When Illinois visited Iowa City last season, the plodding, defensive-oriented yawn-fest hardly was one for the scrapbook.
But it was a game Illinois may want to bring back from the recesses of its memory before visiting the Hawkeyes Wednesday in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Illini won that game 57-49 despite their perimeter shooting betraying them in the second half (6-for-18). But they did something then that they haven’t done this season — win ugly.
In their 10 victories, the Illini have shot no lower than 43 percent from the field. Not too ugly. In their three losses, however, they have shot no better than 39 percent.
“Somehow, we have to find a way (to get better shots),” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “I don’t know if it’s the other teams’ defenses, us not being mentally ready or a combination of the two.”
That statistic seems like little more than common sense — shoot well and win — but as the cliché goes, championship teams find a way to win even when they’re not playing at their best.
To that end, Illinois Weber is not satisfied with how his offense is performing. The Illini are too reliant on perimeter shooting inside and outside the 3-point line, Weber said.
“We still have to get to the paint,” Weber said. “We still have to get to the free-throw line. There have been a few games where we shot too many 3s. Obviously when we make them, we look pretty good as a team.”
Usually, when the Illini don’t shoot well, the game comes down to the last few possessions, as happened in all three of their losses. In their last two games, the Illini struggled to do what they wanted on both ends of the floor. Part of the reason, Weber said, is that senior guard Demetri McCamey is fatigued down the stretch.
“We need Demetri to have the ball,” McCamey said “He has to make good decisions.”
Earlier in the season, Weber was able to rest McCamey for stretches, but when the Illini struggle, it becomes tougher for Weber to take him out. A tired McCamey might lead to a more inefficient offense, but that is something McCamey and Illinois will have to fight through because every game won’t be pretty.
