Illinois 112, Penn 70 Postgame

#51      
Grandpa
My Uncle Billy was here and watched the game with me. He previously hadn't seen or heard anything about the Illini. He said that Vaaks was a great defender and was great taking it to the basket, but he should never shoot from distance. Nothing ever looked like it might go in.
I couldn't argue, that's how it looked tonight.
 
#52      
wc_illini
88_ILLINI said:
Good defense tonight, especially liked Vaaks' d. 21 assists on 43 made fgs - shared the ball well.
Way too many turnovers, gave up way too many offensive rebounds to Penn (they beat us by 1), need to shoot freethrows better - could bite us in future games
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They had way more offensive rebounding chances due to more missed shots (61 vs our 30). We got 47% of ours, they got 25% of theirs. Not as dominant as against FDU (55% vs 6.5%), but still very good.
 
#54      
EllderIlliniFan
sacraig said:
  • November 2025 (2025–26 Season):
    • November 3, 2025: Won 113–55 vs. Jackson State
    • November 7, 2025: Won 113–70 vs. Florida Gulf Coast
  • November 2019 (2019–20 Season):
    • November 23, 2019: Won 120–71 vs. Hampton
    • November 26, 2019: Won 117–65 vs. Lindenwood
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Memory fails at my age. :) How about 3 in a row!
 
#57      
Fly Illini Fly!
For the 2nd consecutive game, 100% of Illinois shots were below the FT circle OR from 3.

IMG_2104.jpeg
 
#58      
wc_illini
Last year against Penn, our AdjO/AdjD was 150.3/112.8 (+37.5). Today, it was 123.9/85.7 (+38.2). The ratio may be more significant than the difference, in which case it was 1.33 last year and 1.45 this year. It's just one game, but on paper our better defense more than made up for less efficiency on the offensive end.

Together, these first two games would've been our 2nd and 8th best AdjD all of last year. On the offensive end, these two would've been our 9th and 30th best.

This was 87 possessions. Our highest last year was 79 (vs Alabama), and that includes a handful of OT games. Other than Alabama and the first two games (75 & 76 possessions), we never exceeded 72 in a non-OT game.

So the tempo may be misleading- despite scoring 112, the most exciting thing about today's win is the defense.
 
#59      
hoopsfan47
Illini in Indiana said:
Quentin Coleman is the stud and often compared to Keaton Wagler. But, just 2 short games in to the season I have to think Ethan Brown may be the better comparison. So quietly efficent it's crazy, please other teams keep sleeping on him.
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Quentin Coleman, more and more, shows that he may be the kind of player, like Gail Goodrich, Danny Ainge, Walter Clayton, or the two guards from Baylor, who can bring elite energy to a team in so many ways and will them to accomplish things no one dreamed possible. He just has so many ways to make a significant impact on both ends of the court that few have ever been able to do. Lots of talented, tough, heady, experienced players wearing the Illini uniform this season, but he the one that inspires them all.

Now, how he develops a magic with Mirk can really be special if these two elite and unique talents can blend their magic together. I have waited over 70 years to see a team perform like this in Huff/Assembly Hall...hope I get to witness this team at full strength and playing their best in April.
 
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