Kristian Ferrell
The Baylor Bears and the Illinois Fighting Illini are two of the top college basketball teams in the US. Both teams have had impressive wins and performances in recent years, with Baylor finishing the 2020-21 season 26-4 overall and 15-3 in the Big 12, and Illinois starting the same season with a 122-60 win over North Carolina A&T and a 97-38 win over Chicago State. The two teams have faced each other in some highly anticipated matchups, including a 2020-21 showdown where Baylor, ranked second in the AP Poll, defeated fifth-ranked Illinois 82-69.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current ranking | Baylor: #2 |
| Illinois: #5 | |
| 2020 ranking | Baylor: #2 |
| Illinois: #5 | |
| 2020 record | Baylor: 3-0 |
| Illinois: 3-1 | |
| 2019 record | Baylor: 26-4 |
| Illinois: 21-10 | |
| 2020 wins | Baylor: Louisiana-Lafayette (112-82), Washington (86-52) |
| Illinois: North Carolina A&T (122-60), Chicago State (97-38) | |
| 2019 wins | Baylor: Villanova, Arizona, Butler, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Kansas |
| Illinois: N/A | |
| 2020 losses | Baylor: N/A |
| Illinois: Baylor (82-69) | |
| 2019 losses | Baylor: Washington |
| Illinois: N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Baylor's veteran core vs Illinois' star players
The matchup between Baylor and Illinois in 2020 was a highly anticipated one, with both teams boasting impressive records and a wealth of talent. Baylor, ranked second in the AP Poll, featured a veteran core that had gone 26-4 the previous season, with victories over powerhouses like Villanova, Arizona, and Kansas. Illinois, ranked fifth, had climbed from eighth in the preseason poll and started the season with dominant performances over North Carolina A&T and Chicago State. The game was expected to be a battle of Baylor's experienced core against Illinois' star players.
Baylor's veteran presence proved to be a decisive factor in their 82-69 victory over Illinois. The Bears returned four players recognised as All-Big 12 Conference selections from their 2019-20 roster, providing a strong foundation for the team. Illinois, on the other hand, relied heavily on their star players, including junior guard Ayo Dosunmu, a preseason All-American, Trent Frazier, and Kofi Cockburn. However, Illinois' stars struggled to perform consistently, with Dosunmu facing constant pressure from Baylor's guards and Frazier committing six turnovers.
Illinois' dynamic duo of Dosunmu and Cockburn faced a tough challenge against Baylor's experienced defence. Dosunmu, a preseason first-team All-America selection, was hounded by a rotation of quick guards and struggled to find open looks. He finished with a team-high 18 points but had a disappointing shooting night, going 6 of 18 from the field and 3-for-8 on layup attempts. Cockburn, another key player for Illinois, also had a poor performance, unable to match his usual impact.
Baylor's victory showcased the value of their veteran core, who maintained their composure and executed crucial second-half adjustments. Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler came off the bench to provide a much-needed boost, scoring 11 of his 18 points in the second half. Baylor's ability to make tactical changes and rely on experienced players allowed them to overcome the talent of Illinois' star players.
While Illinois had highly touted individual talents, Baylor's collective experience and strategic adjustments proved to be a winning combination. The game highlighted the importance of depth, consistency, and adaptability in basketball, as Baylor's veteran core outlasted Illinois' star players in a convincing victory.
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Baylor's defensive strategy
The Baylor Bears have crafted a fortress-like defence on the basketball court, setting up shop with their notorious no-middle strategy. Baylor's no-middle defence turns the court into a chessboard, blocking off key areas to funnel opponents away from scoring zones.
In implementing this strategy, Baylor's defence can be thought of as divided into three zones: the chest zone, the side zone, and the corner or dead zone. By forcing play away from high-scoring areas, they turn what seem like open lanes into dead ends. To visualize it, picture an offensive player facing a defender who stands slightly off-center—the stance says 'Not through here'. The idea is simple but effective: always close out with an inside hand and keep shading them towards your inside shoulder to protect that vital territory.
Baylor's defence is especially good at recovering in scramble situations. On baseline drives, weak-side defenders act almost like free safeties to take away skip passes. Baylor also uses a combination of icing and downing techniques to push the ball handler towards the baseline rather than allowing a middle drive, setting up a soft trap that often leads to turnovers. Baylor's defenders read these plays early and adjust seamlessly without missing a beat.
The Bears also know that nailing rotations from side post positions down to baseline angles often leads directly to live-ball turnovers—an opportunity for them not only to regain possession but also potentially score fast. In summary, Baylor's defensive strategy is a masterpiece of positioning and timing, turning good defences into great ones.
