Three Key Questions for Illinois Heading Into the Braggin’ Rights Showdown with Missouri
The annual Braggin’ Rights game always brings the heat, and Monday night in St. Louis is shaping up to be no different. Illinois and Missouri may not share a conference, but when these two programs meet, the intensity feels like a rivalry born in March, not December.
Missouri comes into this one with a 10-2 record, but a closer look at the résumé shows some cracks. Their best win so far?
A 7-5 Minnesota squad. They’ve also dropped a game to a struggling Notre Dame team and barely scraped by Alabama State.
Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this rivalry, it’s that records don’t mean much once the ball tips.
For Illinois, the focus isn’t just on winning - it’s about answering some key questions that could define how far this team goes in the long run. Let’s dive into three that will be front and center Monday night.
1. Will Illinois Lock Down the Perimeter?
If there’s a theme to the Brad Underwood era, it’s this: life behind the arc can make or break the Illini. When Illinois is knocking down threes, they look like a team that could make a deep March run. But when the defense gets loose and the other team starts heating up from deep, things unravel fast.
Take the Nebraska game, for example. The Cornhuskers shot 46% from deep, with Pryce Sandfort lighting it up at 6-for-11. That kind of perimeter breakdown can’t happen again - not against a Missouri team that, while not a volume shooter from three, is efficient when they let it fly.
The Tigers rank just 245th nationally in three-point attempts per game (21.4), but they’re converting at a 37.4% clip - good for 43rd in the country. That’s the kind of efficiency that can swing a game if Illinois doesn’t close out hard and stay disciplined on the perimeter.
One name to circle: Jacob Crews. The 6-foot-8 forward leads Missouri in three-point attempts and is hitting an eye-popping 52.9% from deep.
That’s not a typo. His size and shooting touch make him a matchup nightmare, and Illinois will likely throw a few different defenders at him to see what sticks.
Underwood’s defensive game plan will need to be sharp. Rotations have to be crisp.
Closeouts have to be aggressive but controlled. If Illinois can disrupt Missouri’s rhythm from beyond the arc, they’ll be in great shape.
If not, this one could go down to the wire.
2. Can Tomislav Ivisic Be a Difference-Maker?
Tomislav Ivisic was expected to be a stabilizing force for Illinois - a big man who could protect the rim, stretch the floor, and give the Illini a physical presence in the paint. But so far, the returns have been underwhelming.
Yes, he missed time early in the season with injuries, but now that he’s back, the production hasn’t followed. Over the last two games (Nebraska and Ohio State), Ivisic is a combined 3-of-12 from the field and just 2-of-9 from three.
He’s scored 10 points total and pulled down only seven rebounds. That’s not the impact Illinois needs from a player with his skill set and size.
Against Missouri, the assignment is clear. Defensively, Ivisic has to own the paint.
Missouri’s big man, Shawn Phillips Jr., isn’t a stretch five - he hasn’t attempted a three-pointer in his four-year career - so Ivisic won’t be dragged out to the perimeter. That simplifies the job: be a rim protector, control the glass, and make life difficult for any Tiger who dares to drive the lane.
Offensively, it’s about spacing and smart decision-making. If Ivisic can knock down a couple of open looks from the perimeter, he’ll force Phillips to step out of the paint, which opens up driving lanes for the Illinois guards. That’s where this offense thrives - when it can attack, collapse the defense, and kick out to shooters.
This could be a breakout opportunity for Ivisic. The matchup suits him, the stakes are high, and Illinois needs him to step up. A double-digit rebound night and a couple of timely threes could swing the momentum in Illinois’ favor.
3. Can Illinois Get Back to Playing in Transition?
One of the hallmarks of Brad Underwood’s best teams has been their pace. Illinois at its best doesn’t just defend - it runs. They push the tempo, create early offense, and wear teams down with energy and movement.
This season, though, that identity has been harder to spot. Illinois is averaging just 71.0 possessions per game, which ranks 218th nationally.
And over the last three contests, that number has dipped even further to 66.4. Compare that to last season’s 74.4 possessions per game - 16th in the nation - and it’s clear something’s changed.
Now, pace isn’t everything. Sometimes better shooting leads to fewer possessions because there are fewer rebounds and fewer second-chance opportunities. And this year’s Illini are shooting it better from both the field and from three.
But even advanced metrics show Illinois playing slower than expected. According to EvanMiya.com, the Illini rank just 168th in tempo - a significant drop for a program that’s prided itself on playing fast.
This is where Ivisic comes back into the picture. If he can secure rebounds and initiate the break, Illinois has a chance to get back to its roots.
Transition opportunities start with stops and boards. If the big man can clean the glass and get the ball moving quickly, it opens up the floor for guys like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask to attack downhill.
Missouri isn’t a team that thrives in a track meet, so pushing the pace could be a real advantage for Illinois. It’s just a matter of committing to it - and executing.
Final Thought
The Braggin’ Rights game is never just another non-conference matchup. It’s a measuring stick, a rivalry, and a momentum builder all rolled into one. For Illinois, Monday night is about more than beating Missouri - it’s about answering some pressing questions that could shape the rest of the season.
Can they defend the arc with discipline? Will Ivisic rise to the occasion? And can this team rediscover its identity in transition?
We’ll find out soon enough. St. Louis is calling.