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Final Score: Illinois 65, Houston 55.
Illinois proves me wrong with the best win in the Brad Underwood-era! While the free-throw shooting was scary late, the Illini hold on, with a great offensive start extending a two-point halftime lead to as many as 18 points in the second half. Cold-shooting Houston got the Illinois lead to no less than seven points! Illinois was just 12/21 from the free throw line, but Houston only took two free throw attempts as Illinois upped its defense to a whole new level. The offensively-renowned Illini pull the upset due to incredible defense and board work, outrebounding Houston 37 to 25 (*it was actually 43-34 in the final box score). Simply put, Illinois beat Houston at the Cougars' style of game, which was not always pretty but certainly effective! That was a tremendous defensive effort by the Illini, which advance to the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons. Up next is the scary Iowa Hawkeyes. The Illini will need to bring similar defense, physicality and poise against a Hawkeyes' team that is extremely confident at the moment. Don't assume the hard work is done for the Illini as Iowa is going to be an even more difficult game, especially if the score is close in the final minutes. Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions throughout Illinois' impressive victory against Houston in the Sweet Sixteen!
Second Half, Final Four Minutes Live Reactions
Illinois leads 62-55 with 48 seconds remaining. Kylan Boswell has gone 2/6 from the free throw line late. It will be Illinois' ball out of a timeout.
Illinois leads 60-51 with 1:44 remaining. Houston is on a 10-2 run. Kingston Flemings just got a lucky bounce on a shot. Illinois is looking shaky against the press.
Second Half, Under-4 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 58-41 with 3:27 remaining. Illinois responds with an 8-0 run after Houston got the game to nine with two threes by Chase McCarty. Illinois gets a big three from Tomi Ivisic off an offensive rebound and then a Wagler three. Stojakovic just scored a tough two in the lane. The Illini are doing a great job of running clock but taking opportune shots when they are available. Houston seemed to be coming back, but the Illini have stemmed off the run. Illinois is playing its best defense all season the last two games. Houston will be shooting its first two free throws of the game out of the timeout.
Second Half, Under-8 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 46-35 with 7:35 remaining. Illinois is now in the bonus. Wagler missed the front end of a one-and-one. Emanuel Sharp is getting going, with two mid-range jumpers. Illinois needs to find an easy basket, though Stojakovic will be shooting two free throws out of the break. Illinois will win if it hits free throws. Illinois is shooting 40% from the field, Houston 31%.
Illinois leads 46-31 with 9:56 remaining. Timeout Illinois. Ben Humrichous keeps a possession alive by crashing the boards, leading to a Tomislav Ivicic rebound and foul. Ivisic hits two free throws to stop a 5-0 Houston run. The Cougars are shooting just 28%, though Milos Uzan just hit a three. Both teams have 6 fouls.
Illinois leads 46-31 with 9:56 remaining. Timeout Illinois. Ben Humrichous keeps a possession alive by crashing the boards, leading to a Tomislav Ivicic rebound and foul. Ivisic hits two free throws to stop a 5-0 Houston run. The Cougars are shooting just 28%, though Milos Uzan just hit a three. Both teams have 6 fouls.
Second Half, Under-12 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 44-26 with 11:56 remaining. Illinois is on a 17-0 run, punctuated by Mirkovic and Ben Humrichous threes. Houston is struggling to get any good offense. Illinois has given up leads this year; the Illini must continue to d up and look to attack. Illinois has made a great adjustment this half, cutting on the baseline. Wagler has been great against the blitz, keeping his dribble alive. What a great start to the second half for the Illini! Houston hasn't scored in 6 minutes!
Second Half, Under-16 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 33-26 with 15:53 remaining. Wagler is off to a great start, getting in the passing line and knocking a ball out of bounds, leading to the under-16 timeout. Illinois is exuding great defensive effort tonight. Illinois has played some of its best defense; Houston is just such a hard team to adjust to on the other end. Illinois is starting to get some rhythm. The Illini cannot relax and need to get this lead to double digits. The home-court advantage has meant nothing so far for the Cougars.
Illinois leads 33-26 with a little more than 16 minutes going. Timeout Houston. Illinois is on a 9-2 run. Wagler has a three and offensive rebound/stick back. Illinois has just gotten two layups off great baseline cuts on the weak side. Houston has adjusted offensively. Instead of letting Cenac settle for jumpers, the Cougars are having their big crash on the baseline as Tugler gets the ball at the free throw line. Boswell is on the bench with three fouls. Illinois has made a great adjustment. With Wagler coming off the bounce, Illinois is sending a player from the opposite side on the baseline, opening up layups.
