After a 91-67 win in opposition to SEMO (1-1), Illinois (1-0) is prepared to tackle its second opponent of the season: Illinois State (1-0).
Both the Illini and the Redbirds are coming off wins earlier within the week. Illinois State beat head coach Shauna Green’s outdated teaching house, Dayton, 87-76 on Monday.
Despite Green utilizing the identical beginning lineup for the exhibition and the season opener, players on the bench are additionally making large strikes on the courtroom. This is vital because it reveals the flexibility and depth of the roster. Having extra players to depend on early on is particularly vital for the Illini since they’re down some players due to injuries.
For Illinois, a few of its newer players are shining on the courtroom already and are displaying no indicators of slowing down.
Freshman guard Destiny Jackson
“To have six assists and only two turnovers in 33 minutes as a freshman… I think that’s really good for her,” Green stated.
Green spoke about freshman guard Destiny Jackson’s first official recreation as an Illini, the place followers noticed the freshman carry out at a excessive stage. Green additionally talked about how she sees enchancment from Jackson in a brief time period.
“Even in just our three games — our scrimmage, our exhibition and now — I see growth every game. She’s going to continue to feel more comfortable, feel more confident and run the team.”
It’s vital for the staff’s success that Jackson continues to rack up assists and decrease turnovers. If Jackson can carry out equally to how she did on Tuesday, she is assured to be an asset to the staff as a place to begin guard.
Jackson’s excessive efficiency is much more essential with sophomore guard Aaliyah Guyton out. The Iowa switch was seen wearing a boot throughout Tuesday’s matchup, and her return has but to be introduced.
Freshman ahead Cearah Parchment
Another breakout freshman star is ahead Cearah Parchment. Her stellar efficiency within the exhibition recreation was not duplicated within the season opener. Parchment performed fewer minutes, scored much less and fouled out of the sport.
None of that, nevertheless, takes away from her capacity to be a excessive scorer on the staff. During the exhibition, Parchment had a double-double with 22 factors and 13 rebounds. On Tuesday, Parchment fouled within the third quarter after solely 12 minutes of play.
In these 12 minutes, Parchment nonetheless scored eight factors, grabbed three rebounds and one steal. Green additionally strategically saved Parchment in to see if she might play with 4 fouls and never get fouled out.
“I kept her in there on purpose,” Green stated. “I might have pulled her out earlier in a different game, but I needed to learn, too.”
This was a studying curve for each Parchment, navigating what it means to play prone to fouling out, but in addition for Green, who wanted to check the waters and be taught extra about Parchment as a participant.
Parchment’s presence on the courtroom is essential for the staff. A high-scoring freshman with international experience brings a brand new dynamic taking part in model to the staff. Green sees the significance that she brings and in addition the most important challenges.
“We need her on the floor,” Green stated. “[The] biggest learning curve as a freshman is defense.”
Once Parchment turns into extra snug and learns the inside workings of the protection, she might proceed to shine as a star participant and starter.
Junior guard Maddie Webber
The Villanova switch, junior guard Maddie Webber, had a powerful debut with Illinois. Despite not being a starter, Green stated that it might be in her future.
“She could start,” Green stated. “We have six, seven starters, right? We have a lot of kids that could start. I love her coming off (the bench) because she’s literally instant energy, on defense, on offense.”
Webber’s efficiency Tuesday is a sign of the greatness to come. In her 28 minutes, she scored 16 factors, made two out of her three 3-point makes an attempt and had one rebound.
Her efficiency from Tuesday reveals enchancment from the exhibition recreation, the place she solely scored six factors. She had two rebounds and two steals in the course of the exhibition as compared to one and one Tuesday.
Green sees Webber’s taking part in model as an important asset to have coming off the bench.
“She’s aggressive,” Green stated. “She’s going to come in, and she’s going to get in the mix. I really like having that off the bench.”
For Webber, she wants to proceed displaying enchancment and gaining confidence on the courtroom. As for her transition right here, Webber has nothing however optimistic issues to say.
“The transition here has been great,” Webber stated prior to the exhibition recreation. “The people here are amazing. This culture is also amazing. The people really do make the place. I’ve never felt more needed on a team or appreciated.”
The Illini host the Redbirds Sunday for his or her FamILLy recreation with a postgame autograph alternative. Tipoff is at midday and the sport is on the market to stream on B1G+.