Brown-Hagger adjusts to defense; Illini “intentionally” wanted to avoid slow starts

CHAMPAGNE — Every day in practice Illinois The women’s basketball team begins its “first quarter,” a segment designed to simulate a fast start and emphasize the need to come out strong early in games.

The results were a coincidence. The Illini coaching staff has been dealing with slow starts for more than a year, trying to figure out why a talented starting lineup often came out of the gates slowly, dug a hole and had to climb back. It can sometimes be tiring to describe something as a slow beginning. Not every missed shot or hot shot from an opposing team is a “slow start.” Sometimes the shoe fits.

Illinois was outscored 306-289 in the first quarter in Big Ten play last season. That’s not a glaring number, but it was obvious in the moment. Against all major teams, Illinois was outscored 403-396 in the first quarters.

The run to the WBIT Championship was largely representative of how the Games went: a slow start, an improved middle and a hectic finish. And as it turned out, Illinois started much better in five tournament games, outscoring opponents 105-73.

In the opening game on Thursday at 6 p.m. against No. 19 State of Floridaa slow start could make for a long night.

“We don’t have the best track record of starts, so we have to get our act together,” Illini forward said Kendall Bostic said. “We have to have better starts. We really learned that last season. There were several games where we dug ourselves holes in the first quarter and fought back from three setbacks. If only we had done a few more things. “We wouldn’t be here in the first quarter right now and we would just keep all of that in mind at the start of games or certain things like that.

Added forward Shay Bollin: “This is something we are really consciously approaching. I know our starting lineup is great and they’re still going to figure it out. We are all behind them. I think that’s the biggest key, just knowing that they’re going to push through it and go further into the game with our minds and our bodies ready to attack it.”

Illini head coach Shauna Green and her staff have attempted to investigate the exact cause, both in the offseason and over the past year. They visualize games before they step on the field. They emphasize the “first quarter” of practice. You work with team sports psychologists Becky Cook.

The staff made things happen, but it was a recurring problem last season. And yet…

“I’m probably old-fashioned. At some point you just have to be ready to go,” Green said. “There are only so many things you can do and you have to be ready. It’s all about concentration. It’s about being prepared to perform at a high level on both ends of the floor.”

“We try everything we can think of, but at some point you have to come out and when the ball is tipped you have to be ready and play.”

Florida State’s speed to test Illini

Good luck figuring out which of Florida State’s No. 19 star duo keeps the Illini coaching staff awake at night.

Guard both Ta’Niya Latson and post Makayla Timpson are nightmare fuel for opposing teams. Natson was one of the top freshmen in the country two years ago and is coming off a season in which she averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.8% from the floor. Timpson is running a double-double after averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds last season.

It’s no fun to plan against it.

The Seminoles are not an easy bunch and could ruin Illinois’ chances of a big win to start the season.

“They’re just super quick and athletic and want to get up and down in transition,” Green said. “That is the key to success. We have to slow them down and neutralize them in their transition game. If they get easy throws, it’s going to be a long night. Also, we have to try to keep them in front of us and keep them.” They really thrive when things go downhill. First, we need to pay attention to the basketball and also value really good shots, because a bad shot against them can result in a layup.

Illinois’ defensive principles are based on staying in front of the ball. Nothing too fancy, just a no-nonsense approach to defense. Florida State will test this.

It’s arguably the biggest focus for the Illini.

“Our goal on defense is to make them take contested shots,” Illinois guard said Jasmine Brown Hagger said. “You don’t want them to hit you right into the basket on a layup or wide-open three-pointer. When they shoot a three-pointer, it’s in your face. When they shoot a pull-up, it’s in your face, I think it’s just about taking pride in keeping them out of the paint.

Brown-Hagger adapts to the defense

Green will readily say that the biggest adjustment for newcomers or transfers to their program is the defensive side of the ball. Freshmen generally struggle with defense.

Brown-Hagger was no different upon his arrival this offseason Mississippi State. Illinois isn’t overly complex defensively, but the principles challenge players to keep the ball in front of them. Quite simple, but it requires a period of getting used to it.

“When I got here, the defensive principles were really tough,” Brown-Hagger said. “The principles of defense are just guarding the ball. Most teams have certain tricks to protect the ball. You switch, you do all that. Here it’s just pride. Right on the ball, keeping the ball.” I feel like being more targeted and watching film has really helped me improve my defense at times. It’s a learning game. Every day. Just come in and be intentional about what you want to do on defense. If you say, “I’m going to guard the ball,” then you’re going to guard the ball.

Green added: “For us there’s standard defense every day, every possession and it’s hard. You have to work really, really hard. Our core values ​​are really just keeping the ball in front of us and doing your job on the ball.

“The more we flew by and the more people flew by and got into the paint, the more we had to rotate. We want to try to avoid as many rotations as possible. Obviously there won’t be a problem with perfect play, but try to eliminate as many blow-bys as possible. Depending on what the kids were taught in high school and/or their previous program, it just depends on the intensity and demands of the defense and the effort and focus of it, I consider that to be a high, high level and it’s really, really hard.

The coaching staff is confident in what Brown-Hagger can do defensively both this season and in the future. Next to Adalia McKenzie, Illinois feels like it has two or more defenders on the perimeter with Brown-Hagger. Although it took some time for her to get used to the principles, she is becoming more comfortable and these principles fit her own style of play.

“I love it. We have some good players in this conference and just being able to guard them and keep the ball in front, give them trouble and make someone beat you,” Brown-Hagger said. “I think it’s going to be really big this year.”