Illini Sports Blog

Illini response stellar vs Ohio State

Three days after a disheartening 68-61 loss at Purdue, Illinois bounced back strong on Saturday, leveling 8th-ranked Ohio State 74-55 at the Assembly Hall. Playing inspired basketball in front of the Hall's first sellout crowd of the season, Illinois outshot, outrebounded and outfought the Buckeyes.

Responding to a crack-the-whip approach in practice on Thursday, in which Groce called out individual players for their lack of grit at Purdue and forced them through physically demanding "toughness" drills, Illinois played like it got the message.

The Illini outrebounded Purdue 24-13 in the second half and 40-30 for the game. Illinois shot 48.3 percent while holding the Buckeyes to 33.3 percent. And the 16 turnovers Illinois forced were six more than Ohio State is used to giving up.

Tupper

Filed under: Illini Basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes
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