The Illini need to find their shooting touch in their last tune-up opportunity ahead of Arkansas
Illinois was dropped from the weekly AP Top 25 poll on Monday following a week in which it fell to now-No. 9 Alabama, but the Illini got right in a blowout of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday and will get a big opportunity to redeem themselves this week when they take on No. 19 Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day.
But first, Illinois has a final tune-up against Little Rock on their home floor at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Monday . Although the Trojans will be a fifth mid-major opponent for Illinois in six games, they appear to be something more than a check-the-box rollover. Little Rock played Arkansas last week and clawed back from an 18-point halftime deficit to cut the lead to seven in the second half, eventually falling 79-67 to the Razorbacks.
If the Illini fall into the trap of looking ahead to their next, and potentially more worrisome, matchup in the Razorbacks, they’ll be vulnerable against the Trojans, who boast big, athletic guards and the ability to turn over opponents. Win or lose, tonight’s game will answer some questions about the Illini – including the three below:For an Illinois team that lives on the three-point line, you would certainly think it would be shooting at a far better clip than 28.
The Trojans are currently averaging 10.7 offensive rebounds per game – and that number climbed to 13 against their biggest and most athletic opponent in Arkansas. Despite having put up a robust rebounding margin of plus-14.8 , Illinois has struggled at times on the offensive glass, namely against SIU Edwardsville . With several huge matchups looming, the Illini need to stay sharp on the defensive glass and limit opposing teams' second-chance opportunities.
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