Big Ten Tournament: Illinois Postgame Press Conference

The Illini's Struggle Against Penn State

In a recent post-game press conference, Illini head coach Brad Underwood expressed his frustration with his team's performance against Penn State. Despite shooting an impressive 57 percent in the second half, the Illini still came out with a loss. Coach Underwood praised Penn State's ability to control the ball and create challenging matchups, making it difficult for his team to defend. He acknowledged that Penn State's "booty ball" strategy, which involves keeping possession of the ball for extended periods, posed a significant challenge for his team. While expressing his admiration for Penn State's coach, Mike, Coach Underwood also expressed his disappointment at not being able to find the winning formula against Penn State.

The Matchup Challenge

One of the Illini players, Coleman Hawkins, chimed in on the difficulties they faced against Penn State. He mentioned that Penn State's matchup strategy and the presence of players like Funk and Lundy made it challenging for them to defend. Coleman acknowledged the frustrations of not being able to touch the ball and the limitations it imposed on their defense. Despite their efforts to wall up and guard against Penn State's tactics, the Illini found it difficult to strike the right balance between defending the "booty ball" and guarding against three-point shooters.

Exploiting Matchup Opportunities

On a more positive note, both Coleman and Dane expressed their success in exploiting Penn State's smaller lineups. They attributed their effectiveness to their length and their ability to take advantage of the matchup against players like Pickens. Coleman emphasized the importance of making their opponents work on defense, as it would impact their offensive performance as well. While acknowledging his own shortcomings in posting up throughout the season, Coleman highlighted the advantage of facing a guard or forward in the paint.

Looking Ahead to the Tournament

With the NCAA tournament just around the corner, the Illini players were asked about their advice for the younger members of the team. Taryn Shannon Jr. emphasized the need to put the previous game behind them and focus on getting better. He encouraged his teammates to use the three days off to rest, watch film, and identify areas for improvement. Taryn expressed confidence that if they could lock in defensively and play to their potential, they would be successful in the tournament.

Missed Opportunities and Momentum Shifts

When questioned about the missed free throws and execution issues in the game, the players acknowledged the impact it had on the outcome. They recognized the momentum swings that occurred during critical moments, such as Dane's technical foul and missed opportunities to trap Pickens. Despite their efforts and the mistakes made, the players believed they played hard but fell short due to a few key errors.

Coach Underwood's Focus on Defense

Coach Underwood echoed the players' sentiments, emphasizing his concern with the team's defensive performance. He noted that Penn State's ability to make shots and exploit mismatches contributed to their success. He expressed the need for improvement in executing defensive strategies, especially when the ball isn't going in on the offensive end. Coach Underwood acknowledged the team's struggles in three-point shooting and emphasized the importance of finding ways to win when the shots aren't falling.

The Potential for a Tournament Run