Loren Tate | Back in top 10, now it’s a battle for Illini to stay there – Champaign/Urbana News

The honeymoon is over.

There was no real marriage in the first place, the Illini soaring into basketball’s Top 10 based on educated guesswork without games.

As we saw with defending (2019) NCAA champion Virginia on Friday afternoon (upset by a San Francisco team that had already lost to UMass-Lowell), the Illini skated on the edge of disaster against Ohio’s Bobcats.

But unlike the losses last December to the three M’s — a 15-16 Miami team, Big Ten tri-champ Maryland and a 15-16 Missouri outfit — Illinois had just enough Ayo-power to nip Ohio, 77-75, in a home arena that was deathly quiet except for an aroused Ohio bench. Offensively, it was a one-man show with Ayo Dosunmu splintering the Bobcat defense for 27 points and eight assists.

“This was a game that would have gotten away from us last year,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I was particularly frustrated by the 16 turnovers. We were careless. We’ve got to get over that.”

Bigger challenges awaitIt has been extremely gratifying, after years of non-recognition, for Illinoisans to see the UI in the Top 10 and among the elites drawing valuable TV time on ESPN.

But it now becomes a battle to stay there after three wins by the Illini during three games in three days.

The Ohio squeaker, coming after two easy non-contests, reminds that the Illini are headed into a season loaded with challenges. Other than next Saturday’s date with an unannounced foe, the Illini must travel to play No. 2 Baylor on Wednesday night, No. 9 Duke on Dec. 8 and Missouri on Dec. 12 before wading into the 20-game Big Ten slate.

On the positive side, the flashing Dosunmu has the look of an All-American and NBA lottery pick with these three-game totals: 29 of 52 baskets, 6 of 14 treys, 23 rebounds and 20 assists. With the game on the line Friday and seven seconds left, he drove the length of the court, was fouled and sank two free throws for a 76-75 lead.

Couple Dosunmu with a 45-25 rebound edge (Kofi Cockburn had 14, Da’Monte Williams 10 as both enjoyed double-doubles), and it was barely enough.

List of grievances

But … but … but.

Concerns abound elsewhere. Your old killjoy will list them.

As with Dosunmu, Illinois isn’t the same team without the 7-foot, 285-pound Cockburn on the floor. In his 28 minutes against Ohio, Illinois outscored Ohio by 15 points. His backup, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, reminded us of his inconsistent play a year ago, and the Illini were minus-10 in his 19 minutes. It will be critical for Cockburn to avoid foul trouble.

The UI’s man-to-man defense, for which they are so proud, got punked by Ohio’s pick-and-roll and back-down moves. Even Dosunmu couldn’t stop Jason Preston, who was on a 31-point, eight-assist kick. And the UI’s 6-foot-3 Williams, while drawing Underwood’s accolades, is small as Big Ten power forwards go. Nor does 6-10 rookie Coleman Hawkins appear ready from a physical standpoint.

Adam Miller and Andre Curbelo played like freshmen Friday. Miller missed all four treys and his first two free throws, finishing with 11 important points. Curbelo is superlative in the open court — as he demonstrated with 16 points in a late eight-minute stretch Thursday against Chicago State — but must learn the ropes of half-court play at this level.

Dosunmu’s takeover of this team Friday was almost mindful of Houston pro Rick Harden, and he can’t be faulted for dominating because he can.

But more UI balance will be preferred over this long haul, and more input will be needed from senior Trent Frazier, who deferred to Dosunmu throughout in taking only three shots Friday.

In closing

The Illini have an extraordinary 1-2 punch with Dosunmu and Cockburn, and both the defense and ball security will grow more solid over time, but it’s asking a lot of Dosunmu to keep “saving the day” — his established specialty — throughout another season packed with coin-flip contests.