Ohio State's Missed Opportunity: A Breakdown of Their 87-79 Loss to Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Heading into Sunday’s matchup against No. 18 Illinois, Ohio State had momentum. After stringing together three wins in Big Ten play, the Buckeyes seemed poised to continue their rise in the conference standings. But, as is often the case in sports, execution on the court is what truly determines the outcome, and Ohio State fell short, dropping an 87-79 decision to the Illini at the State Farm Center.

Illinois' Defensive Strategy: Limiting Easy Looks

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood's defensive philosophy is simple yet effective: limit the opponent’s easy twos. From a technical perspective, Underwood calls it "rear-view contesting." It’s all about staying tight on ball handlers, especially as they navigate ball screens. The idea is to force tough, off-balance floaters while having the Illini’s big men waiting to clean up any misses at the rim.

This strategy clearly worked in Illinois’ favor, particularly in the second half. The Illini finished shooting a scorching 64.3% from the field in the final 20 minutes, outscoring Ohio State 24-11 in the game’s closing stretch. Despite leading 68-63 with just under 8 minutes remaining, the Buckeyes couldn’t execute down the stretch and ultimately fell short.

Ohio State’s Offensive Struggles

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State’s standout junior guard, summed up the team’s failure: "You can’t win games like that." He was referring to Ohio State’s inability to execute offensively and the lack of communication on defense. While the Buckeyes were getting forced into tough twos, Illinois was carving them up at the other end.

Ohio State finished the game shooting a season-worst 32.0% (16-50) from two-point range. The team couldn’t find the bottom of the net when it mattered most, and the Illini’s defense made sure to challenge every shot.

"We missed 13 of our last 16 shots," Thornton explained. "A lot of miscommunications, easy scores, and taking tough twos. That’s just not how we’ve been playing lately."

Ohio State’s Defensive Woes

Defensively, the Buckeyes simply didn’t match up. Illinois shot an eye-popping 68.4% (26-38) from two-point range, the highest percentage Ohio State has allowed all season. The breakdowns, particularly in communication, were clear — Illinois' backdoor cuts and fast-break layups were easy pickings.

Illinois' Morez Johnson Jr. was a force, grabbing 15 rebounds — seven of them offensive — and scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. His presence was felt in the paint all afternoon, a key contributor to the Illini’s rebounding dominance, finishing with a 43-31 advantage on the glass.

“Rebounding was a huge difference. Morez Johnson’s offensive rebounds were really impactful,” said Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler. "Without Sean Stewart, we really missed that extra big presence on the glass."

The Absence of Sean Stewart

Speaking of Stewart, Ohio State’s 6-9 forward was sidelined due to illness, and his absence was felt on both ends of the floor. Stewart has been a key contributor as a rebounder and rim protector. His presence would have helped mitigate Illinois’ strong rebounding effort, but the Buckeyes were forced to go without him, a challenge they struggled to overcome.

"We absolutely missed Sean on the glass," Diebler said. "We needed a little more time for him to get back."

Devin Royal Shines in a Losing Effort

Despite the loss, sophomore forward Devin Royal delivered a performance that certainly caught attention. He poured in a game-high 29 points, including 19 in the first half. Royal hit a 3-pointer with about a minute remaining in the first half to give Ohio State a 40-36 lead. But in the second half, his touches dwindled, as Illinois ramped up their defensive pressure and limited his opportunities.

"They didn’t really defend me any differently," Royal said. "I just didn’t have the ball as much. I’ve just got to make my shots when I get the chance."

This game marked the second time this season Royal had hit multiple 3-pointers, showcasing an improvement in his perimeter game. However, his teammates weren’t as consistent.

Ohio State’s Supporting Cast Stumbles

While Thornton, Royal, and Mobley carried the scoring load, the rest of the team didn’t provide much support. The Buckeyes’ bench and other role players combined for just 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Micah Parrish, who had been a consistent scorer of late, struggled. He finished with just 4 points on 1-of-5 shooting and fouled out in 30 minutes of action. "His foul trouble definitely impacted his performance," Diebler noted.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s starting frontcourt — Aaron Bradshaw and Ivan Njegovan — had a quiet afternoon, contributing just 4 points and 2 rebounds combined. The Buckeyes were simply too reliant on their top three players, and when those shots weren’t falling, they had no real answer.

Bruce Thornton and John Mobley: Offense vs. Efficiency

Ohio State’s backcourt duo of Thornton and John Mobley combined for 40 points, but it took a whopping 39 shots to get there. Thornton led the way with 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting, while Mobley added 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting. Both players were efficient early on, but their struggles in the second half — especially from two-point range — kept Ohio State from finishing strong.

"They’re wired to score," Underwood said of Thornton and Mobley. "They’re going to make some shots, but I thought we did a much better job in the second half staying relentless and forcing them into tough looks."

Final Thoughts: A Missed Opportunity

For Ohio State, this loss stings. They had an opportunity to notch another big win on the road and continue their ascent in the Big Ten standings. But poor shooting, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities in the final stretch handed the victory to Illinois.

Heading into February, Ohio State will need to bounce back quickly. While there are plenty of positives — especially from Royal — and lessons to be learned, they can’t afford many more slip-ups if they hope to stay competitive in a tough Big Ten race.

As Bruce Thornton put it: "You’ve got to execute, especially on the road. We just didn’t do that today."

It’s back to the drawing board for the Buckeyes as they look to regroup and make their push for March.

Cameron Williams

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Senior Writer