Illini beat Iowa with another just good enough performance

There isn't much to say about this game that hasn't been already said about the Penn State and Indiana games already. The Illini had chances to put the Lions Hoosiers Hawkeyes away early in the game, but had a long scoring drought that allowed them back in. Its been said quite a bit lately that the Illini play down the level of their opponents, and that is true, but they have also (with the exception of the first game against Michigan State, and perhaps Missouri) played competitively with the very good teams on the schedule.

Maybe I am being fooled by the competition but I do think the Illini have improved since the losing streak against the Spartans, Boilers, and Cats. At the very least they know what they need to do in order to close out a game with a 2 to 8 point lead. The games have been unbelievably ugly to watch but in the process we have seen both Tyler Griffey and Bill Cole much more involved in the offense, which has offset at least to some extent the loss of confidence of Brandon Paul and Mike Davis.

Davis has not entirely vanished from the scene, as he contributed some very important rebounds and a key shot late in the game last night, but it is far from the double-double machine we had known him to be. Whatever it is you need to get your mojo back MD, please do it, this team can play on another level with you back in form.

I don't know how much i should be worried about all of the 3's that the Illini gave up. The two other teams that rely as heavily on the long ball in the Big Ten are Northwestern and Michigan, so we only have to worry about one more game where this would come into play. Iowa was firing it up from well past the NBA 3 line last night and making them, I don't know how any team can keep up a pace like that, and I can't imagine Michigan State will be taking near as many long 3's as Iowa.

As for Michigan State, I am going to be there bright and early at the Assembly Hall taking pictures and generally just taking it all in. Guaranteeing you the best media coverage of media coverage in the business. Lets hope Rece likes Papa Del's.