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Biggest matchup UConn must exploit to take down Illinois in Final Four
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- Biggest matchup UConn must exploit to take down Illinois in Final Four
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Braylon Mullins and his place in NCAA Tournament history sparked Monday conversations involving UConn basketball . That epic 3-point basket with 0.3 left capped the epic comeback over Duke. UConn returns to the Final Four stage thanks to Mullins' heroics, but face a red-hot Illinois team next.
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The Illini have rebuilt their proud program thanks to head coach Brad Underwood. His Illinois teams beat its March Madness foes in multiple ways; from high-powered offense to turning up its half court defense.
The Big Ten representative even took down one National Championship game favorite to get here: Stunning Houston in the round of 16. They then turned to a late second half surge to topple rival Iowa Saturday in the Elite Eight.
UConn already enters Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as the 2.5-point underdog per FanDuel Sportsbook. But here's where the Huskies can exploit Illinois at Indy.
Create attack lanes for Tarris Reed Jr.
Illinois lures a deep lineup of towering size to the home of the Indianapolis Colts this weekend.
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Except UConn brings one of the nation's most physically dominating centers to counter them.
Head coach Dan Hurley will get Reed the ball. His powerful 6-foot-11 frame creates physical mismatches underneath the rim.
However, Hurley must become more creative with forming attack lanes for Reed. He'll need to use his brain cells in figuring out how to crack this newly recharged Illini defense.
Illinois frustrated prized Houston freshman Kingston Flemings through zone pressure and keeping him out of the paint. With respect to Flemings, he's not an inside banger in the mold of Reed. But count on Illinois head coach Underwood to try and get Reed into foul trouble plus limit his inside touches.
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It's up to Hurley to free up Reed inside, which could mean using forward Alex Karaban for screens.
Turn up from 3-point land
The Huskies need Mullins to carry his heroics over to Final Four weekend against the Big Ten power.
They'll need Solo Ball and Silas Demary to get hot from long range too.
UConn will hand Illinois early fits if it brings the second half shooting versus Duke in tow to Indy. But the downside is UConn hasn't seen much shooting consistency from the latter two guards.
Demary looks more like a tone setter on defense. However, his shooting emerged late against the Blue Devils before eventually placing Mullins in the position to seal the winner. Ball shoots only 30.1% from 3-point land.
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Illinois' massive frontcourt depth immediately makes it hard for UConn to wear down the Illini early. But the Huskies can put them on their toes right away by sinking from behind the arc.
Related: Jay Bilas points to freshman inexperience in Duke's collapse vs. UConn
Related: Gerry McNamara's 1 request to Siena after accepting Syracuse job
