Competitive practices 'just fun' as Illini aim to elevate program

CHAMPAIGN — The vibe coming from practices at Ubben Basketball Complex has been a different one this summer.

You won’t hear Shauna Green complaining. The third-year Illinois women’s basketball coach is happy with what she’s seen so far.

Even with eight returning players, the Illini didn’t stand pat this offseason, adding high-level transfers with sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger providing important backcourt depth and sophomore center Lety Vasconcelos giving Illinois a post presence and rim protector at 6-foot-7. Not just that but the Illini had already brought in five-star freshman wing/forward Berry Wallace, who affords Illinois another playmaking option.

That mix of returners and newcomers has meshed well. It’s also made practices this summer more in line with what Green would want from a mostly veteran team with a core that’s been in place at Illinois for two full seasons.

“I think we’re way further ahead than we were the first summer and then last summer we progressed a little bit further and quicker, but this year, we have been able to progress a lot,” Green said this past Thursday. “Either we’re really old or we’re really young, like there’s no in between with this group. But the competitiveness, it’s just fun. These guys, there’s been a couple times they’re talking back and forth and we’ve got certain matchups. But on all my great teams, all my championship teams (at Dayton), that’s what you have.

“I think that we’re able to push each other and it’s everyone, too, 1 through 12, right now. So there’s no really weaknesses there. Every matchup is a really good matchup. That can really make each other better, and that’s what we haven’t had the last couple years.”

Those battles in practices have been an adjustment for some of the newcomers. Like Brown-Hagger, who left Starkville, Miss., after a disappointing freshman season with Sam Purcell’s Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

But also something that the 5-9 guard and former four-star recruit — the Shorewood native was the top-rated player in the state of Illinois in the Class of 2023, per ESPN’s HoopGurlz — said can only help the Illini in the long run.

Especially with Brown-Hagger learning some hard lessons when she’s checking Illinois veteran guards Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant on the defensive end.

“It’s very different from what I’m used to,” Brown-Hagger said. “This is very competitive, and I like it. I’m not a very loud outspoken person. I’m more, low-key competitive. But going at Cook and Gen every day. That’s just something that boosts confidence when you get stops, just because they’re some of the most dynamic (players) that you can guard. So I feel like the competition level from everybody at all five positions has brought some intensity to practice.”

The whole process has been an important one for Brown-Hagger.

She’s felt the confidence the Illinois coaching staff has exuded when she’s in the room. It’s not lost on her in the nearly two months Brown-Hagger has been on campus.

“I feel like it comes from everyone: myself, talking to (sports psychologist Becky Cook), my teammates,” Brown-Hagger said. “Regardless if you make a mistake, everyone is going to stand behind you. The coaches? Yeah, they’re going to yell, but they’re not going to yell at you for making a mistake unless you’re making it not going hard. I feel like that’s where I’ve learned that it’s OK to make a mistake as long as you’re doing everything you need to do and kind of getting out of your head. It’s basketball, something you’ve been playing for a long time. Just have fun with it.

“For me, it’s just kind of, you know how to play ball. Just go play. Just learning a new system is also where the hesitancy is coming from, but now that I’m in it more so, it’s just go hoop. You know how to play and I’ve got good players around me. Everyone is good. There is no drop-off. Just go do what you do and your team is going to make up for any mistakes.”