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Illinois' poor performance
Illinois has had several poor basketball seasons in its history. In the 1937-38 season, the team had an overall record of 9-9 and finished Big Ten play at 4-8. The 1957-58 season was also disappointing, with an 11-11 overall record and a 5-9 Big Ten record. The team struggled to find its groove in Big Ten play, failing to win consecutive games.
The 1974-75 season was one of the worst in Illinois basketball history, finishing with a 5-18 overall record and a 2-12 Big Ten record. They lost 11 straight games, nine of which were Big Ten games. As a result, head coach Harv Schmidt was fired, and Gene Bartow was hired. However, Bartow lasted only one season, leaving for UCLA.
More recently, in the 2024-25 season, the Illinois men's basketball team struggled with illness, injury, and youth. They lost seven of 12 games after a 4-1 start in Big Ten play. Center Tomislav Ivisic dealt with mono, a sprained ankle, and a virus. Other players, like Tre White and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, also faced health issues. The team's inexperience contributed to inconsistent performances.
In the NCAA Tournament, Illinois bowed out in the second round, losing to the Kentucky Wildcats. Their three leading scorers, Kasparas Jakucionis, Tomislav Ivisic, and Will Riley, went 12-for-35 from the field in the Round of 32 loss. Despite the disappointing end, Illinois looked forward to a bright future with a talented squad.
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Baylor's second-half adjustments
In a highly-anticipated matchup between Baylor and Illinois, two of the top-5 college basketball teams in the country, Baylor demonstrated their ability to make crucial second-half adjustments to secure victory.
In the 2020-21 season, both teams entered the game with undefeated records, with Illinois climbing from eighth to fifth in the rankings, and Baylor holding steady at second. This early-season showdown was expected to be a close contest, with Illinois starting the season strongly with two dominant wins, and Baylor boasting an even better start than their previous dominant season.
Baylor's ability to adjust and improve their performance in the second half of games is a key strength. In their game against Cincinnati, coach Scott Drew observed that the team's performance in the final 20 minutes showed their true potential. This ability to make halftime adjustments and improve their play as the game progresses is a significant advantage for Baylor.
In the 2020-21 season, Baylor demonstrated their resilience and ability to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Washington in their second game. They responded with an impressive 23-game winning streak, showcasing their ability to learn from setbacks and make the necessary adjustments to improve their performance.
Overall, Baylor's second-half adjustments are a key weapon in their arsenal. Their ability to learn from losses, adapt to opponents, and improve their performance as a game progresses gives them a significant edge in close contests and can be a deciding factor in their quest for championship glory.
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Illinois' dynamic duo
The Illinois Men's Basketball team has had several dynamic duos over the years. One notable pair is Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley, who were the first college duo to be drafted consecutively into the NBA since Duke's Mark Williams and A.J. Griffin in 2022. Jakucionis and Riley's selection marked only the third time in the program's history that multiple players had been selected in the first round of the NBA draft.
Another dynamic duo of the Illinois basketball team is the Fighting Illini. In their opening game of the 2020-21 season, they romped North Carolina A&T with a score of 122-60, and in their second game, they defeated Chicago State 97-38. They nearly suffered an upset in their third game, barely outlasting Ohio with a score of 77-75.
In the 2020-21 season, Illinois was ranked fifth in the AP Poll, climbing up from eighth, while Baylor was ranked second, retaining their preseason ranking. This set up a top-5 showdown between the two teams, which was the first of the season and was considered the biggest game of the regular season.
Both teams entered the matchup undefeated and with the opportunity to cement themselves as the top threat to Gonzaga's status as the number one team in college basketball. Baylor had already dominated Louisiana-Lafayette and Washington in a two-game series in Las Vegas, while Illinois had a seven-game winning streak that included victories over premier Big Ten squads.
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Frequently asked questions
Both universities have strong basketball teams, but Baylor has been ranked higher than Illinois in recent years. In 2020, Baylor was ranked second in the nation, while Illinois was ranked fifth. Baylor has also won 13 straight non-conference games and returned four players recognised as All-Big 12 Conference selections.
Illinois has a dynamic duo of Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, who have consistently performed well for the team. In their opening game of the 2020-21 season, they romped North Carolina A&T with a score of 122-60.
Baylor has a strong veteran core and a good defensive strategy. They also have quick guards who can hound their opponents and create scoring opportunities.
Baylor has had some impressive wins over ranked teams, including Villanova, Arizona, Butler, Texas Tech, West Virginia, and Kansas. They also defeated Illinois in 2020 with a score of 82-69.
Illinois had a strong start to their 2020-21 season, with convincing wins over North Carolina A&T and Chicago State. They also played a close game against a good Ohio squad, winning 77-75.
