Illinois Basketball Hunting For Another Road Upset

The last leg of the Illinois Men’s Basketball team’s three-game road trip looks to be their stoutest challenge. The Illini look to earn another win away from Champaign, this time in Knoxville, facing off against the No. 17 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols will provide the Illini with a tough test. They boast the most athletic lineup the Illini will see for some time, and at home will be ready to rock. The Vols only lost to Purdue by four points in Maui. Since that game, they have dropped games to Kansas and North Carolina, which proves the Illini have a great chance to pick up another signature win.

1. Missed Knecht-ion

Last year Tennessee was a great team. They finished in the top 10 in KenPom with the number one defense. They toppled Duke in the Sweet 16 before bowing out to Florida Atlantic. Their defense was great, but they were missing a go-to scorer. Enter Dalton Knecht. The Northern Colorado transfer has set everything in his path ablaze, averaging 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game. His shooting splits are up across the board, and the 6’6″ guard has no problem finding shots for himself.

Knecht just exploded for 37 points in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels, and he also put on a show in East Lansing during an exhibition. Illinois’ primary objective defensively should be harassing Knecht, as Purdue and Kansas were able to do. When Knecht isn’t flowing, Tennessee looks a lot like last year. Still a tough defense (currently No. 2 in KenPom) but blunt on offense at times. In Knoxville, the crowd will be ready to burst. Knecht will get his own, but limiting his scoring to short moments and not big explosions will go a long way.

2. Weak Link

As mentioned, the Vols still boast a stout defense and provide a different level of size and physicality to any team the Illini have seen. Illinois basketball has guys who can press a weak link against an otherwise strong chain. Brad Underwood will be tasked with finding ways to hunt the Vols more offensive-minded players. In their regular starting lineup, their starting backcourt is Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi. Both are grizzled veterans for Rick Barnes squad, but both have their defensive deficiencies. Zeigler is 5’9″, and Vescovi is not the most impressive athlete and can leave you wanting more physicality defensively. Zeigler has a bag of tricks for operating around his size, but he’s still small. Vescovi will have his moments offensively, but you can get it back on the other end. UNC’s two perimeter scorers combined for 47 points with RJ Davis scorching the Vols for 27.

Domask and Shannon Jr. won’t both score 3o this game (reverse jinx anyone?) but they will have to be the engine for the Illini’s halfcourt offense. The Vols will know this as well and will do their best to give those two the hardest looks possible. Even if it isn’t them scoring, the Illini’s two matchup hunters need to attract attention to unshackle the others from the Vol’s defense.

3. Speed Limit

This, like the FAU game and Marquette game, is a real heavyweight matchup. Both of these teams are capable of beating anyone in the country on their day. As with any matchup of this level, the style of the game will likely decide the fight. So far this year the Illini are at 67th in the country in KenPom’s Adjusted Tempo. Tennesse sits at a respectable 83rd. As conference season comes around and both teams play conference teams who know them well that number will drop. Both teams want to leverage tough defense into easy offense, and on the road, Illinois Basketball needs to be careful about when they step on the pedal. Even just a 6-0 run will bring the roof down, and Tennessee has the athletes and skill to play the fast game with the Illini.

Going into these three road games, just about anyone would take 2-1. There’s certainly a little feeling of house money for the Illini. However, if they can pick this one up Illinois fans can start getting a little greedy. The Big Ten is looking like a 3 team league at best, meaning the Illini can rack up a good number of conference wins. A win in Knoxville could be the difference between seed lines, or a great location over a good one.

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