Matchups. Bad matchups. Overpowered. Outmuscled.
These words best explain why the Big Ten's worst rebounding team, Illinois, has ongoing basketball troubles. Use of three guards in a lineup will work, but it's doubly difficult without a 1-2 power punch in the front line.
Take coach Brad Underwood's words.
After Wednesday's 73-56 setback at Purdue: "They outscored us 40-18 (19 cold layups!) in the paint ... Matt Haarms (8 for 8 shooting, 10 rebounds, five blocks) ... the size differential ... Giorgi (Bezhanishvili) was not a factor ... no inside presence."
Before the recent 83-76 breakdown against Penn State: "How do we guard Lamar Stevens (25 points)?