Beatwriter Scott Richey will be providing updates throughout the night as long as Illinois takes on Nebraska. Here you can follow:
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Little did Brad Underwood know that Ayo Dosunmu had been messing around with Wisconsin last Saturday and scoring a triple-double until SID Derrick Burson told him he was walking out of court.
“I had no idea,” said Underwood.
Mostly because it was still a bit under the radar even for a rarity like a triple-double. Dosunmus 21 points came out of only 12 shots. Efficient.
Underwood was most impressed with Dosunmus defense and rebound.
“I said to Ayo (Wednesday) in practice, ‘Don’t run away from winning,” said Underwood. “The 12 rebounds and the guard made the game look easy. When you do these things it is amazing how the game finds you right now. It is very easy for Ayo to find it on the offensive end if he does these other things. He becomes a one-man quick break. He has the ability in his size to get double digit rebounds. Then it has the length that it has to guard.
“That’s the challenge with Ayo. He never has to worry about the other end. The game will find him if he does these other things. That was an easy triple-double because it wasn’t noticed. I had no idea. Usually I’m pretty dialed in. I had no idea until Derrick told me after the game. “
Suitable for an action on Friday. #Illini | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/d5oHlXNPrN
– Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 13, 2021
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Want to learn more about this team in Nebraska? Then check out these offers from Nebraska Media:
Tip in an hour between Nebraska and Illinois. The Huskers with 52 TOs in 3 games are considering big changes in their approach. https://t.co/QXMgvB1VP7@dirkchatelain has match coverage for you tonight. I’ll take care of the three roadies and the home show next weekend. pic.twitter.com/kLQbzppnWC
– Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) February 13, 2021
The Big Ten were once the league that postponed their football season by two months out of concern for the wellbeing of athletes. Now it’s the league that crowds eight games in 14 days for basketball in Nebraska. That doesn’t match @tomshatelOWH https: / /t.co/dXGk0lLnua
– World-Herald Big Red (@OWHbigred) February 12, 2021
Despite the losses, despite the bad shooting, Fred Hoiberg said he wasn’t worried his team might fall on themselves. #Huskers played with energy in their first three games. But the offense just has to get better.
– Chris Basnett (@HuskerExtraCB) February 11, 2021
Here’s what you need to know if you’re playing # 6 Illinois in # Nebrasketballs home game tonight at 8 p.m.: //t.co/F5ph5c20Uq
– Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) February 12, 2021
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If you missed today’s story on Adam Miller and how the freshman has grown as a defender this season, now is the time to take a few minutes to review.
Then a little more from Brad Underwood on the subject: “He’s become one of the guys I trust as a very, very good defender. Ace is going to be a great, great two-way player in his career. A guy who that can.” Really do it at both ends of the square. A great passerby. He has great vision and high IQ, and a guy who is really blooming again. He’s no longer a novice. He flourishes to be a seasoned college basketball player. “
Do you agree with @clubtrillion and @tatefrazier how these fanbases are feeling? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/NwzQ5vlmtQ
– FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 12, 2021
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Are you as hyped as @kxng_alpha for the game day? #Illini | #EveryDayGuy pic.twitter.com/sMprDlRfJd
– Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 12, 2021
The last time Illinois was on trial, some very special things happened. Ayo Dosunmu has only set up the third triple-double in program history. Kofi Cockburn had another double-double. And the Illinois beat Wisconsin for the first time in ten years in Champagne.
But that 75-60 win wasn’t perfect. Have Illinois coach Brad Underwood explain (mostly about his team’s 18 sales).
“We fumbled six balls where they just hit our hands,” said Underwood. “We weren’t clean. Two guys played really well. We didn’t play very well as a team in terms of cleanliness, execution and timing.”
“We’re seventh nationwide (offensive efficiency). There is room for improvement there. The out of bounds baseline is a big problem because Kofi fouls so many. We have a lot of out of bounds. We have.” to be better there. We have to continue our free throw shooting.
“Then we jumped on the defensive side. We made great progress there and are now in 13th place (defensive efficiency). That has to be the top 10 to get where we want to be. We are doing a few more . ” Rotation error. “
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This wasn’t the Illinois game, although it would be playing this week. The Illinois should get a chance to reduce Michigan’s lead on the Big Ten. A win in Ann Arbor, Michigan, based on percentage win alone, would not have made Illinois jump the Wolverines, but an advantage of two wins for the Illinois could have been crucial.
Then Michigan bowed. The Wolverines’ “return-to-play planning” would not allow a game on Thursday evening. They will try against Wisconsin on Sunday instead.
(Side note: The Michigan women’s team, facing the same layoff as the men’s team, played Purdue Thursday. The No. 12 Wolverines won by 13 points.)
Anyway, Illinois still managed to get a game this week. Not a 10-day break – again. The Illinois winning streak will instead be at stake in Nebraska. A game in Lincoln, Neb., On Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Advantage … someone?
Does the fact that Abraham Lincoln’s birthday mean more to the #Illini today (greetings to Honest Abe, the 16th President with all these Illinois connections)? Or more for the #Huskers who play in Lincoln, Neb.? These are the places my brain often goes.
– Scott Richey (@srrichey) February 12, 2021
The real upside, of course, is that Illinois is number 6 in the nation with two legitimate All-American candidates in the junior guard Ayo Dosunmu (if he’s not on the first team I’ve lost confidence in my AP peers). and in the second center Kofi Cockburn (he’ll be on one of the three teams, book it).
Not to mention the fact that Nebraska hasn’t won a Big Ten game in over 13 months. The last came on January 7, 2020 and has since been followed by 24 straight defeats in the conference game.
Illinois is the favorite. A clear favorite. It’s not Michigan, but this is still a game the Illinois must win to pursue the Big Ten title (and a higher seed in the NCAA tournament).
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