Halftime Adjustments
Illinois played the better half but is only up two points. This is a Houston-style game. Little mistakes are killing the Illini, including giving up two offensive boards that led to Emanuel Sharp threes. Illinois rushed a few shots early in the shot clock during the last four minutes. The Illini must be poised. The Cougars have been butchers on offense but should continue to get shots in the mid-range. Illinois needs to find a way to open up some threes. Going down low and forcing Houston to double will hopefully do so. Keaton Wagler struggled, scoring just 4 points on 1-for-7 shooting. Illinois is getting shots at the rim but struggling with Houston's size. If Illinois is not going to finish at the rim, it's time to take floaters or come to hard jump stops in the lane for quick shots. This game feels like it's turning toward Houston. Illinois must find some offensive rhythm early in the second half. A grinder of a game favors the Cougars, which will wear down Illinois with this style of play. Expect the fouls and free throws to pile up this half. Which team hits free throws will likely come out victorious.
Halftime Score: Illinois 24, Houston 22.
The half couldn't have ended worse for Illinois, giving up a Flemings three at the horn. Illinois rushed two shots early in the shot clock (Mirkovic and Boswell) and missed the front end of a one-and-one. Illinois controlled the half, but is only up two after Houston couldn't hit a bucket. This is a Houston style game that the Cougars are better at. Illinois needs to come out fast in the second half. Keaton Wagler has had his third difficult first half of the tournament, hopefully he can respond with another strong second half as has been the case during the first two rounds. Here are the halftime stats.
First Half, Under-4 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 21-14 with 3:55 remaining. Houston just missed another open three, but Illinois followed up with a bad turnover by David Mirkovic. Illinois now has five turnovers. Illinois must extend this lead during the last four minutes of the half. It could be the difference in the game. Houston is 2/13 from three; Illinois is 2/7.
Timeout Houston with 4:20 remaining. Illinois leads 21-14. Andrej Stojakovic just hit a big corner three. Prior to that, he hit a ridiculous fadeaway with the shot clock winding down. Illinois also got a lob layup from Zvonimir Ivisic. This has been a great stretch for the Illini. Stojakovic has 9 points off the bench so far after his big first half against VCU. Illinois has an 18-12 advantage on the boards. The Illini must continue to gang rebound. Illinois is 2/9 on layups. Illinois has an 11-0 advantage in bench points and a 12-4 advantage with points in the paint.
First Half, Under-8 Timeout Live Reactions
The game is tied at 14 with 7:28 remaining. Illinois got David Mirkovic going, with a three out of a post-touch and a layup off a nice feed from Ivisic. This game is starting to tilt toward Houston so far as the Cougars have three steals. Both teams are frigid from the field. Illinois is 6/18 with just one three! Houston is 6/20. Cougars freshman Chris Cenac is 1-for-7 from the field, missing wide open jumpers on the baseline. Tugler has hit two push shots during this shot. This is a big stretch for Illinois.
First Half, Under-12 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 9-8 with 13:46 remaining. Andrej Stojakovic has two nice finishes at the rim while Tomi Ivisic had a nice inside hoop on a post-up. Illinois is struggling to get any offensive rhythm with Houston's trapping. The Cougars have two threes, including a Milos Uzan three off a Jo Jo Tugler offensive board. Illinos has a 10-8 advantage on the glass, and an 8-0 lead in points in the paint. However, this game is a Houston game, which is worrisome. Illinois is struggling to find offense and has not hit a three yet. Illinois must realize it cannot dribble through this Houston defense.
First Half, Under-16 Timeout Live Reactions
Illinois leads 2-0 with 16:13 remaining as refs review a potential shot-clock violation against Illinois. It's been a brutal shooting start for both teams. Illinois has one field on a Tomislav Ivicic offensive rebound/stick back. Houston hasn't hit a shot. The Illini are 1/8. Houston is 0/5. Illinois should be up more, but the Illini have missed some close shots. Illinois does have three offensive boards, however, Houston's trapping defense is giving Illinois problems. Houston has not been close on any of its shots. This is a Houston-style game. Illinois is doing a great job on the defensive glass, limiting Houston to one shot. Excellent gang rebounding by the Illini.
Prediction: My Heart Says Illinois, My Head Says Houston
In what is being billed by some as the best game of the Sweet Sixteen, Illinois is taking on Houston with a decided disadvantage, with the game being played at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Honestly, I like this for the Illini as playing a road game should lend itself to more focus. Ultimately, Illinois is going to need the same defensive intensity it had against VCU, though Houston's perimeter of Milos Uzan, Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp are a whole different animal. While Illinois lacks the athleticism of Houston, the Illini can match the physicality and must use its size to its advantage, making post touches a priority. Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic came alive the last two games, and Illinois will need the Croatian big man to play with a similar fervor and effort tonight! Illinois' David Mirkovic must stay on the court and out of foul trouble. How Illinois responds to Houston's double teams will be crucial. Illinois guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell must be strong with the basketball. While Illinois doesn't commit many turnovers, the Illini did struggle at points with VCU's active hands. Personally, this Houston team has not been as impressive as past Cougars' teams, though Kelvin Sampson's squads elevate to a much different defensive level in the tournament. Expect a close game tonight, with Houston just being a little too much for the Illini! With that said, prove me wrong Wagler, Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Brad Underwood and company. Whatever team wins will get the dangerous Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday!
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