CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After a draining stretch of ranked matchups, head coach Brad Underwood had the Illini spend this week rediscovering their legs.
Following back-to-back ranked losses against Alabama and UCONN, the No. 14 Illini traded rest for intensity this week to prepare for Saturday’s 7 p.m. tip at Bridgestone Arena against the No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers.
Underwood’s focus in practice this week was on conditioning and mental toughness, two of the same issues that surfaced late in Sunday’s loss
to UConn. With the Vols’ trademark physicality, Illinois ramped up the running, rebounding drills and competitive scrimmages to “play through fatigue” and match Tennessee’s pace.
Conditioning: a Priority
Forward Tomislav Ivišić said practices “increased intensity,” with more running and more of an emphasis on crashing the glass on offense. Ivišić is still working back to full health after his preseason surgery.
“When you’re not in the best shape, you don’t make the best decisions,” he said. “I’m feeling better than last week. I think I’m almost there.”
For a roster that hasn’t been 100% since October, Underwood called this the first stretch where Illinois could capitalize on the opportunity rather than simply prepare for the next game.
“We’ve been a team that’s not been in very good shape because of all the injuries,” Underwood said. “This was about catching up…playing through fatigue, getting sharper mentally.”
Fatigue: a Factor
Underwood attributed most of Illinois’ second-half struggles against UConn to tired legs rather than bad basketball.
“We were 13-of-31 on twos against one of the top defenses in the country,” he said. “I blame a lot of that on fatigue.”
Ivišić’s turnaround in the second half of that game, where he managed to rack up 11 points and 10 rebounds after a disappointing first half, reflected what he carried into practice this week.
“I needed to give more,” he said. “Shots weren’t going in, so I needed to get into the paint, get fouled, get back to doing what I was doing.”
Preparation: a Must
The timing of Illinois’ heaviest practice week wasn’t accidental. Underwood knows what to expect against a powerhouse led by Rick Barnes that “will try to bully you defensively” and remains among the elite rebounding units in college basketball.
That same unit is led by one of the top shot blockers in the nation in forward Felix Okpara.
“It’s going to be important to face the floor, be physical and not allow them to get rebounds,” Ivišić said.
Toughness will be non-negotiable.
“You can’t take possessions off,” Underwood said. “It’s the schoolyard-brawl mentality.”
Looking Ahead
Illinois meets No. 17 Tennessee at 7 p.m. Saturday in Nashville for its final major non-conference test before Big Ten play opens Dec. 9 at Ohio State.
