Not at all. The rule is fcking dumb. I was simply pointing out the rule lol. It’s a correct call per the rules…
Illinois 81, Texas Tech 77 Postgame
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I dont care about the stats... I saw a leader that willed his men to victory!!! No matter what happened Bam took it in stride and got ir done!!! ILL
Bigtex
- DFW
Boswell was great but the "team" defense and communication was why this switch worked. Obviously Boswell gets the most credit but you have to give Crocker some credit.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
That was just the ninth time we have welcomed a ranked non-conference opponent into the House of 'Paign, and it was our first win in such matchups in 13 years! Obviously they don't happen that often (as seen below), but I for one feel great getting that monkey off of our back! No home losses this year, please
2025-2026
#14 Illinois 81, #11 Texas Tech 77
2024-2025
#1 Tennessee 66, Illinois 64
2023-2024
#4 Marquette 71, #23 Illinois 64
2021-2022
#11 Arizona 83, Illinois 79
2011-2012
Illinois 82, #19 Gonzaga 75
2006-2007
#23 Maryland 72, Illinois 66
2004-2005
#5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73
2002-2003
#25 Illinois 92, #12 North Carolina 65
2000-2001
#9 Illinois 87, #7 Seton Hall 79
2025-2026
#14 Illinois 81, #11 Texas Tech 77
2024-2025
#1 Tennessee 66, Illinois 64
2023-2024
#4 Marquette 71, #23 Illinois 64
2021-2022
#11 Arizona 83, Illinois 79
2011-2012
Illinois 82, #19 Gonzaga 75
2006-2007
#23 Maryland 72, Illinois 66
2004-2005
#5 Illinois 91, #1 Wake Forest 73
2002-2003
#25 Illinois 92, #12 North Carolina 65
2000-2001
#9 Illinois 87, #7 Seton Hall 79
We changed the narrative...
There have already been a couple (or three or maybe four) good replies to your request, but I will add this one.
Official Fighting Illini basketball website
And the Fighting Illini schedule, which will list all the games’ box scores
Schedule
Kylan hit on his relationship with Crocker on the defensive side. Needed a change... Brad got it done.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Texas Tech star’s huge NIL bag revealed to bypass NBA Draft for college hoops return
JT Toppin received a massive NIL deal to skip the 2025 NBA Draft and return to Texas Tech.
www.sbnation.com
What I like about Andrej and Mirk is that they both can score in traffic while not going 100 miles an hour. There was nobody better than Shannon at scoring down hill at high speed but he didn't have or rarely used a more controlled deliberate approach like Domask.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
"Arguably the most talented roster in the country." 
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
I was going to make the same suggestion if no one else brought it up. Hopefully Andrej can develop the skill set to the same kind of level
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Credit Brad and staff
I loved this breakdown. I have never played basketball in any formal way, so watching this was awesome!! This was so eye opening for me to see how the nuances of defense and positioning of the body and of the teammates are all taken into account! All I honestly saw when watching the game was KB's willingness and effort to guard the best guy on the court and that he stood him up tough. But I loved learning about how his efforts went above and beyond just hustle! KB = Grit!
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
He never woulda survived in the early 2000's when the Illiniboard lusted after Ron Turner's "cord girl" during the football games. She was the one that helped keep the headset cord untangled back in the dark ages before wireless technology. She was a cutie that the board was unanimously quite fond of.I was having a laugh after a big win. And tell me you’re not the board police (counting my posts) while being the board police. Take your med’s you’ll be fine.
Back to the Illini...
Texas Tech star’s huge NIL bag revealed to bypass NBA Draft for college hoops return
JT Toppin received a massive NIL deal to skip the 2025 NBA Draft and return to Texas Tech.
Well, he earned every penny last night.
Lesser teams would have folded after Toppin came out scorching in the 2nd half. Really great test that the Illini passed - a win that will look even better as the year goes on, I think. Red Raiders were great in transition, really solid on defense, and have a superstar to go to when needed. That's usually a recipe for tourney success.
And the Illini beat them anyway.
A few random thoughts:
1) I'm not sure when (if ever) the Illini beat a top-15 team without making a 3-pointer in the second half. Shows what a difficult matchup Illinois is offensively and how versatile the offense can be.
