Illinois 75, Tennessee 62 Postgame

[NarrowJ]

I hope you're wrong about this. He passes the eye-test for me. He has been able to get to rim with relative ease...he just needs to finish. And if everyone recalls, lack of finishing was the knock against Kylan Boswell for a good portion of last season. Also, he might appear small, but he stays in front on defense and his man rarely gets a downhill drive to the hole like he does on the other end.

The good thing is most of his entire post was wrong lol we are 14th nationally in rebound rate and have played one of the toughest schedules and had umpteen injuries to deal with

Mihailo will carve out some kind of role imo, give it time

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Sounds like the pro-TENN bias was heavy on ESPN…no surprise there. At the game, the Bridgestone Arena DJ did a good job of making it evenly split doing both Tenn and Illinois fan cheers, playing both schools’ fight songs, and doing fan trivia questions for both. In person, it definitely felt like a neutral site game with even exposure across teams.

I’m not so sure about that. I felt like Ravech and Dykes were awfully complimentary of the Illini. Dykes was gushing about Mirk most of the night. They probably were slightly more favorable to Tennessee overall, but it wasn’t anywhere close to the slobber job Mark Jones gave South Carolina in the bowl game.

 

[CoachHooleyHoo]

Yeah, Wagler slightly better eFG (.500 vs .497), more rebounds per game (5.3 vs 4.1), and basically same number of assists per game. A lot of season to play, but if he continues to play like tonight, he gawn.

I don’t think Riley was taken as much for actual production as he was potential and NBA fit. I don’t know that Wagler has as high of a ceiling but he’s a baller for sure. I think a solid year this year and then next year he becomes a pretty solid first rounder.

 

[pruman91]

@pruman91@hotmailthe , sounds like you have a lot of time on your hands, time to read about your situation. First of all, very happy that you are happy with the care you are getting. So, on substack, check out recent articles on your situation from "A Midwestern Doctor" (https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/). Let me know.

Thanks for the info it will be a while before my eyes focus up enuff to do any research....
.itwill be

 

[aaeismacgychel]

As I recall, Lucas had a way of getting under the skin of every player and coach on the other team. It was a master class in how to be that kind of player. Thankfully, he was ours.

Ben is an angel in comparison.

He absolutely was. Lucas made people lose their minds. Opposing players would legitimately forget about winning the basketball game when he was out on the floor and just want to kill him. He was incredible at getting opponents to lose their cool and composure.

My best Lucas story is it was a cold and icy day on campus and a kid in a wheelchair skidded on an ice patch and their chair fell over right in front of me. I went to help flip the kid back upright and a guy ran across half of the South Quad to assist. He was incredibly nice, made sure the kid was ok and thanked me profusely for helping. He got the kid to laugh saying everyone slips and falls pointing to his leg still in a brace. We all walked and talked for awhile. That was Lucas Johnson still recovering from his torn ACL, a week or two before he returned to the team. He was genuinely one of the nicest guys I've met. A true class act. You just never wanted to face him on the court.

 

[Rap47]

I figure there is more chance that kansas poaches Wagler after this season than him going pro. They will see his abilities and offer him a boat load of money to return home.

 

[ptgrd23]

Awesome 6th man, has starter talent, can create. Defense is ok stronger and bigger than Nico. If kylan was injured he would play 30 mpg. Good ball handler. Teams are going to press us to try and counter our size.

 

[PasadenaIllini]

Fantastic win ON THE ROAD in Nashville for the boys. Big kudos to them. It was freaking fun to watch us pull away in the second half.
While it's good to celebrate the win, I think we have to be careful not to get carried away. Tennessee is a deeply flawed team with turnover and mistake-prone guards, issues which I feel will pronounce themselves heavily once the SEC conference period starts. They did not look good against a mediocre Syracuse team that was missing its best player.
We have A LOT of growing to do if we're going to compete against the Michigans and the Purdues of our conference for the title. First thing is that we need to get Mihailo healthy and playing well. Second thing is that we need to establish a consistent low post game to open up our 3-point shooting. Third thing is that we need to work on our perimeter defense. Fourth thing is that we need to work on the consistency of our foul shooting.

 

[Calvin]

I’m not so sure about that. I felt like Ravech and Dykes were awfully complimentary of the Illini. Dykes was gushing about Mirk most of the night. They probably were slightly more favorable to Tennessee overall, but it wasn’t anywhere close to the slobber job Mark Jones gave South Carolina in the bowl game.

They rode the winds --very pro TN early and giving IL their due in the second as they outplayed them. I didn't mind the celebrity jawing and bias, and I think the announcers were thinking the best story for the Music City was a TN win. Fortunately they were wrong.

I'm a bit tired of ESPN's SEC bias --had to hear it all season in football. I know it's just business and they have financial interest in the SEC, but game day not being at the BIG championship site when #1 plays #2 in an epic game is borderline criminal and makes it transparent how biased they are.

Anywho, good guys won, so I'll take it.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1997835166233055323

 

[Calvin]

I just don’t recall a lot of player bashing in general back then, but I guess smartphones weren’t really a thing yet and the armchair QBs (or PGs in this case) didn’t really have the internet at their fingertips as they do now.

People used to understand those players had a role on the team, whereas now it’s been simplified to “low usage on offense = bad player”.

