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mean MSU game into last night’s action having lost two-in-a-row for
the first time in a few years. And the most recent of those losses
was an embarrassing loss at home versus Indiana, a team that had
lost seven in a row. I don’t think I was wrong to surmise then that
the Spartans would come in with their hair on fire and taking no
prisoners. I knew they would be ready to play and ready to
physically handle the Illini in every way.
What I didn’t expect was how ready to play Illinois was. We have had
some promising signs since the Minnesota game. I don’t think anyone
figured that we would blitz them and battle with them on the boards
like we did. I’m quite sure that few if any had the Illini beating
Maryland at Madison Square Garden. And maybe some didn’t even feel
strongly about a win against Nebraska after they had handed it to
Illinois at their place.
Good signs of growth are great, but this is Michigan State. The
number #9 ranked team in the country looking to take out their
frustrations on somebody. On anybody!
However, Illinois came to the fight like they were the offended
party. They started strong and served notice from the very opening
tip that they weren’t just going to be pushed around and concede the
game to the always title-contending Spartans.
The Illini built a lead and sustained it, surprising most people in
the house with a 41-32 lead at halftime. In fact, Illinois built
their lead to as many as 14 points in the 2nd half and chances to
make it bigger. But you knew that Sparty would never go away quietly
and they didn’t.
They made a huge run and actually took the lead and led by 3 for an
uncomfortable few minutes. I was so concerned that I was making
deals with my maker that I didn’t want to lose this one after
playing so well for most of the game. My best deal was-just let us
keep it close-maybe keep us within two-and maybe we’ll have a chance
to win it at the buzzer. A recipe that has not worked all that well
this season for the Illini. Fortunately for me and us, Feliz,
Jordan, and Dosunmu had a better idea.
Andres Feliz, who has been a sparkplug for this team all season,
somehow climbed up amongst the trees & came down with the ball. Then
he went back up converted the tough shot and sank the free throw
tying the game; one of the key plays of the entire contest.
At some point Aaron Jordan saw one of MSU’s top snipers wide open in
the corner ready to launch a 3 that would’ve given the Spartans the
lead and maybe put them in position to win the game. Jordan flew to
the corner in a move that has to be one of the quickest this
reporter has seen him make. So quick, that he literally blocked the
shot early in flight, giving Illinois a key position late in the
game. [to top of second column] |
Entering from stage left was Ayo. As the shot clock wound down
he wanted the ball but was still too far away from the basket. I
was saying no-no-no but Ayo said yes and the ball swished
through the hoop. Illinois buckled down and somehow got another
stop, as Sparty couldn’t find the basket against the Illini’s
tenacious defense in the last four minutes.
I was hoping Illinois would slow everything down, waste 30
seconds off the clock and make free throws. But Ayo had the
ball. I guess he thought he was open from 30-feet and was
feeling it. Boom! Another one down the hatch! And Sparty was
left staggering. Coach Tom Izzo, one of the best in the game,
had not been happy with his team all night. After that one went
through the net, he looked like he had been shot. He stomped
around but immediately called a timeout and his frustration was
palpable!
From there it became an intensely brutal defensive and free
throw battle and somehow the Illini did what their fans have
been craving all season-finish a game! And that’s exactly what
Illinois did. It wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful.
Ayo Dosunmu led the way with 24 points. Giorgi Bezhanishvili had
16, Trent Frazier tallied 15, and Andres Feliz chipped in 10
[Adonis de La Rosa only played 7 minutes, but his 7 minutes were
huge in establishing the Illini presence].
And as important as scoring stats are, especially to this
reporter, Illinois won this game battling on the boards and
playing stingy, intense defense throughout. An example of that
is Illinois forced 24 Spartan turnovers 17 in the first half
alone. That’s more than MSU averages in a game! And playing a
big, tall, physical, outstanding boarding team like MSU you
might expect that Illinois got killed on the boards. That’s not
what happened. Illinois stayed close on this one only succumbing
30-25. They also out-stole the Spartans 12-6 in the steals stats
and that made up the rebounding difference. Illinois only missed
two more free throws that MSU and made two more 3-pointers and
those were huge difference makers.
They say a program like Illinois’, in its second year under
Coach Brad Underwood, needs a signature win to get the program
headed in the right direction. Our guess is that Tuesday night’s
nationally televised win over Michigan State hopefully fills the
order. And even better, got the attention of all potential
recruits who have the Illini on their radar!
Next up for the Illini is a Saturday home tilt with Rutgers at
3:00 p.m.
[By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jeffqmay@gmail.com.
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