1. The offensive game plan was flawed from the get-to. USC does not defend the rim, and yet Illinois chucked up 32 threes (7-for-32 / 21.9%). They needed to get to the rim against the Trojans, who are undersized. Illinois has completely abandoned post-ups to Ivisic. He does need to finish stronger, but they should have made an effort to get him going down low early on.
2. No adjustments on defense to slow Desmond Claude down. You cant' let one guy take over a game like that. Illinois kept switching on the big-on-little ball screens, and Claude kept getting the favorable matchups that he wanted. (We've seen that movie before). There was zero backside help. Illinois should have mixed it up against the balls screens with some double teams / traps, hedges, etc. How many times did he get one-on-one vs. Morez Johnson? Too easy for a big downhill player like Claude.
3. Humrichous continues to show a more well-rounded game. That's been a major adjustment for him over the last several games. He's putting on the deck more and using his size to back guys down. It can look a bit awkward and sluggish at times, but he can use his size to shoot over guys. Ben was 3-for-3 on 2's today. He didn't get to the line at all, though.
4. The 24.4 usage rate for Kylan Boswell is a losing stat for Illinois. He's too loose with the ball with 6 TO's today, he doesn't finish when he gets to the rim, and it takes others out of the offense when he dominates the ball. Obviously, they missed Kasparas Jakucionis, who's ability to get anywhere he wants on the floor sets up others for open looks. His ill-advised 3's out of rhythm killed several possessions. Boswell needs to play more within himself.
5. You can't lose the rebounding battle to USC, the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten. While much of it was simply lack of effort and focus, the rotation also was a factor. Morez Johnson had a game-high 22.5 rebounding rate, but only played 20 minutes. I know Underwood was frustrated with Tomislav Isivic, but it doesn't make much sense to only play him 17 minutes against an undersized USC. The worst culprit in terms of lack of focus on the glass was probably Tre White. He was flatfooted a lot of the time and seemed to be in a fog. No way USC should have won the battle for second-chance points (12-9). That's all about effort.
6. Illinois folded during the game-winning three-minute stretch by USC. As bad as Illinois played, they had the game tied at 57 with 8:46 to go in the game. Then the wheels fell off. The next 4 out of 5 shots were 3's, including consecutive missed 3's Gibb-Lawhorn and Tre White on the same possession. Turnovers by Boswell and White. Runouts by Wesley Yates, Claude, and Rashaun Agee. 70-60 at 5:18. Ball game.
2. No adjustments on defense to slow Desmond Claude down. You cant' let one guy take over a game like that. Illinois kept switching on the big-on-little ball screens, and Claude kept getting the favorable matchups that he wanted. (We've seen that movie before). There was zero backside help. Illinois should have mixed it up against the balls screens with some double teams / traps, hedges, etc. How many times did he get one-on-one vs. Morez Johnson? Too easy for a big downhill player like Claude.
3. Humrichous continues to show a more well-rounded game. That's been a major adjustment for him over the last several games. He's putting on the deck more and using his size to back guys down. It can look a bit awkward and sluggish at times, but he can use his size to shoot over guys. Ben was 3-for-3 on 2's today. He didn't get to the line at all, though.
4. The 24.4 usage rate for Kylan Boswell is a losing stat for Illinois. He's too loose with the ball with 6 TO's today, he doesn't finish when he gets to the rim, and it takes others out of the offense when he dominates the ball. Obviously, they missed Kasparas Jakucionis, who's ability to get anywhere he wants on the floor sets up others for open looks. His ill-advised 3's out of rhythm killed several possessions. Boswell needs to play more within himself.
5. You can't lose the rebounding battle to USC, the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten. While much of it was simply lack of effort and focus, the rotation also was a factor. Morez Johnson had a game-high 22.5 rebounding rate, but only played 20 minutes. I know Underwood was frustrated with Tomislav Isivic, but it doesn't make much sense to only play him 17 minutes against an undersized USC. The worst culprit in terms of lack of focus on the glass was probably Tre White. He was flatfooted a lot of the time and seemed to be in a fog. No way USC should have won the battle for second-chance points (12-9). That's all about effort.
6. Illinois folded during the game-winning three-minute stretch by USC. As bad as Illinois played, they had the game tied at 57 with 8:46 to go in the game. Then the wheels fell off. The next 4 out of 5 shots were 3's, including consecutive missed 3's Gibb-Lawhorn and Tre White on the same possession. Turnovers by Boswell and White. Runouts by Wesley Yates, Claude, and Rashaun Agee. 70-60 at 5:18. Ball game.
