Throughout the season, Illinois (28-8) has shown the potential of being a Final Four contender. For the last couple of weeks, the Illini have shown it, coasting through the South Region on their way to Indy. Wins over Penn, VCU, Houston, and Iowa sent the Big Ten team to the Final Four, taking on the UConn Huskies in the first semifinal matchup.
These teams met in the regular season, with UConn winning 74-61 in Madison Square Garden. Has Illinois improved enough to get revenge in the most important game of the season? Here are some keys to the game.
1. Big game from Keaton Wagler
One of the best stories in the sport this season has been the play of Wagler, the Big Ten Rookie of the Year and All-American. He leads the Illini with 17.9 ppg and 4.3 apg, shooting over 40% from three-point range. Wagler averaged 17.5 ppg in four NCAA Tournament games, including 25 points in the win over Iowa.
In the lone game where Wagler scored fewer than eight points, he had just three in 14 minutes in the loss to UConn. He’s been much better since then, and a big game from him could vault the Illini into the title game.
2. Winning the frontcourt battle
UConn’s strength is on the inside, led by Tarris Reed Jr. (14.7 ppg and 8.8 rpg) and Alex Karaban (13.2 ppg), who each have had big NCAA Tournament games. But the Illini have plenty of depth inside, including the 7-foot brothers, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, along with David Mirkovic, who had 29 points and 17 rebounds in the win over Penn in the Round of 64.
In the first go-around, Reed struggled against the Illini, scoring two points in his first game back from an early-season injury. He’s 100% this time around and will be very difficult to stop, no matter which Illinois big is on him.
3. Andrej Stojakovic the x-factor
The big offseason pickup for the Illini was Stojakovic, a double-digit scorer from Cal who went on to average 13.6 ppg on 50% FG shooting this year. He’s been good in the tournament, averaging 15 ppg, but is also capable of having some quiet outings, including 10 games in single-digits.
UConn is a good offensive unit, so relying on Wagler to provide the main scoring isn’t wise. If Stojakovic has a good outing, that’ll go a long way to winning.