Illinois coach Brad Underwood has relished the practice week in preparation for the annual Braggin’ Rights game against Missouri on Monday night in St. Louis.
The No. 18 Fighting Illini (8-3) most recently suffered a last-second 83-80 loss at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13. Then Illinois went back to work on improvements ahead of the non-conference game against the Tigers (10-2).
Illinois forward David Mirkovic averages 13.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game but had just four points and two rebounds against the Cornhuskers. Center Tomislav Ivisic averages 10.0 points but scored just three points.
“You look at our front line, there’s nothing,” Underwood said after the loss. “You got a horrendous stat line from everybody that played. No rebounds. I mean, there’s nothing there. And that’s on me. That’s in practice, that’s getting more from them.”
Nebraska shot 12-for-26 from 3-point range against Illinois, creating another practice point of emphasis for Underwood.
“What I didn’t like is our approach to guarding them,” Underwood said. “And it’s a mental tenacity, it’s a toughness, it’s a grit, and we’ve had that. We had that in Tennessee. We actually had it throughout most of the Ohio State game (an Illinois victory on Dec. 9), especially in the second half.”
Guard Kylan Boswell, who averages 16.1 points, said the Illini are still learning. That led to lapses at the defensive end vs. Nebraska.
“Just immaturity sometimes,” Boswell said. “And then also being young, it’s difficult at times. A lot of missed switches because we’re not talking or in transition; we’ve talked about it all week: Don’t run to the paint — run to the 3-point line.”
Missouri coach Dennis Gates has moved forward Jacob Crews, who averages 14.8 points per game, into the starting lineup to exploit his 52.9% shooting from beyond the arc.
The Tigers need that perimeter threat to create more space for forward Mark Mitchell, who averages 18.2 points by primarily attacking the rim.
Like Underwood, Gates has been seeking defensive improvement in practice. The Tigers made progress in their 82-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14.
“The coaches have challenged us the last couple of days, just to fix some things, get back to being disciplined, get back to our habits and things like that,” Mitchell said after that game.
“Just trying to be intense and being on our lines and in our gaps, preventing easy drives but also containing the 3s,” guard T.O. Barrett said. “You know, getting on our line, getting deflections and everything, being disruptive.”
Guard Anthony Robinson II, who averages 10.8 points, has 34 points and 12 assists in his last two games after compiling just 19 points and 10 assists in his previous four.
Gates is prodding Robinson to emerge as a more consistent force during his junior season.
“I think he’s just settling in, learning how to play 30 minutes, plus getting into game shape,” Gates said. “The mental and emotional (side), playing through fatigue, being able to make the right plays when you’re tired, being able to understand when to rest, especially during those TV media timeout opportunities.”
Missouri guard Jayden Stone (13.3 ppg) is questionable for this game. He is recovering from a broken bone in his non-shooting hand and hasn’t played since Nov. 20.