And fans know these guys are getting paid, and unfortunately that seeps into how much people appreciate their sacrifice. I don't know what the 8th or 9th guy on the roster gets, but fans hear the headline numbers for stars and often think it translates to everyone

 

[blackdog]

I waa hoping they would post on Twitter but here's a slightly longer edited version of the guitar smash

Illinois Men's Basketball on Instagram: "And this is why we can’t have nice things 🤣"

9,335 likes, 69 comments - illinimbb on December 7, 2025: "And this is why we can’t have nice things 🤣".

www.instagram.com

 

[Coop70]

While I loved Lucas, I believe Ben could be a Neil B type 6'6" 200 lbs fearless crashing the boards, turning up the D pressure. Not expendable, but a grinder with a recurring duty cycle during the game. Every good college team use to have one.

 

[Rainier Wolfcastle]

No.....I had a stroke on Sat 11-22 and have been in ICU for 6 days and now in rehab therapy for at least 2 more weeks or longer depending on how it goes...

They are treating me wonderfully here.....they really are....

Sending all my thoughts and prayers your way on a safe and speedy recovery, Pru! This whole board is rooting for you. Please continue to update us on your continued progress…

 

[derrick6]

Just rewatched the game and my impression is very different.

First off, we played pretty great both halves. The rebound disparity happened with under 7 minutes remaining in the half. We had a short bench due to foul trouble and tired legs after running and Tenn got to all the balls and muscled us a bit.

Second observation is Petro is not far away. He consistently got to the rim and hit the open shooter. He’ll finish at the rim better with this game under his belt. His defense was fine. Not sure what he got upset about but Brad clearly wanted to play length outside of Boswell and he wasn’t going to take Boswell out for Petro.

Third, Boswell is a stud.

This was a really fun game and I think we win 9 out of 10 times.

Also, we got an honorary revenge win against Maryland since Gellespie transferred from that last year’s team.

 

[derrick6]

I waa hoping they would post on Twitter but here's a slightly longer edited version of the guitar smash

Illinois Men's Basketball on Instagram: "And this is why we can’t have nice things 🤣"

9,335 likes, 69 comments - illinimbb on December 7, 2025: "And this is why we can’t have nice things 🤣".

www.instagram.com

 

[CHI 1086]

I think the point of the question is why do Illini fans at the UC, Braggin’ Rights, Vegas, Nashville, etc. seem so much louder, more energetic and more engaged than our home crowd?? And I very much want to know this, too.

The Champaign crowd needs a buy one get one free deal for beers or something, we need a looser and rowdier feel at SFC!

I think it's A type of supply and demand. Those neutral sites many be the only one or two times all year that the fans can see their team in person. As one who has participated in several neutrals in the past five years or so, mostly in LV. We do not want to go away disappointed in our one shot. I've noticed there is a passion that is unique to these few opportunities. Also, I think that the fans at the neutral sites are a little more savvy and understand the impact of the sixth man. They try to will our boys to victory.

 

[JoseCuervo]

are you talking about humrichous can easily shoot 40%?? maybe there's another Ben on the team?

 

[Alma 19]

Why are our fans so much louder at neutral site games than they are at homes?

Because the neutral site evokes the need to prove our presence

Edit: basically what was said here

2) Neutral sites turn into a competition between fanbases. It turns into a pride thing where you can't let Tennessee fans sound louder than you.

I wish fans in Champaign would feel the same desire to prove ourselves as a premier home environment

 

[Orange Roughy]

Sometimes the 10th man doesn't get into the game.

Yeah, but Brandon Lee played against UCONN. UCONN>Tennessee

BL was also getting a lot of praise from BU for toughness and defense. Thought he would have seen a few minutes at least if not hurt or in dog house?

 

[phats22]

 

[Ga65]

Lucas had hatchets instead of hands. Opponents were bruised from fingers to shoulder. However I don’t remember him as skilled. That was back in the time of no blood, no foul. Now the BIG is offiated by pansy league officials. Don’t know who officials were for this game but if BIG game there would have been three times the fouls.

 

[Ga65]

The good thing is most of his entire post was wrong lol we are 14th nationally in rebound rate and have played one of the toughest schedules and had umpteen injuries to deal with

Mihailo will carve out some kind of role imo, give it time

It is easy to forget how late he arrived and how little time he has had to adjust to a different game. It also the same amount of time that the coaches have had to analyze how to utilize him. I think there will be games where he is important and games where he doesn’t fit. Keaton’s ability has definitely affected their strategy when Mihailo wasn’t available.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

 

[illiniwil]

Jake Davis isn’t who we are talking about… Lets not distract from the actual conversation we’re having… Jake hasn’t made anywhere near the contributions that Ben has. You were the one that brought up winning games, not me. Blew up in your face a little, didn’t it? You quipped “except winning games” which was wrong, and so now you’ve suddenly decided that isn’t a good indicator anymore.

I do understand the intangibles Lucas brought, I’ve said that and it’s actually part of my main point: Ben brings a lot of the same stuff, just in greater quality and quantity, and people refuse to acknowledge it even when it’s proven to them

Edit: the main thing here is this- Ben is a superior player to Lucas Johnson by every conceivable metric… why can’t he be appreciated too?

i can explain it. Ben came into he program with an expectation that he was 6-10 and could shoot threes. the expectation was somewhat false and until this year, last year he really couldn't do anything else. The coaching staff helped him realize that there were other ways he could help the team, energy, defending key match ups, rebounding, diving after loose balls, being a on court leader have become his way to earn playing time. he will be appreciated as this play continues. every once in a while he'll make a three too.