LOREN TATE: Illini learning that defense really does matter
Loren Tate Illini Lines
FacebookTwitterEmail
Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell looks to pass as he is defended by Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn (21) on Saturday in Champaign. Liddell, a former Illinois Mr. Basketball at Belleville West, scored 26 points in the Buckeyes win.Associated Press
Defense doesn’t figure into golf, skiing or gymnastics. In launching the discus, it’s you against the elements, no human resistance.
And there is sometimes a tendency to overlook defense in team settings. Baseball Hall of Fame and Heisman Trophy voters do exactly that.
In basketball it’s half the game, and the more proficient practitioners Virginia, remember, is the “defending” NCAA champion tend to prevail. This said, defense can be imperfect in the sense that the best laid schemes “gang aft agley” … or as we’ve seen with Illinois basketball, backfire!