Three Areas Illinois Needs to Improve Before the Season Picks Up
As Illinois kicks off its basketball season with an in-state matchup against Eastern Illinois, it marks a familiar start to the year. While this will be the third consecutive year the teams meet, Illinois has easily handled EIU in recent seasons, winning 80-52 last year and 87-57 the year before. EIU is ranked 332nd in the preseason KenPom rankings, and after finishing near the bottom in recent years (320th in 2024 and 347th in 2023), this game offers Illinois an opportunity to tune up before their non-conference schedule intensifies.
Here are three key areas Illinois needs to focus on as they prepare for tougher competition:
1. Defense
No one expects Illinois’ defense to be perfect right out of the gate, especially after their rough performance in the exhibition against Ole Miss. The defense was plagued by wide-open shooters, miscommunications, and a lack of toughness. While Ole Miss is a skilled and experienced team, Illinois should aim for improvement, even if incremental, as the season progresses. Against Eastern Illinois, Illinois should focus on the basics—closing out on shooters, communicating better on screens, and using their size and strength more effectively. The defense doesn’t need to be flawless immediately, but progress from one game to the next is crucial.
2. Cutting Down on Turnovers
Illinois had an alarming 22 turnovers against Ole Miss, with seven players committing at least two turnovers each. Most of these turnovers stemmed from poor decision-making, including errant passes and over-dribbling. While it’s too early to panic about turnover issues, this is something Illinois needs to clean up as they move forward. Turnover problems can quickly derail a season. Freshman Kasparas Jakucionis, a ball-dominant player, had four turnovers, which is more understandable. But veterans like Ty Rodgers, Tre White, and Kylan Boswell combining for nine turnovers is a concern. Illinois will need to focus on making smarter decisions with the ball to avoid costly mistakes.
3. Offensive Flow
Illinois has a roster full of talented shooters, playmakers, and athletes, giving them the potential to have one of the most dynamic offenses in college basketball. However, their offense looked disjointed at times against Ole Miss, often feeling stagnant. The team’s inexperience was evident, as many players tried to do too much individually while others stood by the three-point line, leading to forced shots and turnovers. Against Eastern Illinois and other early opponents, Illinois needs to improve offensively by moving the ball more efficiently, finding open shooters, and using their physicality to attack the rim. While a 100-point game isn’t necessary, a more cohesive offensive effort should be the focus.
As the season progresses, these areas—defense, turnovers, and offensive flow—will be crucial for Illinois if they want to compete at a high level. Early games like this offer a valuable chance to work out the kinks before the competition intensifies.
