Illini thriving beyond the arc

"There aren't too many bad shots in his offense," forward Tyler Griffey said. "He knows we can shoot. He just really instills the confidence."

The same players made 30.4 percent of their 3-pointers last season and ranked 197th in 3's per game. The Illini are shooting 38.6 percent beyond the arc through 12 games while employing Groce's philosophy to take "the first available shot that we can make."

Stu Durando