There was much less burnt orange and navy blue than in years past at the annual Illini basketball trip to Northwestern‘s Welsh-Ryan Arena. However, the crowd was still approximately about 40-45% in favor of Illinois and they got exactly what they came for as the Illini, seven point underdogs, came up to Evanston and put together the most complete effort of the season.
The reward for that effort? Their biggest win of the season, over what has now become their primary rival.
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It’s been about as down a year as possible for Illini basketball, much like it’s been about as positive a season as they’ve ever experienced up in NU. Thus, no one really saw this coming, as Illinois beat 68-61 on the strength of a 30-13 advantage in bench points, and a whole lot of balanced scoring.
“Obviously it’s a rivalry game, we know that, we acknowledge that,” said Illini basketball Coach John Groce who finally rode the hot hand in his game coaching decisions tonight.
“We had several players do a lot of things, a lot of different things.”
Four Illini basketball players scored in double figures: Malcolm Hill (14), while Maverick Morgan, Te’Jon Lucas and Michael Finke each had 11.
“I felt it would be fair to say this was his most complete game,” said Groce of Te’Jon Lucas, who had six assists and five rebounds.
Groce had a similar opinion on Jalen Coleman-Lands, whose stat sheet matched his jersey number: five points, five rebounds, five assists. “I thought it was one of the most complete games he’s played in two years,” Groce said of JCL.
Northwestern was without their alpha dog, Scottie Lindsey, for the second straight game. Depending on what outlet you listen to, he’s out with either the flu or mononucleosis. Northwestern Coach Chris Collins is of course not saying anything on the topic.
NU’s other main top gun, Bryant McIntosh led the game with 21 points, on 8-20 shooting, but he had some major issues in this one. He committed four turnovers in the last 2:18 of the game and finished with a game high six.
Northwestern lost by 21 at Purdue six days ago, and there’s no shame in that. It’s not a bad loss. This however, is the worst loss of the year for NU and it provides a blow to their postseason resume. Tonight was really the only bad loss the Wildcats have had thus far, and of course, the committee will likely take into account that they were without their best player.
Still, NU really needs Lindsey to get well soon, as they have a trip to #7 Wisconsin coming up this weekend, and then a clash against #21 Maryland next Wednesday. They could very well be staring at a four game losing streak soon.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, Bold and the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication, appears regularly as a guest on CGTN America, WGN CLTV News and KOZN.
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