Groce doesn't buy the idea his team is having a harder time finding good shots against Big Ten competition. When Groce watched film of Sunday's 74-60 loss to Michigan, he was happy with the quality of his team's shots. It was just the result that wasn't to his liking. Illinois shot 23-of-62 from the field and 6-of-26 on 3-pointers against the Wolverines.

"We were wide open," Groce said. "We ran plays, executed, got shots we were getting early in the season, and we didn't make them. It's kind of it is what it is.

"That's why I talk about controlling the controller. We executed a couple things really, really well on Sunday. I thought set-play execution was as good as it's been. You got to make a couple."

Scott Powers