Illini beat the Boilers

[12xu]

Illinois wins their 3rd in a row to end the regular Big Ten schedule at 12-8, and their 20th win overall. Purdue had won the last 5 games vs Illinois. Another outstanding performance by Tre White, who had 20 pts and led the team with 9 rebounds, and 3 treys. After a rough stretch when he was sick, he has had 4 strong games in a row. Riley had another excellent game, leading the team with 22 points, and made all 6 of his free throw attempts. Humrichous had 2 big treys in the second half, and Kasparas hit a killer 3 to put the Illini up 82-79 with 39 seconds left in the game, and he also had 7 assists. Boswell had 15 pts and 5 assists, and Ivisic had 14 pts and 6 rebounds.

Great team effort, they only had 8 turnovers, had 20 assists - big improvements from earlier in the season. Illinois had trouble with Kaufman-Renn, the 6-9 230 lb. power forward had 29 points to lead all scorers. He is the kind of player who has given the Illini fits all year, like 6-9 250 lb. Julian Reese (season high 27 pts at Illinois), 6-9 245 Jaxon Kohler (season high 23 pts at Illinois).

On to the Big Ten tournament, where Illinois gets a first round bye, and likely will play the winner of Ohio State vs Nebraska.

[marlu]

Gotta admit - didn't think that they would make it to 20 or make the adjustments necessary to get there.

[12xu]

Illinois wins their 3rd in a row to end the regular Big Ten schedule at 12-8, and their 20th win overall. Purdue had won the last 5 games vs Illinois. Another outstanding performance by Tre White, who had 20 pts and led the team with 9 rebounds, and 3 treys. After a rough stretch when he was sick, he has had 4 strong games in a row. Riley had another excellent game, leading the team with 22 points, and made all 6 of his free throw attempts. Humrichous had 2 big treys in the second half, and Kasparas hit a killer 3 to put the Illini up 82-79 with 39 seconds left in the game, and he also had 7 assists. Boswell had 15 pts and 5 assists, and Ivisic had 14 pts and 6 rebounds.

Great team effort, they only had 8 turnovers, had 20 assists - big improvements from earlier in the season. Illinois had trouble with Kaufman-Renn, the 6-9 230 lb. power forward had 29 points to lead all scorers. He is the kind of player who has given the Illini fits all year, like 6-9 250 lb. Julian Reese (season high 27 pts at Illinois), 6-9 245 Jaxon Kohler (season high 23 pts at Illinois).

On to the Big Ten tournament, where Illinois gets a first round bye, and likely will play the winner of Ohio State vs Nebraska.

Correction: Illinois' first game in the Big Ten Tourney will be the winner of Ohio State and Iowa. If they win that game, they will face Maryland. They beat the Illini in Champaign by 21 in January. The Terrapins have an excellent starting 5, but their bench is not so hot. Illinois will need to contain Queen and Reese somehow, and try to get either of them in foul trouble.

First, of course, they have to win their game vs the Buckeyes or Hawkeyes.

[Rickster]

the 8 turnovers and 20 assists stat line makes me smile, but also 21-25 FTs. Get to the rim and draw contact.

I still wish Riley would attack the rim more forcefully and dunk the ball, but that's nitpicking an 18 year old who has figured out how to bring his skill set to bear.