Groce: Illinois showing good offensive signs

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois basketball coach John Groce (GROHS) says that as the season's start approaches, his team is showing some signs it will be better on offense.

Groce has said this team should score more than last season's low-scoring team. Illinois averaged just 64.2 points a game. In the Big Ten only Northwestern was worse.

Groce said Thursday the Illini showed some offensive promise in a closed-door scrimmage against Dayton last weekend. He said the shooting was the best his team has managed since his first season at Illinois.

But he said his team's defense was "just OK."

Defense has been Illinois' hallmark under Groce.

Illinois scrimmages Quincy on Friday and opens the season at home against Georgia Southern on Nov. 14.