Illinois 88, Purdue 82 Postgame

[IlliniWu]

So, in the last two seasons we have had the biggest margin of victory on the road against a top 10 team of all time (remember that?), and the highest individual scorer on the road against a top 10 team of all time.

Pretty special stuff.

We've seen plenty of these types of things in the past few years in the Underwood and BB era. We're in the golden age.

 

[ILL-Intentions]

Imagine if Keaton had better cardio!
Not chancing anyone taking this seriously, this is sarcasm!

 

[Grandpa]

It was huge fun, but a totally different type of game. I've been thinking about it thinking of the best all time games.

 

[ChiefGritty]

We're in the golden age.

I really want people to internalize this. These are the moments you look back on. These are the days of miracle and wonder.

We dreamed for more than a decade in vain hope that Illinois Athletics could find itself where it is right now.

 

[logjam]

It's been a great year/season...Illini Football, Basketball and the Bears...

 

[fantasydaily708]

Wagler is something special truly remarkable how no majors recruited the kid. He is One and Done unless he just likes college kids a certified millionaire later this year.

 

[Johnny Lawrence]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015189591343403166

 

[blackdog]

It's pretty insane how consistently good we've been on the road in the Big Ten, and that is like the ultimate measure of a coach in my book.

Today was a quintessential top-level chess match between two of the greats.

If you love high level basketball this was a great one to watch because both teams made so many adjustments on both ends to counter what was happening. At the end of the day the offenses were just too good to stop and Illinois size gave them the advantage of getting more chances.

 

[fantasydaily708]

It's been a great year/season...Illini Football, Basketball and the Bears...

Bears blew it should be playing this weekend had LA beat. Still Beardown but that stung not to finish the job. But I agree great sports year for the state of Illinois.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Goin’ full Cignetti after this one and enjoying a beer!

 

[MULEDOG35]

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

 

[ejam21]

I know there’s a lot of angsts with Ben and Jake but they played hard and had two big shots during our second half run. Keaton was fantastic and we won as a team!

Yeah and theyve combined for 10 threes between them the last 2 games

Last game 4-6 for jake, 2-4 for ben
This game 2-7 for jake, 2-4 for ben

Thats 10 for 21 combined for 48%...Keep that goin please

 

[illiniguy24]

What a special one for Brad’s 100th conference win at Illinois

 

[derrick6]

You could see he had some words for that Purdue that talked trash early on.

https://streamable.com/67s21i

That’s probably why TKR was pissed in the postgame presser.

 

[derrick6]

I'm thinking National POW.

That’s the trajectory, for sure.

 

[whatahack]

Wonder if KW will win freshman POW...

 

[mattcoldagelli]

It's pretty insane how consistently good we've been on the road in the Big Ten, and that is like the ultimate measure of a coach in my book.

Today was a quintessential top-level chess match between two of the greats.

This is what really pushes this one up to the next level. It's not like the stars aligned and Purdue was ice cold or something. They played great. Just an awesome game, a W of impeccable quality.

 

[HouTexIllini]

Agreed. I’d also like to add:
89 Illinois over Indiana
89 Illinois over Syracuse
they year we beat LSU (Rennie over Shaq)
89 loss to Michigan
Loss to Miami

 

[illinifan1987]

I was so close! My post in the pregame thread...
"I'll stick with my postgame prediction (85-79). I now truly believe that the Cap'n going down will only help this team come March/April. Will we go undefeated? Absolutely not. But can we stick it to the Puds on their home court? I believe so! Someone had mentioned the last time Purdue was in this situation, they lost at home to a ranked team..."

 

[OrangeBlue98]

Obviously one of the great moments of our history, but in terms of wanting to sit down and actually watch a classic game, it's the Da Vinci masterpiece of basketball that was Wake Forest that actually stirs the memories of what we want to remember those guys by.

If the BTN still exists in 20 years, today's game will be on it.

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but this game was one of the two best games of this CBB season. Either this one or the Texas Tech-Duke game. That’s it. No other games are in the discussion. This was a fantastic college basketball game.

 

[Carter Waller]

Stole one at Mackey. What an absolutely legendary performance from Keaton. Holy.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Forever known as Wagler Game at Mackey.

I mentioned this to my brother in a text during the game.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

View attachment 46779View attachment 46778

A picture so nice it’s worth showing twice!

 

[SuperMetroid]

Amusing watching Kaufman-Renn and / or "plowboy" Cluff trying to guard Wagler 25 ft. from the basket. For PU, it's the match up from hell. really entertaining.

The 2 key coaching moves in this game:
1. Painter not going away from switching on defense for most of the game while Keaton absolutely roasted their big guys
2. Double-teaming to get the ball away from Smith late in the game. Slowed them up for a few possessions when they were making a run

 

[doowink]

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.