both Illini freshman records. He wasn’t as sharp against Ohio in a game Illinois just squeaked out, missing all four of the 3-point shots he took in that game. Miller can’t afford to turn in a performance like this if the Illini want to beat Baylor.

Ayo Dosunmu is an improving shooter as well, improving his 3-point numbers from about 30% last season to 43% from 3 this season through the first three games of the season. His shot looks much more fluid, with better mechanics, and he looks much more comfortable from behind the arc. All of these are the makings of a National Player of the Year candidate.

The Illini will need Miller and Dosunmu to knock down their shots on Wednesday if they want to have a chance of winning.