Patrick Norton

After shocking the conference with a seven game win streak, things have cooled down quickly in Champaign. At a time, it seemed the Illini were the only squad capable of winning on the road in the Big Ten. Now they’re looking for a way to correct their recent woes. As Illinois struggles, their 2020 destiny remains unclear.

Consecutive losses to a top-20 Iowa Hawkeyes and a top-10 Maryland Terrapins never seems fun. But the way in which the Illini tossed away leads in both games stings differently.

Meaningful Basketball in Champaign?!

I suppose Illini fans, myself included should thank our lucky stars that the orange and blue are contending for a spot in the tournament this late into the season. Nothing is exactly a given, but Illinois has set themselves up nicely to make a run.

However, the road to March Madness is never easy, and with a struggling conference figuring it out as they go, the time for the Illini to pounce is now.

Iowa? Again? Really?

Bad things always seem to happen in Iowa City. Kofi Cockburn met his physical match in Luke Garza with the Hawkeyes a week ago. Whether Garza was getting hometown calls or not (he was), the physical matchup proved too much for Cockburn in the paint. When you can eliminate Cockburn’s physicality at all, let alone with one guy, it makes the Illini panic. When Captain Thunderwood’s boys panic, welcome to Bad Shot City.

Too many forced jumpers and guys off their game plagued Illinois late. After the back-and-forth throughout most of the action, Iowa snatched the lead with a few minutes left and didn’t look back.

(The referees were bad, too, but it’s the B1G… we should expect this now)

Fifteen point leads, technicals and missed free throws. 🙁

What do you get when the opponent can’t miss a shot and your team has an off night? That’s right; #20 Illinois vs. #9 Maryland on a Thursday night in Champaign. Losing to Maryland stinks, but losing to a top ten team in a close battle is never really THAT bad.

That said, once again, the way in which the Illini coughed it up is what stings the most. The turning point in Champaign came in the first half. The Terrapins found themselves on the receiving end of a technical foul, down fifteen points with a crowd ready to blow the roof off of State Farm Center. Giorgi Bezhanishvili clanked a free throw taking some of the air out of the arena, but the Illini still owned possession because of the tech. An errant possession followed with multiple missed shots in ensuing chances led to the lead cut to two at half time.

A scoring drought out of the half doomed the team and although they clawed to keep it close down the stretch, it wasn’t enough.

One of those losses that struck an uncanny resemblance to a few too many games in Champaign in the last few years. When Illinois struggles, it’s simply tough to watch.

Blip or Major Malfunction?

We really can only hope the Illini haven’t turned a corner for the worse. After watching the football program destined for 8-4 fizzle out at the finish line at 6-7, it’s tough to block out of our minds.

For the basketball squad, it’s these last few games in February and into March is the most important stretch of the season. A Withering Sparty in Champaign on Tuesday presents the perfect opportunity to the Illini to find their way again.

Four things MUST happen for the Illini to defend their home court on Tuesday:

  • The offense runs through Ayo. Dosunmu off the ball still moves the needle, but the Illini are better when Ayo eats and plays a playmakers role in a scorer’s body. Cold streaks happen, but something needs to end them. Switch it up.
  • Brad Underwood trusts Trent Frazier. Captain Thunderwood has a different length on the leash for everybody on the floor. Trent’s feels like the shortest. I take that back because Tev Jones is still here, but Frazier is a leader of the bunch and it’s tough to lead looking over your shoulder the entire time. Ask Caesar.
  • Kofi gets his groove back. Cockburn is a physical player that thrives on the glass and putbacks. Getting him going isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but when he’s thriving, so is the Illini.
  • Kofi stays clean. On the flip side of that coin, it’s tricky for a big man playing a physical game to keep out of foul trouble. Illinois needs Cockburn on the floor as much as possible to fight with Sparty.

The Homestretch

But after Michigan State comes to town, it’s back on the road to Rutgers then Penn State. If Illinois needed to prove they’re legit and their seven game win streak wasn’t a fluke, this is the stretch to make that statement.

A strong finish goes a long way, too. Nebraska in Champaign, Northwestern in Evanston, Indiana back home, Ohio State in Columbus and a rematch for Cockburn on his home court against Luke Garza finishes things off for the regular season. Twenty wins, while not written in stone, is certainly attainable. I’d expect it.

As Illinois struggles to maintain a spot in the AP Top 25, there’s plenty of road ahead to correct the course.