5 things to know about Illinois

FAYETTEVILLE — An in-depth have a look at Illinois, Arkansas’ first-round opponent on the NCAA Match on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa:

Terrence Shannon is the Illini’s go-to participant

For the second time within the final three NCAA Tournaments, Shannon finds himself matched up in opposition to the Razorbacks.

Illinois’ main scorer at 17.1 factors per recreation, Shannon was a member of the Texas Tech workforce that fell 68-66 to Arkansas within the second spherical of the 2021 NCAA Match in Indianapolis. The 6-6 wing was the Crimson Raiders’ high scorer in that recreation with 20 factors.

Shannon completed 6 of 16 from the sector, however knocked down 3 of 4 makes an attempt past the arc. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman remembers him nicely.

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“He’s simply so versatile. He’s a lefty,” Musselman stated Sunday. “He can rating at many various ranges. He’s the most effective athletes in faculty basketball. He can assault the rim. He can beat individuals off the bounce. He’s a wonderful transition participant.

“He’s had a extremely, actually good 12 months for them.”

In Massive Ten play, Shannon was ninth in scoring at 15.9 factors per recreation. He scored 20-plus factors six instances, together with 26 in opposition to each Indiana and Northwestern.

Shannon’s most spectacular efficiency got here throughout the Combating Illini’s early season 79-70 win over UCLA. He completed with 29 factors on 8 of 9 from three-point vary, and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes.

Shannon additionally had 16 factors, 5 rebounds and three steals throughout Illinois’ 85-78 extra time victory over Texas in December.

The wing excels at drawing contact and cashing in on the free-throw line. Based on KenPom knowledge, he attracts 6.2 fouls per 40 minutes performed, which ranks thirty eighth nationally.

Shannon was No. 2 in that class in convention play and owned the No. 1 free-throw charge. He’s a 79.2% free-throw shooter.

“I like his recreation,” Arkansas guard Davonte Davis stated Sunday. “He’s fairly good. We performed in opposition to him, after all, when he was at Texas Tech. His recreation has developed.”

Illinois is an elite shot-blocking workforce

Based on KenPom knowledge, the Razorbacks have confronted six groups inside high 50 within the nation in block proportion.

Illinois would be the seventh. And the Combating Illini are one of the best Arkansas may have performed this season in that regard.

Illinois has turned away 14% of opponents’ two-point discipline aim makes an attempt. Its determine dropped barely in Massive Ten play (13.7%), nevertheless it was nonetheless robust sufficient to steer the league.

The Combating Illini have three of the Massive Ten’s high 10 shot blockers in Matthew Mayer (40), Coleman Hawkins (38) and Dain Dainja (37). 5 gamers, together with Shannon, have not less than 15 blocks.

Illinois blocked 10-plus pictures in three video games, together with a season-high 12 in opposition to the Longhorns and 10 throughout a win in opposition to Michigan State. The Combating Illini tallied not less than six blocks in 17 video games.

Given their shot-blocking prowess, it is sensible that also they are No. 16 within the nation in two-point discipline aim protection this season, permitting opponents to make 45.3% of inside appears.

Up to now, Illinois has blocked 181 pictures — essentially the most amongst high-major groups and fourth most nationally. Arkansas is No. 6 with 173. 

The Illini battle taking pictures the three

It might be a bit troublesome to imagine, however Arkansas has a greater three-point proportion than Illinois.

On 24.8 makes an attempt per recreation, it’ll enter the NCAA Match taking pictures 30.9% from deep. That mark ranks 336th nationally.

The Combating Illini are additionally No. 68 in three-point try charge at 41.9% — 14th highest amongst groups within the event discipline.

Mayer, 6-9, leads the workforce in made threes with 67, and he has knocked them down at a 33.8% clip. Shannon is second in perimeter makes with 50 on 32.7%.

Illinois has two different gamers — Hawkins and 6-2 guard Jayden Epps — who’ve made 35 or extra triples, however each are below 31% for the season.

The Combating Illini have made 10-plus three-pointers in a recreation 7 instances, however 5 of these performances got here in November and December. They’ve shot below 33% from deep in 22 of 32 video games.

Illinois is 12-10 in these video games.

Mayer is Shannon’s wingman

Arkansas followers might bear in mind Mayer from the 2021 Elite Eight in opposition to Baylor.

Throughout the Bears’ 81-72 victory, the ahead completed with 7 factors, 3 rebounds and three steals in 20 minutes. Baylor outscored the Razorbacks by six factors with the power reserve within the lineup.

If that doesn’t ring a bell, there’s a probability followers know of him by a current interview wherein he said he missed a number of days of observe because of caffeine poisoning. He bounced again, although, and delivered a 24-point outing throughout Illinois’ 91-87 double-overtime residence victory over Michigan in his subsequent recreation.

One in all two Combating Illini gamers to begin all 32 video games, Mayer is second on the workforce in scoring at 12.8 factors per recreation on 41.4% from the sector. He’s additionally third in complete rebounds with 175 and first with 143 defensive boards.

Like Shannon, he’s artful by way of his means to create contact and get to the road. KenPom knowledge reveals he’s seventh amongst Massive Ten gamers at 4.9 fouls drawn per 40 minutes, and he’s a 74.3% foul shooter.

“His footwork defies logic a bit bit,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood stated final month, “by way of it is simply so unorthodox. After which that step-back at 6-foot-9? Yeah, that is why all of them like him on the subsequent degree.

“He is 6-foot-9 and might go get a shot on anyone and have a fairly good probability of constructing it.”

Versatility makes Mayer a problem. He’s fourth on the workforce in assists (37) and steals (26), and has a team-high 40 blocks.

In 10 profession NCAA Match video games, he has averaged 8.6 factors on 50% taking pictures and 38.7% from three-point vary. He averaged 16 factors throughout Baylor’s two-game NCAA Match keep in 2022 and shot 50% past the arc.

Underwood seeking to get previous first weekend

Underwood, in his sixth season with the Combating Illini, has led this system to 3 consecutive NCAA Match berths.

Since ending below .500 in his first two seasons, the Combating Illini have gained not less than 20 video games in every of the final 4. They’ve gained a mean of twenty-two video games throughout that span.

However Illinois followers are prepared for one in every of his groups to have a breakthrough within the NCAA Match.

Two seasons in the past, the Combating Illini earned a No. 1 seed and had a pair of nationwide participant of the 12 months items as headliners. The workforce misplaced within the second spherical to Loyola Chicago.

Final season, Illinois was given a No. 4 seed and wanted a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining to beat Tennessee-Chattanooga within the first spherical. Houston then despatched the Combating Illini residence within the second spherical with a convincing 68-53 victory.

Underwood is making his seventh NCAA Match look as a head coach. From 2014-17, he took Stephen F. Austin to the event thrice and Oklahoma State as soon as.

“No actual previous (with Underwood) different than simply sort of watching his groups and understanding that his groups play with toughness,” Musselman stated. “The Massive Ten is a really, very bodily league — lot of shut video games, clearly, within the Massive Ten.

“They’ve been examined all through the course of the season as nicely.”