Think Mizzou is not an NIT team, Big Conference NIT teams are typically bubble NCAA teams....this team is not.
Best thing I saw from Illinois today defensively was collapsing to their big (Mitchell). Allowed Mirk to body him and Z to come in for the block. Also saw better rotations and close outs to cover their shooters. Illinois also defining their roles for better teamwork. Kylan Boswell deferring but going at the basket when needed.
One of my biggest concern is ball handling, especially against athletic and long teams. Keaton will be a strong ball handler but he still worries me a bit. Certain line-ups will be more prone to being picked up full court and high in the half court. In the NCAA, we have had some trick defenses in the BU era that we haven't done well (Loyola, Iowa State, ). Andrej and Kylan are good ball handlers, but having MIrk bring it up is what the other team will want.