Darrell Hoemann - AP

View full size photo »

Sometimes when you are looking for a storyline for an otherwise unremarkable game you have to reach deep, in this case all the way back to last year's season/program killing loss to Western Michigan in Detroit. It was probably the game that eliminated any chances of the fighting football Ilini returning to a bowl.

Thus the fighting basketball Illini I am sure are filled with immense feelings of anger and revenge as they face the Western Michigan Football Broncos tomorrow.

But lets face it, this is not exactly a game the Illini are actually worried all that much about.  As such, it is completely up to them whether or not the Illini will be victorious etc.

Last game against Vanderbilt, the Illini shot an astonishing 60% from the field, a percent they will not often achieve. When they do, of course, I would like to see a team that can beat them. The nerves for me and for others however, come from a few itchy problems that still haunt the Illini.

In what is the best/only real way I can see as quantifiable defense when adjusting for number of possessions, the Illini are still giving up a point per possession to opponents, which according to the Big Ten Geeks, is bad. We know why the defense is bad, because the only perimeter player with any experience at defense was the weakest perimeter player defensively last year.

Turnovers from the point guard, by which I mean Demetri McCamey. It seems to me too many of these TO's come when DMAC wants to push the ball down the court and makes what we would call an inadvisable pass. Not turnovers of carelessness but of "aggression" To his credit, that aggression has paid off many times in other areas. In general though, Demetri just needs to take a moment and not take any unnecessary chances.

Rebounds. Another problem that is basically just chronic to the system the Illini have had to run in recent years. Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale get their points from a few steps back from the rim, not underneath. As such, they aren't in the best position to get an offensive board. This isn't as big a deal when they can hit those 15 foot jumpers, which they both can. However, when you aren't hitting, the team has to play better defense to equalize matters, see point #1.

Last home game for about a month, so enjoy your Orange Krush once more before Christmas, tomorrow 1:30pm Central on the BTN.