Illini suddenly facing big problems
By Chris Hine
Chicago Tribune
DULUTH, Ga. – Drive north on Interstate 85 from the Gwinnett Center for about 85 miles, take a few state roads and you arrive in Clemson, S.C., the site of Illinois’ most important victory this season.
That triumph seemed much more distant Saturday night when Georgia upset the Illini 70-67 in the type of performance the Illini thought they had flushed from their system.
“This was not a good loss. It was not a good locker room to be in,” junior forward Bill Cole said. “I don’t think anyone hit the panic button on the season yet, but we can’t keep doing this.”
The Illini have adopted the same mindset they had going into that Clemson game – that they need to find a way to “steal” a victory in a game that, on paper, it seems they could lose.
They have a chance to rebound on Wednesday against Missouri in St. Louis. Junior guard Demetri McCamey could picture the Tigers reviewing the film from Illinois’ loss. Georgia disrupted Illinois’ offense, playing a similar defensive style to the type Missouri likes to play.
“They had a fast-paced defense going, jumping through passing lanes,” McCamey said. “We haven’t faced that in a long time.”
There was much to be desired in Illinois’ defense against the Bulldogs, who did as they pleased in the paint.
Moreover, McCamey and coach Bruce Weber agree the Illini have some problems to fix offensively, namely adjusting to an aggressive man defense.
“We don’t screen,” Weber said. “It doesn’t matter if you run plays or run motion, we’ve been so fortunate at home to get so much in transition and beat people down the court. Now, it’s different on the road, and we don’t get as much transition.”
