Dec. 17--Illinois plays a rare home game on Wednesday during final exams week. Some would argue the Illini already have been tested enough.
They have lost two straight, falling to Villanova and Oregon at neutral sites, and three of the last four, including a loss at Miami in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
"My biggest concern," coach John Groce said, "is their mentality."
Groce lamented the Illini are a rare BCS team to play so many games (10 of its first 18) away from home. But despite the heavy workload lately, the Illini are eager to face Hampton (4-5) at State Farm Center.
"At the end of the day," he said, "it is nice to be back."
The Illini (7-3) have been focusing on closing out games. They were tied with Villanova and collapsed in the final eight minutes. They had a five-point lead against Oregon with 8:16 remaining Saturday at the United Center before fizzling.
Study hall has been extended for the Illini to concentrate on film work.
"Just showing them how you win and how you lose," Groce said. "We made some losing plays late in the game (against Oregon). Just little things, fouling jump shooters. It's not brain surgery. ... We have to clean some of those things up."
Finding a balance: Groce recalled the statistics from center Nnanna Egwu's foul-prone freshman season when he talked about Leron Black.
Egwu, now a senior, fouled too frequently. As a freshman, so does Black.
The forward averages 2.9 fouls per game in 14.6 minutes. After averaging nine points through the first six games, he has averaged only 2.8 through the last four.
"It's hard for him to get in rhythm because he's fouling so much," Groce said. "I don't think by any means he has hit a wall."
Layups: Groce said the Illini still are working out details of next season's opponent at the United Center. ... Against Villanova, Malcolm Hill scored a season-high 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Against Oregon, Hill scored only six points on 3 of 11 shooting. Groce expects the sophomore to bounce back. "He was a flat out monster" in Monday's practice, he said.
sryan@tribune.com
Twitter @sryantribune
