CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Fresh off its best start since 1981-82, Illinois women’s basketball (9-1) is looking to stay hot.
The Orange and Blue have two more non-conference games left on the slate, and then it’s
going to start to get real come New Year’s.
But the increase in competition doesn’t seem to be a factor for Shauna Green’s squad. Ever since the Fighting Illini lost to Oregon State a month ago, there have been some noticeable changes.
“This group just continues to show poise in situations that a lot of them had never been in,” Green said.
The Illini, who were decimated by roster turnover last year, have found a mostly new squad that has gelled this year. One of the most significant factors since that crushing loss against the Beavers has been Villanova transfer Maddie Webber.
A slow start won’t stop Webber
Webber, who comes to Champaign after spending her first two years at Villanova, has been a massive pickup for the team.
Between elite defense and an uprise in offense over the last seven games, Webber has truly done it all. She’s put up double-digit points in five of the last six games, while coming off the bench in all of them.
Even though she has yet to record a start for the Illini, she’s earned high praise from many.
“She’s been an absolute game changer for us, and I think she’s that X factor,” Green said.
The relationship between player and coach is vital to the success of any team, and Webber and Green have seemed to find just that.
“I trust coach so much, and I know she trusts me, so that’s the biggest thing,” Webber said.
Coming into a new system with brand-new schemes isn’t easy for any player; however, with the culture Green has instilled, it seems to work perfectly.
“Probably the biggest difference is how much time I spend in the gym here. Working with the coaches, watching film, and training. In the mornings, I have a workout, then we watch film, then practice, and recovery adds another hour. I’m basically living here,” Webber said.
It seems every game, Webber is finding new ways to make her presence known on the court. Earlier in the season in an article, I wrote that Webber commanded Villanova’s offense the past two seasons and could be a significant piece for the Illini.
I think it’s safe to say that could be an understatement, and that she might just be the X-factor, as Green stated.
Defense wins games
Through 10 games, one stat pops out more than others. The Illini have yet to give up more than 70 points.
This Illinois team has been stealing a lot of cookies out of the jar. You really just don’t see two freshmen leading a team in steals very often, with both Destiny Jackson and Cearah Parchment already having recorded more than 20 steals each.
For me personally, I’m still not entirely over Parchment’s double-double against Le Moyne. The freshman had the normal double-digit points, but the other stat wasn’t rebounds or assists; it was 10 steals. Just absolutely supernatural stuff out of a freshman.
“We don’t ever want to give up anything,” Green said. “I mean, I’m constantly on them every day in practice. There’s a standard of excellence when it comes to our defense.”
Not only does Green trust the freshman, but it’s also been Webber who has been thrust into a massive role on the defensive side of the court.
“I trust her [Webber] to lock down the best player,” Green said.
It’s a two-way street for the players as well; defense creates offense.
“When I’m playing well defensively, it kind of does, like, like you said, it unlocks everything,” Webber said.
The defense has been such a factor, too, because key players like Berry Wallace and Gretchen Dolan still haven’t exactly found their shot. However, it’s only a matter of time before they do, so if this defense can stay somewhere near this level, the Big Ten should really start fearing the Illini.
Green emphasized, though, that it’s just one day at a time for the Illini. The next battle for her squad will be this Sunday, when North Texas comes to Champaign.
