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I am a notoriously bad sleeper, someone who gets in funks where I cannot sleep at night.
Such was the case last Friday night when I fell asleep for about 30 minutes only to be up until six in the morning.
Facing another night of insomnia, I decided to do something I was dreading: I rewatched the Final Four game between the Illini and UCONN Huskies.
I tried to watch this game the Sunday morning immediately after the Illini's Final Four loss, but I could only get a few minutes into the game, with the Illini trailing 3-1 as Kylan Boswell shot a second free throw. The pain was too fresh as I felt like Illinois let a golden opportunity slip through its hands when losing to the Huskies.
Nearly a month later, I came away from the rewatch with some similar feelings I had during the original game's last 14 seconds, when I had to leave the room and be alone to collect my thoughts.
Here are five things that stood out to me upon a second viewing of the Final Four loss.
1) It was exciting during the actual moment but bittersweet during the rewatch when seeing Tomislav Ivisic hit a three to put Illinois up 22-21. That would be the Illini's only lead of the game. Knowing that in retrospect was a bit hard to stomach as Illinois was in the midst of holding UCONN scoreless and had several possessions to extend the lead. Andrej Stojakovic missed two free throws during this stretch, and before we knew it, UCONN was back up nine at the end of the half.
2) Watching this loss was like deja vu as an Illini fan. I had seen this game so many times in the NCAA Tournament, where Illinois is not playing well but hangs in only to lose. Even when Illinois got the game to 55-51 with about five minutes to go in the second half, I didn't feel the Illini were going to pull it out. By no means was I trying to be pessimistic; rather, it was just one of those familiar gut feelings. Granted, Illinois had some bad luck on the rim and UCONN had some incredibly lucky bounces. Braylon Mullins banked in a three during the first half and Solo Ball had two shots die on the back rim and fall in during the second half. After such a great tournament run, losing to UCONN that way was a tough pill to swallow. If only someone could have sparked us a bit earlier. It just wasn't meant to be, I guess. Still, to wait 21 years to get back to the Final Four, only to lose in a fugue state of a game, was a bit disappointing and leaves me even more hungry for next season to get here.
3) One reason it wasn't meant to be was Illinois did not push the tempo in the second half. While Illinois played at a slow pace all season, the Illini were doing a great job of holding UCONN scoreless. However, Illinois chose to walk the ball up way too much in the second half. With the game 57-51, it was time to push the ball. Hopefully, Illinois can learn next season to increase the tempo when behind because UCONN's slim lead felt much larger as a result of not having enough offensive urgency. I felt like Illinois fell into this same trap during the second half of the Elite Eight game against Iowa. While we were bigger and better than the Hawkeyes, UCONN was fine playing that type of game as the Huskies got better shots and just needed to hit a basket here and there to keep us at bay. Additionally, our offense needs to move the ball much better as we were way too much isolation dependent against UCONN.
4) I was encouraged by our defensive effort throughout the tournament, especially against UCONN. Illinois really locked in after getting down early in the first half and did the same in the second half. It's a shame the offense couldn't match because Illinois did what it needed to do defensively and on the glass. While defense figures to be a concern next season, Illinois can clearly guard when it applies itself. Fingers crossed that Stojakovic comes back and serves as a defensive catalyst next season.
5) I felt that UCONN's experience in the Final Four was the deciding factor. UCONN looked like a program that had been there before, even though only one of its starters, Alex Karaban, started on the national title team from two seasons ago. At no point did UCONN believe it was going to lose. Honestly, the moment seemed a little big for the Illini, which sometimes happens when getting to a Final Four. While scoring a quiet 20 points, Keaton Wagler looked uncomfortable and even tired all night. It's a shame his Illini career had to end that way, but what a season Keaton and this Illini team provided. Hopefully this loss will be fuel for Illinois to develop more of a killer instinct and make a deep tournament run next season.
With next season's return game with UCONN announced for Friday, December 4, 2026, at the United Center, I badly want a win. It's time for Illinois to beat UCONN and Dan Hurley, whom I think is the best coach in all of a college basketball but is such an insufferable jerk that I have a hard time respecting his greatness.
Still, for Illinois to prove it's legitimate, the Illini need to defeat the Huskies this season. That might seem like an overreaction on my part, but I feel it's true. After losing three times to UCONN in three seasons, Illinois needs to get over the hump early next season.
It's obvious the talent is there for the Illini; it's time to send a message with a big early-season win against UCONN, the best program in all of college basketball.
