Shortly after Illinois’ victory at Northwestern on Tuesday, coach John Groce was hesitant to describe the win as the team’s most complete performance this season.
"I would have to think about it, which I’m trying not to do," he said. "I’m trying to pretend I’m driving a car with no rearview mirror."
Groce went on to say: "Everyone wants to talk about the past, which you have no control over. Or they want to talk about the future, which you have no control over. So you have to stay in the moment."
The Illini should be laser-focused on Saturday’s home game against Penn State. But they also should play like more is at stake.
Illinois fans, meanwhile, are excused for being distracted by the troubling past and the uncertain future. Where is this season headed? Puttering along at best? Driving off a cliff at worst?
The Illini (14-11, 4-8) are tied for 12th in the 14-team Big Ten standings. Their slim chance of making the NCAA tournament likely would require running the table through the regular season and maybe even the Big Ten tournament.
Without such a run — as Illinois fans know too well — it would be a fourth straight season without an NCAA tournament appearance. And that’s why fans are wondering about Groce’s future too.
Illinois has experience in seniors Malcolm Hill, Maverick Morgan, Tracy Abrams, Jaylon Tate and Mike Thorne Jr. The Illini are deeper than they’ve ever been under Groce. They haven’t had the health and discipline issues they had last season. They have more size too.
Photos from the game on Feb. 7, 2017, at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
So what gives?
Former Illini great Deon Thomas has called most of the games on radio this season. He’s flummoxed about what he has seen.
"They have the pieces," he said. "I’ve used the analogy of a puzzle, and those pieces have to be put in place."
With only six regular-season games remaining, Illinois looks like it’s putting pegs with pegs.
"They don’t have an identity, period," Thomas said. "They really don’t have an identity on the defensive end. And that really starts with who are you."
Illinois has held its last three opponents to less than 41 percent shooting. But for the Big Ten season, opponents are shooting 46.1 percent against the Illini, ahead of only Michigan.
"There’s a disconnect somewhere," Thomas said. "When I watch us play, it seems like we’re reacting instead of imposing who we are on (opponents)."
He said a similar disconnect exists on offense, where Illinois is scoring only 66.1 points per Big Ten game (13th in the conference) and shooting 42.1 percent (10th). Thomas noted concern that Groce is tinkering with the lineup this late in the season, starting three different lineups in the last three games.
"The way I’ve grown up, everyone had their roles and knew their roles and everyone did their job," Thomas said. "Each piece has to fit perfectly in its place. At times when I watch them play, everyone is trying to do everyone else’s job.
"If you’re a rebounder and defender, be the best rebounder and defender on the floor. Not everyone can be Malcolm Hill. It seems like everyone is trying to be him."
The good news for Illinois is the Big Ten is mostly a land of jumbled teams trying to figure out which way is north on the map. Nine teams have between four and six Big Ten victories.
The remaining slate is filled with winnable games — not that that has mattered much this season. The Illini finish the home schedule against Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan State. The remaining road games are at Iowa (which Illinois already beat) and Nebraska and Rutgers (which have six Big Ten victories between them).
"They have an opportunity," Thomas said, "and it truly depends on them."
sryan@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @sryantribune
(Shannon Ryan)
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