Another slow start leads to 2nd straight loss
Illini coach Underwood ‘getting really frustrated’
CHAMPAIGN – What Illinois coach Brad Underwood lacked in answers he made up for in frustration.
His roster looks like a coach’s dream. A clutch shooter. A dominant big man. A tenacious defender. A crafty point guard.
Experience. Depth. Talent. But what if you have all that and chemistry is lacking? What if the gems don’t fit together to make a stunning piece of jewelry after all?
Those are the worries and conundrums giving Underwood sleepless nights and have him plotting plans to snap Illinois to life again.
No. 14 Illinois on Saturday lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, falling 87-81 to No. 21 Ohio State in Champaign.
This could be a crossroads for the Illini (9-5, 5-3).
Big Ten championship-bound? Muddle to mediocrity? Free-fall to failure?
Playing in spurts, especially early in games, has been an overlooked tendency during Illinois wins. But the danger of turning on and off energy has caught up with the Illini, who play in a conference that demands near-constant tenacity and execution.
“I’m getting really frustrated with really poor, lack of emotional, non-competitive starts,” Underwood said. “You can’t come out of a locker room and a pregame huddle and be down 9-2.”
Illinois beat Purdue 66-58 after a too-close-for-comfort battle by pushing on the gas pedal late.
Against Northwestern, Illinois fell behind 43-28 at halftime before storming back with an astounding rally for an 81-56 victory.
But lackadaisical starts have bitten Illinois in the last two games. Sometimes teams get used to being able to switch gears and win. It’s a dangerous default — and inexcusable for a veteran team.
In a 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday, Illinois’ flexed too late against an on-paper inferior opponent, letting the Terrapins stay too close in the first half.
The energy drain and inconsistent play continued against Ohio State (11-3, 5-3), who led by 15 points at halftime and held on for the win.
“We’re going to have some very tough meetings,” Underwood said, sounding like an exasperated parent devising punishments for an unruly teenager. “We have to get this figured out. We’re excellent. We’re one of the best teams in the country when we play (well), and when we don’t, we have to stop with the ‘don’ts.’ ”
He said this is the time for accountability — and maybe a shake-up.
“We have to put five guys on the floor who will be competitive, not ride the emotional waves of good and bad but just play,” Underwood said.
The Illini were especially weak defensively against the Buckeyes.
They were beaten on the boards 20-11 in the first half before battling in the second half. Ohio State sophomore E.J. Liddell, the 2018 and ‘19 Mr. Basketball of Illinois, scored a career-high 26 points as the Buckeyes shot 54%.
The Buckeyes made seven of their 11 3-pointers in the first half. “Unacceptable,” Underwood said.
“The lack of competitive spirit, I wish I had that answer,” he said. “That’s what I’m searching for. You can’t have guys not show up and not be assignment-sound and not be dialed in mentally.”
Illinois struggled through three days of disappointing, run-out-steam practices after its game against Nebraska on Wednesday was canceled because of COVID-19 cases in the Cornhuskers program. Underwood compared the practices with “high school JV practices.”
“I’ve structured practices every way possible,” Underwood said “We ended practice in horrible fashion. It doesn’t matter. You can put them on the line and run them. You can chew them out. You can compliment them. You can rally them. We have to get this figured out.”
He praised freshman Adam Miller, who had 14 points and seven rebounds, and transfer Jacob Grandison, who finished with eight points and three assists. Underwood understood Ayo Dosunmu’s slow start — four first-half points — because of the way he’s hounded. Dosunmu finished with a team-high 22 points and added five assists. And Underwood complimented Trent Frazier’s energy.
Underwood seemed particularly flustered by a lack of ball movement and post play.
Center Kofi Cockburn finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds but made only 1 of 5 free-throw attempts and often seemed frustrated on the court. He averages 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds but shoots only 56.3% from the line.
“Can’t step up there and make them for him,” Underwood said. “He practices them and shoots them a million times. He’s got to stand up there and make them.”
Illinois again found the gas pedal too late against Ohio State.
The Illini crept within 83-81 with 15.5 seconds left after Miller nailed a long 3-pointer. On the Buckeyes’ inbound pass, replays showed Duane Washington stepped out of bounds, as Illinois players vehemently pointed out — to no avail.
Frazier was called for a foul, and Washington sank both free throws to extend Ohio State’s lead to 85-81.
It was a controversial ending, but Illinois shouldn’t have let it come down to that.
The Illini vow their potential will start to shine soon.
“You guys are going to see it very soon,” Miller said. “We’re building what champions need right now. We’re seeing the problems and we’re going to get better.”
This might not be a sky-is-falling moment.
There’s no need to overreact. But it’s certainly important for the Illini to react and repair before it’s too late.
Illinois is 1-3 against ranked opponents and has lost two straight. The Illini have the talent to win the conference but sit 1½ games out of first place.
Underwood knows what can be accomplished. That’s why his team’s recent play has been so perplexing.
“I see the potential,” he said. “I see the upside. How we haven’t taken that next step is very frustrating.”