One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Another “Illini Occurrence”; after a big recruiting win, results on the floor loses all good will.
Any time the Fighting Illini basketball program (or football, for that matter) has a bit of good news, it comes crashing back to earth almost before the joy has set in. Whether it’s a big win, a big recruit, a good hire; the other shoe drops almost immediately. An injury, suspension, or devastating loss is soon to follow.
Just four days after a momentous press conference introducing the first five star recruit in a decade, the senior-laden team currently in uniform could not get it done on the court.
The way the game began, it seemed the tides had turned as I mentioned in my previous article. Having Jeremiah Tilmon sign his letter of intent to come to the University of Illinois was going to be the turning point for the program.
When Malcolm Hill hit his second three-pointer of the night putting the team up 14–2 soon after Tracy Abrams hit his second of the night, it felt like the Illini were going to put this one away early.
But alas, that was not the case.
Winthrop fought back to take a lead of their own with five minutes remaining in the first half, but the Illini responded nicely. Jalen Coleman-Lands responded with a three-pointer, taking back the lead which almost stood for the remainder of the evening.
It stayed tight through most of the second half, but when Illinois capped off a 7–0 run with a Jaylon Tate three-pointer (?!?) it felt like another escaped victory.
I remember telling myself on the next possession, as the clock ticked under three minutes, “Just push this to 12 and it’s over. They won’t come back from 12”.
Malcolm Hill missed a short jumper — his seventh straight missed attempt — and Winthrop’s Keon Johnson ran down the court for a layup. The lead was now at eight.
Quick pause for a word on Keon Johnson. I wish I found out about this guy in a different setting, but man, was he great. There were whispers he wasn’t going to be able to play Monday night due to an injury, making him a game-time decision. If he didn’t play, the Illini might have won by 30; he was the difference. For many different reasons, I hope Winthrop makes the tournament, but one of the main ones is to see opposing teams attempt to cover the 5'5" Johnson.
Back to the game; the last five possessions in regulation for the Illini: Malcolm Hill turnover, Leron Black turnover, Jaylon Tate turnover, Hill miss (that’s eight), and Hill miss on the game-winner (now nine).
Yes, there were banked-in threes by Winthrop, chucked-up prayers converted, but regardless, the Illini had no reason to have lost a ten point lead in three minutes.
The overtime period doesn’t even deserve words; just a grunt of disgust. Four days after feeling the Illini were on top of the world, they had popped the balloon.
It can all be forgiven in a matter of days. The next four games are against almost-certain tournament teams. The “big loss” to Winthrop will stain the tournament transcript the rest of the season, but if you add enough “big wins”, it can be canceled out.
This is the time for those big wins. I’d say they need at least two of the next four, and it almost feels like one of them has to be West Virginia on Thursday to get the bad taste out the team’s mouth.
And no, that is no Thanksgiving pun.
Chief Illiniwek Player of the Game
Tracy Abrams
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I do have some crow to eat with Tracy (not a Thanksgiving pun, either). The last two seasons I have been making a case that even if the Illini had Tracy in uniform, it wouldn’t have made a difference. I was never a fan of his play in his first three seasons, and even though the team struggled at point guard, it wasn’t like his play would have done much better than what they had.
Perhaps the time off is what benefited Abrams the most, but he appears to be a completely different player. And I am not referring to his new position, because for some reason, Groce keeps playing him at 2. (I do have some issue with this; I’d much rather see Abrams at point and JCL playing more minutes at the 2).
Number one, his shooting is so much better than it was in years past. To point, in his sophomore and junior years, Tracy Abrams shot 225 three-pointers and only made 61 of them. In five games, he has made 11 of 15.
And number two, his strength is ridiculous. If you’ve watched a game you’ve seen the before-and-after picture of Abrams that looks like it’s straight out of a exercise machine infomercial. There was a drive attempt Monday where he used his body under the basket and sent his defender flying. It wasn’t a charge, there was nothing done illegally, but Abrams’ bulk earned his position and it led to an easy lay-up.
Abrams was by far the best player on the court for the Illini Monday. He went 7–12 with six assists (one turnover) and five rebounds.
The one big issue: he didn’t have a shot attempt the final 12:56 of regulation. Could have used one more bucket.
Cause for Concern
Free Throw Shooting
The Illini are shooting 67.9 percent at the free throw line this season; “good” for 200th in the country. The 9-for-16 on Monday sticks out like a sore thumb when you consider the margin of defeat.
Mike Thorne Jr. is 5-for-12 on the season and Maverick Morgan is 8-for-14. Michael Finke is also somehow 5-for-12.
Going back to this next stretch of four games, I got news for you: If the Illini are able to have earned a lead late in these games, it won’t be by much. The team will need to make free throws down the stretch, and it’s almost certain at least one of those three players will be on the court.
There’s nothing in basketball that makes me more upset than a missed free throw. They’re free!
…And One
Leron Black
Black returned from his six-game suspension Monday and had an up-and-down season debut. He was able to play twenty minutes without fouling out, so there is that.
He shot 5-for-9 with the nice touch on his jumper we’ve grown to admire. He did shoot one three-point attempt as well. Heat check?
On the other side of the spectrum, it’s still impossible to trust Leron on the floor. While his “savage” persona can be appreciated at times, it really does feel like he could hurt someone out there. With Keon Johnson’s diminutive size, it felt like at one point Black almost grabbed him and threw him.
The last play of regulation could have completely changed the narrative of the game as well. Black definitely shoved the Winthrop player as time expired on a loose ball. If the call was made correctly, Winthrop could have won the game in regulation (but saving us from the horrid overtime period).
I don’t think much has matured with his play, for better or worse. Hopefully it leans toward the better.
