Pre-Game Illinois vs Michigan--- 8pm State Farm Center Champaign

 

Michigan is coming to Champaign tonight as the #4 team in the country under new leadership in Juwan Howard(former Fab 5 standout) and the Wolverines have picked up right where they left off with Beline. 

 

Illinois is coming off their one-point loss against Maryland in College Park after leading Basically 39 minutes of that contest. What would have been the first marquee win of the season for the Illini, they have to win tonight on their own floor against Michigan. With no “Power 5” wins under their belt this season, and a near blowout against a weaker Miami team, the Illini are on a 3 game losing streak that if their tournament hopes want to stay alive, they have to start winning big games. 

 

We all know what Michigan will do, they will score the ball is not only one half, but two. Michigan is shooting nearly 40% as from deep meaning that they can spread the floor and really force the Illini to play stellar defense in order to win this game tonight. It can be done, but the Illini are going to have to click on all levels much like they did in the first half against Maryland on Saturday. 

 

Keys to the game:

Limit the deep ball: Limit is a bad word, the proper word or phrase would be take away from the game completely. We have all seen what Ayo can do defensively when he is locked in as well as Trent, two of the better perimeter defenders in the Big Ten. 

 

Get Trent Hot: He was white-hot from deep early in the Miami game but he essentially stopped touching the ball. If he hits two or three treys early and starts feeling it, he needs to go into takeover mode from back there and play a little selfish on the offensive end. 

 

Kofi: That’s the key, Kofi. Get him the ball often and early, make Michigan make defensive plays on him down low and force Kofi to get into foul trouble as he did against Jaylon Smith against Maryland. 

 

Probable Starters: 

Ayo 

Trent

Kofi