2) They also are so versatile on defense that they can make the opponent go to Options B, C and D during the flow of the game...even when it looked like Toppin might just win the game single-handedly.
3) I loved the discipline of the defense not fouling. Looked to be the game plan for anyone other than Z not to try and block his shot when he attacked the rim. TT, on the other hand, gave the Illini some and-1 opportunities.
3) Ben came up big on the boards and defensively. He looks stronger...and played stronger.
4) I used to think if the Illini were hot (or even warm) from 3, they could play with anybody. When they were hot at Oregon and against Arkansas, they looked as good as any team last year. But last night -- with Stojakovich showing his abilities at both ends of the floor -- convinced me that the floor of this team is much higher than I thought.
5) The Illini are so much fun to watch. They are kind of like the box of chocolates in Forrest Gump.
1) I'm not sure when (if ever) the Illini beat a top-15 team without making a 3-pointer in the second half. Shows what a difficult matchup Illinois is offensively and how versatile the offense can be.
2) They also are so versatile on defense that they can make the opponent go to Options B, C and D during the flow of the game...even when it looked like Toppin might just win the game single-handedly.
3) I loved the discipline of the defense not fouling. Looked to be the game plan for anyone other than Z not to try and block his shot when he attacked the rim. TT, on the other hand, gave the Illini some and-1 opportunities.
3) Ben came up big on the boards and defensively. He looks stronger...and played stronger.
4) I used to think if the Illini were hot (or even warm) from 3, they could play with anybody. When they were hot at Oregon and against Arkansas, they looked as good as any team last year. But last night -- with Stojakovich showing his abilities at both ends of the floor -- convinced me that the floor of this team is much higher than I thought.
5) The Illini are so much fun to watch. They are kind of like the box of chocolates in Forrest Gump.
What people said yesterday and got a lot of pushback on here
Now Seth Davis is saying it
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
This has to be a "since 2000" list or some other qualifier. We played Kentucky at home in the 83-84 season. They had to be ranked at the time as we rematched in the regional final. The infamous Robbery at Rupp Arena.
Also, off top of my head, I think Ga Tech was a top 25 team in 89 when we beat them to become #1. Prior to then, it wouldn't surprise if there weren't very many as the non conference used to not have as many high profile matchups as the modern era.
Anyone who is a competitor, an athlete, and has played basketball, knows that "intentional foul" situations are oddly strange. You are trying to do something you spend most of defensive playing time trying not to do. And most true competitors with integrity, try to, out of respect for other competitors, commit a foul without exposing them to any type of injury. Boswell tried to commit a foul in a way that the officials had to make a call, without exposing the opposing player to any type of unfortunate injury. To classify that foul as flagrant, even though it was intentional, is beyond absurd.
We had fouls to give. It was a strategic play. And certainly not flagrant.
No matter what the rule says (how it is defined or worded), the official has some discretion about how the play on the court is interpreted. This was a pathetic interpretation of the events.
At least that is my interpretation.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yes, definitely just forgot to type a time cutoff. I originally was going to go for the "past 30 years," but there weren't any ranked non-conference home matchups from 1996-2000.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Texas Tech star’s huge NIL bag revealed to bypass NBA Draft for college hoops return
JT Toppin received a massive NIL deal to skip the 2025 NBA Draft and return to Texas Tech.
Insert “Google is your friend” comments here….
High level thoughts:
Bouncing back in that second half when TT had it rolling, and we couldn’t make a 3 - a good sign you can change the defense and go to the basket for points.
Andrej at the elbow giving me Domask vibes
Love Mirk. That said, right now teams are kept honest on his shooting, and his big move is the pump fake and blow by. Curious the adjustment for him if and when teams dare him, or as Brad says, dorks him to shoot.
Bouncing back in that second half when TT had it rolling, and we couldn’t make a 3 - a good sign you can change the defense and go to the basket for points.
Andrej at the elbow giving me Domask vibes
Love Mirk. That said, right now teams are kept honest on his shooting, and his big move is the pump fake and blow by. Curious the adjustment for him if and when teams dare him, or as Brad says, dorks him to shoot.
- Status