Illinois 76, Michigan 53 Postgame

[TheFameProtector]

This was -- by far -- the most fun I've had watching a basketball game in 16 years. Man, hard to put into words how much I love this team. They have made us feel legitimately proud to call ourselves loyal Illini fans again. And the future sure does look bright!!!!!

 

[Illwinsagain]

WOW, Great Team effort. Curbelo is tough to game plan, he doesn't even know what comes next.

This seems to be so true. He just seems to run into traffic and see what the traffic does, and then react. I don't think I have ever seen a player, effective with that approach, yet obviously, he is.

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Maybe they became too reliant on Ayo and it slowed the offense. The answer is no, but this is good experience for the Illini to really understand they are a great TEAM.

I like this Assessment!! Thank you.

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I thought our D would keep us in it, but I was afraid UM’s D would make it too tough to score enough to win. Early on it looked like that might be the case, as our offense struggled. But I severely underestimated our D. It was fantastic. And Belo in first half and Trent in second led a relatively efficient offense. Who would have thought that with Ayo out, Illini win by plus 20+ and Kofi is only third leading scorer.

So happy for this team and Trent. Couldn’t be prouder. And hats off to Belo. Really stepped up and kept the dumb plays to a minimum. Nice start to his second straight FOW awards.

 

[PNWIllini]

Posting in epic thread. I love this team.

 

[iLL 89ers]

If you aren’t happy for Trent Frazier you have no soul. What a performance

+1 - Trent and his "posse" are on a mission , and it is fun to watch it moving forward.

 

[texillwek]

We move up to #5 KenPom. scUM stayed at 2.

Live by the kenpom, die by the kenpom. Or so I've been told.

 

[Hopingfor500]

Taking a step back and something that BU has to figure out.....Ayo is obviously the best player on the roster. However, with him not there, the ball is moving, it's not getting stuck, everyone is getting a touch.....it's not stand around and give it to Ayo. He has to somehow integrate the team mentality, with Ayo on the floor.

 

[TheFameProtector]

Hey @Blue Walmart you gonna have the cojones to ever show your face around here again?

 

[ejam21]

Trent had a legit "one shining moment" type game tonight

that little run he went on in hte second half, capped off with the crossing chaundee brown out of his shoes and hitting the 3 was legendary

 

[Chkerns85bleedsOB]

Can’t wait to watch PTI tomorrow to watch Wilbon gloat...about his in-state rival!

Wilbin was right!!

 

[BRucks]

I said it earlier to a friend, this game remiinded me of the win we had against Cincy back in 2004 -Sweet 16 i believe? Just total domiination

Told Deron that he was 'too pretty'.

 

[LoveLovie]

We can lose and be a #1. After tonight there isn't another team outside of Gonzaga, Michigan and Baylor that has a case. Our Q1 wins, SOS, NET ranking says so

I agree

 

[PNWIllini]

They had no answer for Curbelo

 

[Crush]

I have been known to say that many times, our players would stand around in a game waiting for Ayo to do his thing. We now see that there are others on our team that can get it done. They just needed to have their time in the light! That was obvious tonight.

 

[jrmarcus]

Trent had a legit "one shining moment" type game tonight

that little run he went on in hte second half, capped off with the crossing chaundee brown out of his shoes and hitting the 3 was legendary

His freshman year, when Trent was feeling it, there wasn't a shot he couldn't hit. Trent has been out of this world, like a true senior leader, not just this game, but this year.

 

[Chitownkid]

I didn’t think there was a chance we could do this to them. We have a really good basketball team and an amazing coaching staff. Thank you Josh and Brad for turning this back around.

 

[Tophe]

Absolutely amazing. Spent my birthday watching expecting a beat down - and I saw one - just not the way I was expecting.

I cease to doubt our boys. Time for another 3-4 beers.

HFBD!

 

[PNWIllini]

Ok so we are 9 deep in contributing players heading into March. Savor every minute.

 

[BRucks]

BBV didn't get in. Anything more
to that? Brad played everyone else.

Lieb

 

[Illinifan533]

Wish I had been able to follow this game. Such a satisfying win after Michigan fans said they "weren't scared" and that the Illini "didn't have a chance with or without Dosunmu." Brad Underwood is Juwan Howard's daddy, and Ayo's absence has allowed guys like Curbelo to emerge. The Illini may not be top 5 good next year, but they should still be a shoo-in for the tournament.

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Maybe they became too reliant on Ayo and it slowed the offense. The answer is no, but this is good experience for the Illini to really understand they are a great TEAM.

I like this Assessment!! Thank you.

The replies are just as good.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1366934824636850178

Love this

 

[Loyalillini10]

You never win by 20 on the road in the BT. And you certainly don't win by 20 against a two-loss team that's #2 in the nation.

I'm trying to process exactly what happened. Beyond special.

Updated it for you

 

[BackThatPassUp]

We match up well with them. We have someone who can nullify Dickinson. Our guards are faster and although smaller, our wings have quickness and length to keep up with their wings. I'm not too surprised. Michigan is a phenomenal TEAM. This is one of the instances where its better to have phenomenal players/playmakers.

 

[logjam]

Happy Birthday
I-L-L!

Mines on the 6th Ohio St.