Illinois basketball’s season fell short due to inconsistency, injuries, and lack of key performances. Improvement requires stronger leadership and depth.

The Illinois Fighting Illini entered the 2024-25 college basketball season with high hopes, looking to build on a solid foundation from previous years and challenge for the Big Ten title while aiming for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The team had a mixture of experienced upperclassmen and promising underclassmen, including standout players like Terrence Shannon Jr., Matthew Mayer, and Coleman Hawkins. However, despite all the promise, the season ultimately fell short of expectations, marked by inconsistency, injuries, and missed opportunities.

As Illinois looks to bounce back for the next season, questions abound as to why they couldn’t reach the heights many predicted, and more importantly, what needs to change to avoid similar pitfalls in the future. In this analysis, we will examine the factors that contributed to the team’s struggles and look ahead to how the Illini can regroup and move forward.

Inconsistency Plagues Illinois All Season Long

One of the primary reasons Illinois basketball’s season fell short was its ongoing inconsistency. The Illini, despite having some of the most talented players in the Big Ten, could not string together performances that matched their potential on a regular basis.

Offensive Inconsistency

The Illini struggled to find consistency in their offense throughout the season. At times, their offense looked dynamic, with Terrence Shannon Jr. emerging as a potential All-Big Ten player. Shannon had flashes of brilliance, scoring efficiently and creating opportunities for his teammates. However, at other times, the offense seemed stagnant and predictable.

Illinois heavily relied on its perimeter shooting, which, while effective at times, was often a weakness. The team’s three-point shooting percentage hovered around 32%, ranking them mid-pack in the Big Ten. While they had players capable of hitting big shots, consistency from the outside was a key issue. Coleman Hawkins had moments of brilliance but struggled to maintain that level of play consistently throughout the season. This lack of consistent scoring from the perimeter made it easier for opposing teams to collapse on the interior, limiting their ability to get the ball inside to their post players, especially the talented Dain Dainja.

Additionally, Illinois often struggled to execute in the half-court offense, which hurt their ability to break through tough defensive teams in the Big Ten. Without a dependable offensive flow, they were forced into isolation basketball or relying too much on one-on-one play, which limited their offensive output against higher-tier defenses.

Defensive Inconsistency

While the offense struggled to maintain a rhythm, the defense had its own set of issues. Illinois came into the season with high expectations for their defense, particularly given the presence of athletic defenders like Hawkins, Mayer, and Jaden Ivey. Yet, their defense wasn’t as dominant as anticipated. The Illini struggled to guard the perimeter effectively, allowing opponents to shoot better than expected, especially from three-point range.

In a number of critical games, Illinois’ defense was too easily manipulated by quicker guards or players who could stretch the floor. While Illinois had the length and athleticism to disrupt passing lanes and block shots, they often lacked the consistency needed to shut down opposing offenses. Communication breakdowns, particularly on rotations and help defense, often left shooters wide open or allowed opponents to break through Illinois’ defensive schemes.

Defensive lapses contributed directly to some of their biggest losses, as opponents took advantage of Illinois’ inability to close out on shooters or defend the basket effectively. The Illini were often caught flat-footed in transition or were outmuscled in the post, leading to easy buckets. These inconsistencies created an imbalance between offense and defense, with the team struggling to put together complementary performances on both ends of the floor.

Injuries and Player Availability Issues

Injuries played a major role in Illinois’ disappointing season. The Fighting Illini struggled with injuries to key players, which disrupted team chemistry and caused lineup rotations throughout the year. While many teams face injuries over the course of a season, Illinois seemed to deal with them in a particularly disruptive way.

One of the most significant injuries was to Matthew Mayer, who was expected to be one of the team’s most dynamic forwards. Mayer dealt with both injuries and inconsistency in his play, which affected his overall impact on the team. His ability to stretch the floor, defend, and provide leadership was hampered by nagging injuries that affected his rhythm. The lack of his consistency at a crucial position on the floor left a noticeable hole in Illinois’ roster.

Additionally, Coleman Hawkins, a key player in both the frontcourt and backcourt, dealt with minor injuries that kept him from performing at his peak. His ability to facilitate, rebound, and score was vital to the team’s success, but his injuries limited his potential impact in key moments. Illinois’ success was predicated on the ability of their key players to stay healthy and effective, and unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

These injuries prevented the team from forming a stable starting lineup, making it difficult for players to develop chemistry and understand their roles. The frequent lineup changes meant that players often had to adjust on the fly, which led to an overall sense of disjointedness on the court. Illinois never truly found a rhythm with their lineup, and the injuries ultimately derailed any momentum they tried to build during the season.

Missed Opportunities and Close Losses

In a season filled with potential, Illinois also faced several crucial missed opportunities that ultimately led to their downfall. Despite the team’s flashes of brilliance, they fell short in close games that had the potential to bolster their tournament resume.

Critical Losses to Rival Teams

Illinois’ losses to Indiana, Purdue, and Michigan State were especially damaging, as these teams were among the toughest competition in the Big Ten. While Illinois was often in the game, they couldn’t execute when it mattered most. In particular, Illinois struggled with late-game execution and free throw shooting—issues that have plagued the team in the past but resurfaced when they faced top-tier competition. These close losses meant the Illini were left with fewer chances to prove themselves against the best in the country and ultimately limited their standing heading into March Madness.

Inability to Close Out Games

One of the most frustrating aspects of Illinois’ season was their inability to close out games. In several contests, they had leads in the final minutes, only to falter due to poor decision-making, defensive lapses, or simply missing crucial free throws. This inability to finish games kept them from establishing a firm grip on their standing in the Big Ten and prevented them from securing key wins that would have improved their tournament seeding.

In a conference like the Big Ten, where every game is a battle, Illinois could not afford to squander opportunities. A combination of mental mistakes and physical breakdowns in key moments led to multiple losses that ultimately cost them a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament.

What’s Next for Illinois Basketball?

Looking ahead to the future, Illinois needs to make significant changes to avoid similar pitfalls in the next season. While they have a strong foundation and talented players, improvements are necessary to ensure they don’t fall short again. Here are some key focus areas that Illinois should target as they prepare for the next season.

1. Improving Offensive Consistency

Illinois must find a way to improve its offensive efficiency and consistency. This means addressing issues such as three-point shooting, offensive flow, and half-court execution. It will be essential for Illinois to have a more structured offensive system, one that maximizes the strengths of their key players and avoids the heavy reliance on isolation plays. This can be accomplished through better ball movement, more designed plays to get shooters open looks, and ensuring their big men get touches in the post.

2. Strengthening the Defense

The Illini defense needs to be more consistent, especially when it comes to guarding the perimeter and defending in transition. Improving defensive rotations and communication on switches will be key in making Illinois a more complete team. With players like Hawkins, Mayer, and Ty Rodgers, Illinois has the tools to be one of the toughest defensive teams in the country, but they need to put it all together on a more consistent basis.

3. Staying Healthy

Illinois’ success will depend on staying healthy, especially for key players like Mayer, Shannon, and Hawkins. Depth will be critical, and the Illini need to ensure their players are well-prepared to stay injury-free and peak at the right time. Injuries to major players cannot continue to derail their season if they are to make a serious run in both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament.

4. Leadership and Mental Toughness

One area where Illinois can make a big difference is mental toughness. Closing out games and handling pressure situations will be crucial in future seasons. Developing more leadership on the floor, especially in the form of Shannon and Hawkins, will be important for Illinois to take the next step. Additionally, coaching and player development will play a crucial role in ensuring that Illinois is better prepared for key moments.