Illinois 88, Purdue 82 Postgame

[SoILL_INI]

I vote Keaton Wagler be forever called the QUIET ASSASSIN

 

[hooraybeer]

 

[rjeffreys]

With about five minutes to go, I was muttering to myself that he's been disappointing this year. He came on strong when it mattered, though.

I was more Ben no, no, no let Keaton or Davis shoot: but he made a couple of big shots. Great Keaton and Team effort.

 

[NarrowJ]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015202431479488903

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015204211487580561

LOL it literally took 3 minutes and 8 seconds of video to show all of his makes

 

[illini510]

Wagler made ESPN.com front page headline! Getting his due respect

 

[Bucktown]

Boy do I hate bringing this up now, but Zach Edey was ranked #436. But enough of that, back to the Illini

Zach Edey didn't even start his freshman year.

 

[rjeffreys]

I see ESPN does have Keaton on bb page as well he should be....

 

[AEX]

12 and 8 after getting shredded by TKR on his first two touches on a bum ankle is pretty good in my book.

Keaton's going to get the vast majority of the praise for this game -- and by all means he should -- but David had a heck of a game. TKR was very physical and benefited from a few BS calls. David stayed very composed, led the team in rebounds (tied w/ Tomi), and hit some huge shots. Was able to bring the ball up the court when they switched the defense late to try and pressure Keaton in the backcourt. Just a solid, solid game for a freshman.

 

[Piotyr]

LOL, there were 63 possessions in a game that finished 88-82.

 

[DICKnaggie]

Biggest laugh I’ve had on this board in a long time.

Can you imagine Mirk and Giorgio together. That would be hilarious...and AMAZING!

 

[201154JC]

Means a little more to do it at Mackey… JMO.

Also, Wagler had 46.

I'd call it a tie as TSJ's game was the cherry on top of a Big Ten Tourney MVP Performance.

 

[blackdog]

Jake Davis has been such a huge boost without Kylan. The dude has stepped into the leadership role this year and is absolutely the kind of glue guy that can take a team to the next level.

 

[Geno33]

ESPN is this the best the Illini and Keaton get

 

[63 Split]

Jordan-esque! Kobe-esque! Good Lord, K-Wag…that was…that was….God-like!!

 

[illiniguy24]

Holy crap

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015187385705734377

Just texted this to about 20 people in my phone. WHAT A GAME.

Finally it was us who had the player go nuclear, and man was it sweet.

 

[ROCIllini]

23 X 2 =46

 

[altgeld88]

Beat them the same way we’ve been beating teams all season:

At the free throw line (+11)
And with offensive rebounds (+9)

View attachment 46813

Yeah. That's just one of the several things that has my jaw on the floor. Our work on the offensive glass, and keeping them off the glass at their end of the court, was astonishing.

 

[2qtslow]

Well the Arizona should be #1 but the best game i have ever seen was 1977 Illinois vs. Magic..

Personally, I'm partial to 1978 vs Magic.

 

[mysterio2525]

Painter: Weare going to switch 1-5, which we never do, and take away Illini’s pick and pop 3s, and we’re going to make Keaton Wagler beat us by himself

Keaton: Okay.

 

[From the cheap seats]

Wagler best performance I've ever seen by an Illini in my lifetime, but can't forget Jake Davis, Tomi, Mirk 3, 3, 3 turned that into a win.

Sometimes when someone goes off like Wagler, the other players kinda shrink on offense. Wagler was Superman. But Davis, Mirk and Tomi turned Wagler’s heroics into a W. Tomi has been making clutch shots a lot lately.

 

[ChiefGritty]

23 X 2 =46

I'm seeing double here, FOUR Waglers!

 

[IlliniWu]

Also, Indiana has taken arguably the greatest sports story in CFB history (Arguably sports) with a NC (Beat the Illini to it), so it's only right that Wagler now takes the basketball side as the best freshman ever who came out of nowhere to lead the Illini to its first NCAA tournament title. It's already written.

 

[hooraybeer]

23 X 2 =46

 

[illinifan1987]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015200479936991337

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015197908111335445

I have never posted this GIF twice in a post before...until now!

 

[the national]

Smith put up a performance of his own tonight, and we beat them. Wow. What a game.

Wagler is special. I want to buy little underwood a beer (or lifetime beers) for finding him.