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Final Score: Illinois 76, VCU 55.
Illinois takes care of business, playing arguably its most active and best defensive game of the season, limiting VCU to 34.8% shooting from the field and 21.9% from three. The offensively-renowned Illini wore defensive hard hats that haven't been seen all season and wore down the plucky Rams, who sadly lost Nyk Lewis to injury in the game's first minute and succumbed to Illinois' massive size. Offensively, Illinois had a great game plan, focusing on going inside rather than bombing from three. With the exception of a stretch in the first half that was merely the result of VCU's quick defensive hands and incredible tenacity, Illinois controlled the game. Illinois was incredibly balanced with Andrej Stojakovic lifting Illinois to a seven-point halftime lead behind 16 first half points. The Illini got a great game from Tomislav Ivicic, who scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. After scoring just one point in the first half, star freshman Keaton Wagler got going in the second half, finishing with 14 points. Kylan Boswell added 12 points and displayed the leadership this team needed with a great defensive effort. All in all, the Illini played a great team game. Kudos to Head Coach Brad Underwood and his staff for utilizing Illinois' size advantage to its strength and making post touches a priority. Illinois still got 24 threes up, which shows that the deep shot will be there even when focusing upon getting the ball down low. Illinois reaches its second Sweet Sixteen in three years. Now comes the really, really hard part, the Houston Cougars at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. With that said, worry about Houston tomorrow and enjoy Illinois' relatively stress-free tournament wins so far! Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions throughout the Illini's victory against the Rams.
Second Half, Under-4 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 71-51 with 3:28 remaining. Wagler, the All-American freshman, has scored 13 of his 14 points in the second half. Tomislav Ivisic just had a dunk and has 14 points and 9 rebounds. This is the best game big Tomi has played in months. Illinois has a 37-23 advantage on the boards.
Second Half, Under-8 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 63-42 with 7:30 remaining. Illinois has had its best defensive effort from its perimeter players all season. A Keaton Wagler block leads to a nifty Wagler reverse lay in. Illinois has at least 2, maybe 3 blocks by its perimeter players. Illinois has really played hard on that end tonight. VCU has hit just one three this half. The Rams are 6/27 (22%). VCU still hasn't shot a free throw. This might seem shocking but Illinois does not commit many fouls and gives up less than 13 free throws a game.
Illinois leads 56-37 with 10:03 remaining. Timeout V.C.U. VCU has three straight unforced turnovers. The Rams are wearing down. Illinois just took the last turnover and converted it into a two-handed slam by Andrej Stojakovic.
Second Half, Under-12 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 52-37 with 11:42 remaining. The Illini were up as much as 19 points as VCU hadn't scored in nearly five minutes. A major part of this game was VCU's Lazar Djokovic going up for a slam and getting blocked by Zvonimir Ivisic, who hustled down court and had a poster dunk with one hand. Phil Martelli, Jr., got a tech shortly after, sticking up for his players as he thought Djokovic was fouled. That is good coaching. VCU had a mini 5-0 run off two sloppy, lazy Illinois turnovers. Wagler stopped the run with a drive and score in the mid-range. VCU seems tired, but that seemed to be the case against UNC, and the Rams came back. Illinois must continue to go down low. VCU is stone cold from three.
Second Half, Under-16 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 43-32 with 15:49 remaining. Illinois has had the right game plan tonight, only shooting 16 threes. The focus has been on the interior, and it's working well. VCU is coming up short on contested mid-range shots. Expect Illinois to insert Stojakovic.
Illinois leads 43-30 with 17:29 remaining. The refs are reviewing an out-of-bounds call against the Illini. Illinois is off to a great start, with Wagler hitting a step-back three and Mirkovic draining a three. Wagler then made a great pass to Mirkovic out of a double, who fed Tomislav Ivicic for a dunk. Ivicic has 9 points and is 4/4 from the field. He has woken up and is playing great, even sliding his feet. Ivisic hasn't moved his feet like that in two years at Illinois.
Halftime Adjustments
Illinois needs to keep attacking the rim, beginning by feeding Stojakovic, who should be aware of VCU doubles and be ready to kick out for open threes. Illinois cannot rush threes as several bad shots by Wagler led to VCU run outs. Illinois threes need to come out of post touches. VCU is going to have to hit threes at a higher clip. The Rams are only 4/18 (22%). VCU did not shoot the ball well against UNC in the first half on Thursday night, but then connected around 70% in the second half. Defensively, VCU is going to have to disguise doubles of Stojakovic, MIrkovic and Ivisic from different directions and hope such activity can force more turnovers and fast breaks. Otherwise, VCU has to work very hard to get good shots. Illinois has to hope the Rams are going to wear down from having to expend so much defensive energy, especially with Lewis out for the game. Wagler only has 1 point tonight; Illinois was able to get him going last game with threes created by posting up Mirkovic. It is going to be hard for VCU to get to the foul line. Illinois must limit VCU to one shot. The Rams had seven offensive rebounds, though Illinois is +7 on the glass, and starting to gain an advantage there.
Halftime: Illinois 35, VCU 28.
Andrej Stojakovic carries Illinois into the half with 11 straight points. He leads the Illini with 16 points off the bench. Thursday night's hero Terrance Hill, Jr., leads VCU with 12 points off the bench. Illinois is fortunate to be up, as Tomislav Ivicic and David Mirkovic were saddled with two fouls for the majority of the latter part of the second half. Illinois started the game perfectly, getting the ball inside, which opened up several threes. VCU's defensive activity changed the game and allowed the Rams to rally from an early 12-point deficit and even lead by two points at point point. Stojakovic has gotten to the rim at will and must start the second half for the Illini. Below are the halftime stats.
