Egwu made seven of nine shots, grabbed six rebounds and was among the most energized players on the floor as the Illini team hustled through four eight-minute periods.

"I thought Nnanna was really, really good in the first two eight-minute scrimmages," Groce said. "He was active. He was all over the glass. He shot it well and he kept balls alive. And he ran well.

"Nnanna wants to be good so he works at it. Everything good that happens to him, it's well-deserved. He earns it."

Tupper