March has officially arrived in the world of basketball, as the Big Ten Tournament tips off for the Illini today against the Nittany Lions of Penn State. This makes the third showdown between these two hard-nosed units, in which Penn State has dominated this unit over the 2022-2023 season.
In the first matchup between these two units on December 10th, Micah Shrewsberry’s high-octane squad put the smackdown on Illinois in a 74-59 in a brutal loss in Champaign. Myles Dread and Andrew Funk put on a clinic beyond the 3-point arc, knocking down a total of 11 between the two red-hot guards. Funk went 6-9 on the night shooting and astonishing 67% from deep, and leading the team in scoring. Dread went a close 5-9 from beyond the arc, shooting 55% from downtown. Jalen Pickett, who has been an absolute nightmare to Illinois in their two meetings, led his team in scoring vs the Illini with 20, along with Andrew Funk. Pickett went 9/17 from the floor.
This was also the beginning of a brutal December for Illinois Basketball that truly exposed some of the issues that this team is still facing today. Turnovers and leadership have been a glaring problem for this Illinois team, and Penn State was able to take full advantage in both matchups.
In Illinois and Penn State’s valentines day matchup, Jalen Pickett broke Illini fans hearts, scoring a crazy 41 points, going 15/20 from the floor, and 5-9 from deep. An insane 75% shooting average over the course of his 39 minutes of play. Picketts domination of the Illini was gut wrenching considering this wasn’t the only time Jalen has been able to nearly score at will vs this team this season. A massive tip of the hat to Pickett, to score 41 in Big Ten competition after being a primary focus of the Illinois defense since this had now been the second time he has led his team in scoring vs the Illini.
Since their second matchup, Illinois has gone 3-3 in Big Ten play with a big overtime win 87-91 over Juwan Howard’s Michigan Wolverines in a thriller, as well as a nail-biting loss to no. 5 Purdue in West Lafayette. Penn State since that point has found themselves 4-1 with their only loss coming against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Micah Shrewsberry’s Nittany Lions are really heating up at the right time, and this matchup won’t be any easier for Illinois.
Tonight, Illinois wants to avoid a 3 game sweep of the 2023 season by Penn State, and an early bounce in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini and Nittany Lions tip at 5:30pm at the United Center in Chicago on the Big Ten Network.
Of course, it’s always a tall task to beat a team 3 times over the course of the same season. Eventually you find out what weak spots are being exposed, and make adjustments to correct yourselves and shift the momentum. However, Illinois weak spots were not at all accounted for in your previous matchup.
Illini Now Prediction
In order for Illinois to avoid the season sweep, they will need a few things to happen.
Knocking down 3-point shots for Illinois could tell a lot of the tale. This Illini team is nowhere near afraid to heave it up from deep, but hitting those 3-point shots with some consistency has been the issue. In their last matchup, the Illini went 7-27 from deep shooting the three at 25.9%.
Coleman Hawkins and Matt Mayer have started to feel themselves heat up more as we have progressed into the season. The clear visual of more confidence from these two players has kept Illinois close in some really big games as the regular season concludes. The confidence this unit showed vs Purdue in the second half was exciting to see, and felt like this team found a next level that they should continue to hold themselves too.
Illinois has found themselves playing some great halfs, buthas struggle in big games to pull it together for a full 40 minutes. If Illinois wants to redeem themselves, and have any shot of a special run in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, they will need that high level of play for full games. Of course streaks will happen, but going an entire half seeming lost on the court, with bad shot selection is problematic, and won’t win you games in March.
Shrewsberry’s unit has feasted on illinois twice and beating a team for the third time, especially in march will be very difficult. Underwood is a very good basketball coach and typically when you get exposed, it’s a great way to assess and address the glaring issues that were shown. Underwood will make emphasis on taking good shots, and keeping someone heavily focused on Jalen Pickett at all times. Illinois has played some good really good basketball in streaks, and pulling that energy together for a full game will tell us a lot.
I’m certain Underwood and his unit would really love to put it together against this team, that has haunted them for the majority of the 2023 season.
Illinois 78 Penn State 74
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