Good Morning, Illini Nation: Maximizing their physical advantage | Sports
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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your each day dose of school basketball information from Illini beat author and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll provide up insights each morning on Brad Underwood’s workforce and school basketball at massive:
Trent Meacham was holding out hope for an Illinois-North Carolina matchup in Greenville, SC, the second spherical of the NCAA event. The Centennial grad and former Illinois guard most likely wasn’t the one one in search of these Illini to get their probability to offer some event redemption towards the Tar Heels.
The non-UNC crowd at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, although, was rallying round VCU within the first spherical. Illinois followers included. The Rams rallied from a 19-point deficit and secured one other recreation in Greenville with an extra time victory towards the Tar Heels.
Only to get beat by 21 by Illinois.
“I do think VCU might be a good kind of prelude to what Houston is going to present,” Meacham mentioned throughout his look on Monday Morning Quarterback with Brian Barnhart and Loren Tate. “We saw them get after us defensively and cause some havoc and some turnovers and their quickness give us some issues for a period in the first half.
“But we have been in a position to set up our measurement, our rebounding, our inside presence after which have a man like (Andrej) Stojakovic — who’s been up and down this 12 months — actually give us one thing that we’d like. That’s somebody that is in a position to break down the protection, get to the basket, end and be explosive across the rim.”
Illinois’ size advantage as the biggest team in the country proved to be too much for VCU at both ends of the court. It’s something the Illini will have to leverage defensively moving forward in Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup with Houston.
“Against VCU, I take a look at the lineups on the market, and we have been most likely slower at each place,” Meacham said. “But once we use our size, our measurement and restrict them to at least one possession… we must be defensive workforce. Houston goes to show a few of our weaknesses, perhaps, however I feel if we keep collectively on that finish of the ground and hold them out of the paint we give ourselves an opportunity.”
