3-2-1 RECAP: Illini Survive Lackluster First Half in Win over Hawaii

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- There’s no beauty points in Brad Underwood’s world of basketball but there will likely be points of emphasis following Illinois third win of the season.

Despite suffering from 10 first-half turnovers offensively and allowing Hawaii to covert on 36 points in the paint, Illinois managed to survive a 66-53 win Monday night following an eight-day layoff.

"What's the saying? There's no such thing as a bad 'W' and it wasn't pretty by any stretch," the Illini fourth-year coach said Monday night. "It was a tough, defensive-minded basketball game tonight."

Illinois’ perimeter defense was on display as the Rainbow Warriors (3-2) made only 3 of 22 from beyond 3-point range and freshman Kofi Cockburn poured in another seemingly effortless double-double (15 points and 14 rebounds) against a long and athletic Hawaii frontcourt.

Here are three major takeaways from this win for the Illini:

1) Turnover bug bit Illinois in the first half; Much more efficient in the second half

Illinois (3-1) had eight days to fix its turnover problem as they came into Monday night averaging over 20 turnovers a game. The Illini were on that pace in a confusing first-half effort that included 10 turnovers, eight field goals, only two offensive rebounds and getting outscored in the paint 16-12.

In a second half, that saw the Illini outscore Hawaii 40-27, Cockburn dominated the lane with 12 second-half points with several easy touches and his ability to physically muscle his way into point-blank range opportunities.

"It's definitely what I expected because I'm seven feet (tall)," Cockburn said with a smile Monday night.

The Illini had only three second-half turnovers thanks to much more effective halfcourt execution and putting a premium on inside touches for Cockburn and Giorgi Bezhanishvili.

2) Alan Griffin proved very valuable off the Illini bench

The Illini may have found its sparkplug off the bench in the form of the sophomore wing from New York. Griffin’s effectiveness as a distributor and on the glass was on full display Monday. Griffin finished with five rebounds, three points and a plus-19 in just 15 minutes of action against a very long and athletic Hawaii frontcourt.

"Everything that is not on that stat sheet, that's what Alan brings," Underwood said. "His length defensively, his energy, his ability to offensive rebound creates extra possessions. I don't get too overwhelmed by one game (of plus/minus) but I have a tendency to look at it in four or five-game bundles but yeah, Alan had a really good week of practice. We need him on the offensive glass and on the offensive end as well.

3) Trent Frazier’s defense become a vital weapon for Illini

In the last five halves of basketball, Hawaii leading scorer Eddie Stansberry had gone a combined 23-of-37 from the field (62 percent), 13-of-19 on threes (68 percent) and a perfect 16-of-16 from the line. His defensive assignment Monday night? Trent Frazier. The confidence Underwood continues to show in Frazier’s premier defensive skills is paying off big time as Stansbury finished 4 of 14 from the field and 2 of 9 from 3-point range in a frustrating 10-point effort in 39 minutes.

"Frazier is elite at handling screens," Underwood said Monday night. "He very rarely gets screened and that's a tremendous skill. It's very hard to do. He never takes a second off. He was right there every step of the way."

It’s becoming more and more likely that Frazier will draw the opponent’s best perimeter threat going forward and he’s becoming a valuable weapon on that end of the floor for the Illini.

"The fact that he couldn't guard [a reporter in the media room] when he got here is a pretty good indication (of Frazier's defensive growth)," Underwood said. "Trent had a reputation of being an elite scorer but what gets lost is his basketball IQ."

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