First Half, Final Four Minutes Live Reactions
VCU timeout. Illinois leads 35-28 with 27 seconds left. Stojakovic scores on a pull up in the lane. He has 16 points off the bench.
Illinois leads 33-28 with 38 seconds left. Andrej Stojakovic is on a 7-0 run, with a nasty two-hand slam, and-one and beautiful bank shot. Stojakovic has 14 points. VCU has had no answer, with Stojakovic getting 7 free throws already, making 6. Illinois has the ball. This is a big possession for Illinois which must run clock and not rush a shot, as a couple of quick threes have led to long VCU rebounds and run outs.
First Half, Under-4 Timeout Live Reactions
The game is tied at 26 with 3:35 remaining. Give VCU credit. The Rams' defensive activity has sped up the Illini offense, which is settling for too many threes at the moment. Illinois has seven turnovers, VCU has 5 rebounds and is only down one in rebounding (15 to 14). Terrance Hill, Jr. got matched up on the slower Ben Humrichous and buried a three. Illinois is trying to survive the half with Tomislav Ivicic and Mirkovic both having 2 fouls. Illinois is 7/10 at the free throw line. VCU has not shot a free throw yet. VCU's Hill, Barry Evans and Tyrell Ward are the most active players on the court. Illinois has missed six straight shots.
First Half, Under-8 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 23-17 with 7:59 remaining. VCU is playing really tough with a pogo-stick put back by Jadrian Tracey. The Rams have gotten the points in the paint to 10-8 in favor of the Illini. Illinois is trying to dribble through the Rams, whose hands are too quick. The Illini need to move the ball. A little too much hero ball by Wagler led to a tie up. Tomislav Ivicic hit a three and is 3/3. However, he has two fouls right now. VCU has three steals, Illinois has 4 turnovers. It does not look like Nyk Lewis will be back with a bad ankle sprain, which is a shame as he had a great game against UNC. He is currently on the bench with an ice pack.
First Half, Under-12 Timeout Live Reactions
IIlinois leads 20-13 with 10:04 remaining. After a cold shooting start, VCU is starting to get going offensively, with three threes in this stretch. Also, VCU defensive's activity leads to a steal and alley-oop dunk. This has been a nice response from the Rams, whom the Illini are trying to bully down low. Illinois is 2/5 from three, with both makes coming off dribble drives. Illinois has taken one bad shot, a step-back three by Keaton Wagler that led to an air ball. llinois is really crashing the defensive glass, with five guys packing the paint. The start of this segment was the best defense Illinois has played in a long time. Jake Davis (!) has a helpline steal, Andrej Stojakovic (!) has a block.. Stojakovic is getting to the rim at will.
First Half, Under-16 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 9-2 with 15:43 remaining. The Illini are doing a great job focusing on going inside. This is a good sign, with Tomi Ivisic 2/2 from the field with four points. Illinois is running offense through David Mirkovic. The Illini have 6 points in the paint and have only taken one three, which was a Jake Davis three opened off a dribble drive. Illinois is off to a perfect start with the absolutely correct offensive game plan. VCU did force two turnovers early with active hands. Illinois is playing great defense, moving its feet, with Ivisic just having a nasty two-hand block on a Rams' driver. VCU is 0/4 from three, 1/7 from the field. Illinois is 4/6 from the field.
Illinois leads 2-0 with 19:14 remaining. VCU's Nyk Lewis is down with an ankle injury that looked quite nasty. Illinois big man Tomislav Ivicic gets a nice offensive board on a missed Kylan Boswell layup and sticks the ball back in. Terrance Hill, Jr., is in the game for Lewis and is guarded by Boswell.
Prediction: Illinois
VCU rallied from a 19-point second half deficit on Thursday night to shock the North Carolina Tar Heels, being led by reserve guard Terrence Hill, Jr., who scored 32 points off the bench. Illinois rebounded from a difficult shooting performance in the first half to torch the nets during the last 20 minutes of its first-round drubbing of Penn. Ultimately, this game is a matter of speed versus size. VCU poses problems with its quick guards that can get into the mid-range and lane, and drop down on defense and force turnovers with active hands. Illinois is the tallest team in the country but struggles to contain dribble penetration, meaning that VCU can get a lot of points in the mid-range, especially against the Illini's drop coverage. VCU got hot from three in the second half of its comeback. If the Rams can get to the rim and hit threes, VCU has a very legitimate chance to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Scoring will not be an issue for the Illini; it's how Illinois gets those points that will be key. Illini loves to shoot the three but can rely too much on the deep ball. Illinois must get the ball into the post to its big men David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivicic, making it a point to wear out the smaller Rams early and often. Ideally, such inside offense will propel Illinois' outside shooting, as was the case Thursday night. If Illinois can maintain this offensive balance, the Illini will score at will. While Illinois All-American freshman point guard Keaton Wagler will be huge, his senior teammate in the back court Kylan Boswell must have a great defensive game containing VCU's guards. Boswell has been better guarding bigger than smaller and quicker players. Ultimately Illinois will need to win this game with more resistant defense. The Illini are not the greatest defensive team around but are capable enough on this end, diverse offensively, and too big and strong for the Rams. Illinois will win and reach the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three seasons.
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