Illinois 81, Nebraska 71 Postgame

[21ChampaignSt]

Not at all how I thought this game would go but glad we came away with a double digit win.

So happy for the bench guys; Hawk, Omar, the freshman. We couldn't have won without them (and Trent).

On a night when I think 3 or 4 guys had their worst game of the season, we still found a way.

Bring on the Ducks!

 

[CV Illini]

Omar +17! Nice!

 

[AT6]

The crazy part is Trent still had an off night. Omar Payne did everything we weren't doing when we needed it most. Free throws, rebounding and rim protection.

Kudos to Omar tonight. He was a beast off the bench. I thought we were finished when Kofi picked up his 4th.

 

[Ignatius Shang]

First time? Man are you in for a treat.

Indeed.

 

[Pikeillinifan]

Not pretty but a huge win!

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

For all you folks that have been bashing CHawk and OPayne…… We don’t get close to winning tonight without them.

Ugly but great win on da road in da B10!!

 

[azillini1]

Anyone know if we got credit for more than 1 fast break basket?

 

[hoopsfan47]

Kofi shooting bricks!! Eight for 18? Who wants to stand under the net and catch those bricks?

 

[mhuml32]

 

[Miles Leonard]

Give Nebby their props. They came out and took it to us from the start. They were ready to play.

Payne and Hawkins delivered in the clutch. Trent Frazier doing Trent Frazier things.

Not gonna complain about a conference road W, no matter the opponent. Sometimes you need to find a way to win despite playing nowhere near your best. We did that tonight.

 

[SuperMetroid]

Sometimes basketball is a beautiful game…and sometimes it’s a monkey knife fight and you do whatever you can to survive

 

[skyIdub]

CoHawk 8 rebounds in 12 minutes. Don't win without them.

 

[Keene-4-3]

 

[Poe's Law]

Omar +17! Nice!

Where does everybody get their +/- stats?

 

[alexander58]

We're ranked about right, gang

Nebraska really gets in your face. I was impressed with their intensity. I was equally impressed with Illinois meeting the challenge. Any conference road win is a good one.

 

[bootsy1974]

Give Nebby their props. They came out and took it to us from the start. They were ready to play.

Payne and Hawkins delivered in the clutch. Trent Frazier doing Trent Frazier things.

Not gonna complain about a conference road W, no matter the opponent. Sometimes you need to find a way to win despite playing nowhere near your best. We did that tonight.

I'll be honest. I think @Nebraska is going to be the so-called 'trap game' for a lot of teams. The atmosphere is dead in their stadium, they have some good players and they have nothing to lose. They may get some team before the end of the season.

 

[skyIdub]

Sometimes basketball is a beautiful game…and sometimes it’s a monkey knife fight and you do whatever you can to survive

 

[blackdog]

Watching the game I felt like it was off night from 3 but they still finished 7-19 for 36.8%.

Also Grandison just a quiet 12 point 4 assist game and again thought he shot poorly but he was still 5-9 overall 2-6 from 3. He is so good at feeding Kofi too.

 

[BRucks]

View attachment 14203

Is that a season high for blocks?

 

[JSpence]

I have no idea where that came from. Holy crap. Nebby was still driving and answering on many possessions, and yet the EFFORT by the Illini on both ends of the floor just overwhelmed them. The deep makes were kind of a shock - where does a team that tired find that energy? The finish was impossible without most of those makes. Game was only 10% superb, yet a win. Well done.

 

[hoopsfan47]

View attachment 14219
For all you folks that have been bashing CHawk and OPayne…… We don’t get close to winning tonight without them.

Ugly but great win on da road in da B10!!

You will not catch me bashing either....or any other player. Kofi is our first team AA and he was sub-par in shooting tonight. CHawk and Omar picked him up.

 

[Illynois]

I know it's only 1 game but I'm so happy for Payne.

 

[altgeld88]

I have a feeling that when we're in that stretch in late Feb that comprises AT Rutgers / AT Michigan State / Ohio State / AT Michigan, let alone the BTT, we're going to remember the awakening of Mr. Payne this evening.

 

[orange100]

Well I have just been watching the Wire for the first time recently and I literally laughed out when seeing this

Welcome to the the cult of The Wire fans

 

[BTYBILL]

Gonna suck next year when Trent, Williams, Plummer..... possibly Kofi and Grand leave. I love watching them play