Breaking News: 5 Tough Takeaways from Illinois’ Heartbreaking Loss to Rutgers
Illinois basketball is struggling with disappointing losses this season, and their defeat to Rutgers on Wednesday night highlighted several areas of concern. Despite facing a Rutgers team that had a .500 record and two projected top-10 picks for the 2025 NBA Draft, the Illini couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. Although Rutgers entered the game with an even record, Illinois failed to seize the chance, letting the Scarlet Knights dominate for much of the contest.
The Illini’s poor shooting and questionable shot selection dug them into an early hole. Within the first 10 minutes, Illinois found themselves trailing by double digits. Rutgers extended their lead to 17 points at one point, but Illinois showed some resilience toward the end of the first half and narrowed the deficit to eight. However, Rutgers kept their composure, and despite Illinois briefly taking the lead in the second half, the Scarlet Knights, led by standout Dylan Harper, kept answering with clutch shots, ultimately securing an 82-73 victory.
One of the key factors in the loss was Illinois’ inability to shoot effectively from beyond the arc. The Illini’s three-point shooting was abysmal, contributing to their struggles throughout the game. Illinois finished the game making just 6-of-28 three-pointers (21.4%), and their shooting was even worse in the first half, where they only managed to hit 2-of-17 attempts (11.8%). This poor performance from long range played a significant role in their early deficit, with Illinois falling as far behind as 17 points.
Despite a slight improvement in the second half, the Illini’s struggles from three-point range have been a recurring issue this season. They have yet to find consistency from deep, ranking 314th out of 364 Division I teams with a three-point shooting percentage of just 30.7%. This marks the worst shooting performance from beyond the arc by an Illini team since the 2011-12 season, a year that ended with a late-season collapse and the firing of head coach Bruce Weber.
The Illini’s struggles from three-point range are a serious concern moving forward, as they continue to struggle in critical areas of their game. Until they can find more consistent shooting and better shot selection, their season may continue to be filled with disappointing losses like this one.