Such was the case last Friday night when I fell asleep for about 30 minutes only to be up until six in the morning.
Facing another night of insomnia, I decided to do something I was dreading: I rewatched the Final Four game between the Illini and UCONN Huskies.
I tried to watch this game the Sunday morning immediately after the Illini's Final Four loss, but I could only get a few minutes into the game, with the Illini trailing 3-1 as Kylan Boswell shot a second free throw. The pain was too fresh as I felt like Illinois let a golden opportunity slip through its hands when losing to the Huskies.
Nearly a month later, I came away from the rewatch with some similar feelings I had during the original game's last 14 seconds, when I had to leave the room and be alone to collect my thoughts.
Here are five things that stood out to me upon a second viewing of the Final Four loss.
1) It was exciting during the actual moment but bittersweet during the rewatch when seeing Tomislav Ivisic hit a three to put Illinois up 22-21. That would be the Illini's only lead of the game. Knowing that in retrospect was a bit hard to stomach as Illinois was in the midst of holding UCONN scoreless and had several possessions to extend the lead. Andrej Stojakovic missed two free throws during this stretch, and before we knew it, UCONN was back up nine at the end of the half.
2) Watching this loss was like deja vu as an Illini fan. I had seen this game so many times in the NCAA Tournament, where Illinois is not playing well but hangs in only to lose. Even when Illinois got the game to 55-51 with about five minutes to go in the second half, I didn't feel the Illini were going to pull it out. By no means was I trying to be pessimistic; rather, it was just one of those familiar gut feelings. Granted, Illinois had some bad luck on the rim and UCONN had some incredibly lucky bounces. Braylon Mullins banked in a three during the first half and Solo Ball had two shots die on the back rim and fall in during the second half. After such a great tournament run, losing to UCONN that way was a tough pill to swallow. If only someone could have sparked us a bit earlier. It just wasn't meant to be, I guess. Still, to wait 21 years to get back to the Final Four, only to lose in a fugue state of a game, was a bit disappointing and leaves me even more hungry for next season to get here.
3) One reason it wasn't meant to be was Illinois did not push the tempo in the second half. While Illinois played at a slow pace all season, the Illini were doing a great job of holding UCONN scoreless. However, Illinois chose to walk the ball up way too much in the second half. With the game 57-51, it was time to push the ball. Hopefully, Illinois can learn next season to increase the tempo when behind because UCONN's slim lead felt much larger as a result of not having enough offensive urgency. I felt like Illinois fell into this same trap during the second half of the Elite Eight game against Iowa. While we were bigger and better than the Hawkeyes, UCONN was fine playing that type of game as the Huskies got better shots and just needed to hit a basket here and there to keep us at bay. Additionally, our offense needs to move the ball much better as we were way too much isolation dependent against UCONN.
4) I was encouraged by our defensive effort throughout the tournament, especially against UCONN. Illinois really locked in after getting down early in the first half and did the same in the second half. It's a shame the offense couldn't match because Illinois did what it needed to do defensively and on the glass. While defense figures to be a concern next season, Illinois can clearly guard when it applies itself. Fingers crossed that Stojakovic comes back and serves as a defensive catalyst next season.
5) I felt that UCONN's experience in the Final Four was the deciding factor. UCONN looked like a program that had been there before, even though only one of its starters, Alex Karaban, started on the national title team from two seasons ago. At no point did UCONN believe it was going to lose. Honestly, the moment seemed a little big for the Illini, which sometimes happens when getting to a Final Four. While scoring a quiet 20 points, Keaton Wagler looked uncomfortable and even tired all night. It's a shame his Illini career had to end that way, but what a season Keaton and this Illini team provided. Hopefully this loss will be fuel for Illinois to develop more of a killer instinct and make a deep tournament run next season.
With next season's return game with UCONN announced for Friday, December 4, 2026, at the United Center, I badly want a win. It's time for Illinois to beat UCONN and Dan Hurley, whom I think is the best coach in all of a college basketball but is such an insufferable jerk that I have a hard time respecting his greatness.
Still, for Illinois to prove it's legitimate, the Illini need to defeat the Huskies this season. That might seem like an overreaction on my part, but I feel it's true. After losing three times to UCONN in three seasons, Illinois needs to get over the hump early next season.
It's obvious the talent is there for the Illini; it's time to send a message with a big early-season win against UCONN, the best program in all of college basketball.
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