Duquesne Basketball: 3 keys to NCAA Tournament Round of 32 matchup with Illinois

Duquesne Basketball is one win away from the Sweet 16 but has to get past the Illinois Fighting Illini. What do they have to do to get another upset?

It's been a week of history for Duquesne Basketball. After earning its first NCAA Tournament tournament appearance since 1997, the Dukes got its first win in the dance since 1969, beating 6-seed BYU. The final score was 71-67, despite losing a 14-point lead in the second half.

Their next opponent is Illinois, the 3-seed in the East Region. They had a tough time with Morehead State in the first round for 25 minutes but an offensive explosion allowed them to run away with the 85-69 victory. It's going to be the toughest opponent that the Dukes have played all season but they've won nine straight games. Here's a look at how they can make it 10 straight victor

1. Hold the Illini between 65-72 points

Duquesne's ability to win games comes down to "mudwrestling" and keeping the score as low as possible. Illinois represents the toughest challenge to date, ranking in the top 10 nationally with 84.4 ppg. And unlike BYU, the Illini can score in a variety of ways. Inside, outside, and especially, on the free throw line. The Dukes will need to avoid foul trouble and find a way to have them have an off-night somewhere on offense to have a shot.

2. Slow down Marcus Domask and his all-around impact

Terrence Shannon Jr. is the star of Illinois Basketball, leading the team with 23.1 ppg and dropping 26 points in the win over Morehead State. There's a case that the Dukes won't have a true answer for the 6'6 wing. Still, the guy who had the triple-double was Domask. He averages 15.9 ppg and 3.9 apg and is capable of going for 30. If he has a big game, it's likely game-over for Duquesne.

3. Efficient game from Jimmy Clark

As great as Clark has been on the defensive end, he's had some shooting struggles as of late. In the last two games, the senior guard combined for 20 points on 6/29 shooting, including 1/10 from three-point range. He's made some key baskets at the end but how he plays in the first 35 minutes will be incredibly important.

Bonus key: Watch out for Dain Dainja, a 6'9 and 270-pound big man who had 21 points on a perfect 9/9 FG shooting in 23 minutes off the bench against Morehead State, a team that did have some size. Starting forward Coleman Hawkins will already be a handful so no surprises off the bench will be ideal for the Dukes.