At 1-1 in the Big Ten, Illini Need A Get Right Game In Evanston

The loss on New Year's eve was ugly. Well perhaps I should revise that, and break it down into parts. The entire first half was, competitive, acceptable, encouraging, and even enjoyable. The first ten minutes of the second half was the worst I have ever seen and Illinois team look in a decade. Worse than the head-scratchers to mid-majors, and much worse even than the unbearable mess that was 2007. The final ten minutes were encouraging, but we all know it was too little, too late and not ever a real threat for a come back.

The final margin of 15 is deceptive, it was nowhere near that close. How did it happen? Well lets look at the first few possessions.

Illini: missed Maniscalco three
Purdue: made three
Illini: Bertrand layup
Purdue: missed shot, foul
Illini: missed Paul jumper
Purdue: made smith three pointer
Timeout Illinois

From that time out, trailing by six, scored just three points, off of a BP long shot, committed seven fouls, and turned the ball over six times. Until DJ Richardson's made two pointer at 11:42, Purdue was rolling the Illini without mercy. The deficit quickly swelled from six to eleven. Then to sixteen. Then to 23.

Credit should be given to Purdue for making the most of the Illinois miscues, but 26-5 run doesn't happen without one team just falling all over themselves.

Depressing fact? Illinois shot a workable 46% from the field. Much more depressing fact? Illinois' once stout defense gave up 56.8% shooting from Purdue.

Next comes Northwestern, a team that we always seem to expect to trounce, but have routinely given up game after game these past few years.

This game, and largely this team generally, needs to have Meyers Leonard dominate every time he hits the court. Meyers was dogged by Purdue defensively, and the guards could simply not get the ball to him down low. 7 points in 24 minutes is simply too little for Meyers, and four shots attempted is simply too few.

Meyers can dominate against the much lighter and smaller Northwestern team. But he can't get so easily frustrated by officiating or getting the punches he is going to get down low. It is unfortunate that Illinois cannot bang like it once did without a quick whistle and a warning, but opponents can throw elbows into the back of our big men with impunity. Luka Mirkovic I am looking at you.

This is a road game in Evanston. It used to be a slam dunk. It can be again. But it is going to take the guards playing much closer to their NW counterparts on defense, and not letting them get hot from three. It is going to take an offensive game plan that actually takes advantage of Illinois' strengths, being length and speed over the Wildcats.

There is no question that the Illini are a more talented roster than Northwestern, the only question, as always, is if we see that comes to bear.