When Guerrier is finishing drives to the rim, Illinois is tough to handle. When he's not, it becomes a lot harder for the Illini offense.
Buie was great, especially in OT, but you can't let Barnhizer go off for 23 points.
That was the worst job Illinois has done all season defending ball screens and pin downs.
As I wrote in the preview, you have to force Northwestern into a few turnovers and speed them up. They don't turn it over very often. Cats 17 points off of turnovers, Illinois just 5.
Why not put on some pressure earlier and see if you can turn them over a little bit? Buie had an enormous 42.5 usage rate, but just 2 turnovers to 7 assists. I get it. He's good. But damn...
If Illinois fouls Buie out high at the :36 mark (they had 2 fouls to give), then denies him the ball on the inbounds play, they probably win the game in regulation. His bucket was way too easy when you only have 4 team fouls. NBA teams get that kind of stuff right. College? Not as much.
Shannon's rustiness really hurt Illinois. He has to understand what he can and can't do until he gets his sea legs. He was a team-worst -13 in the plus / minus.
Boo Buie scored 29 points as Northwestern took control in OT and defeated Illinois 96-91 on Wednesday night.
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