HS Scoreboard (1/20/20)
Stampley transferring from Illini
LIVE pregame as No. 5 Michigan visits Illinois
Illini Basketball
by: Bret Beherns
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois basketball has another chance at a marquee win and they're favored to do it. The Illini (6-3) host No. 5 Michigan Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and are predicted to beat the Wolverines by a point. A win would be the signature victory for head coach Brad Underwood in his third season in Champaign.
"This team, we're moving along," Illinois junior point guard Trent Frazier said. "I thought we did unbelievable that game (at Maryland). We're really happy with where we're at, we're not going to let that loss affect us. The physicality of what we had the other night at Maryland, that's what we need to come out with."
Illinois had a chance to upset No. 3 Maryland on Saturday, holding a 15-point lead early in the second half. But the Terps made a run late, holding the Illini scoreless the final 5:05 of the game. Andres Feliz had the ball with it tied at 58 but turned it over, then fouled Anthony Cowan Jr., who made one of two free throws to seal the win for Maryland.
"It will really push us over the edge, we're a really good team," Illinois freshman center Kofi Cockburn said. "We have really good players and if we come together like we did in that Maryland game, we can be a really great team."
"It's the first time since I've been here where I felt like I was coaching one of my teams. Everything that we did in the Maryland game can be carried over. The scouting report in different, but the attention to detail, the toughness, we played like a physically tough team."
More Illini Basketball Stories
by Craig Choate / Jan 20, 2020
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- Illinois beat Purdue by 26 in Champaign 15 days ago. Now it's time for the Illini to make the trip east, with the Boilermaker thinking revenge.
In the first game, Illinois held Purdue to 25% shooting from the field, their worst since field goal percentage became a recorded stat. Their 37 points were also the fewest they've scored in a single game since at least 1972.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- It might not have been the way fans wanted it, but the Illini beat Northwestern by four on Saturday to extend their winning streak to four.
With the win, Illinois surpassed their 2018-2019 season win total, in 15 less games. People are starting to take notice of the team, but barely passed the midway point in the season, they know it doesn't mean much in January. They need to be be playing their best ball in March.
Frazier scores 1,000 career points, leads Illini to 75-71 victory over Northwestern
by Craig Choate, Marlee Wierda / Jan 18, 2020
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) -- No. 24 Illinois played their first game as a ranked team in more than five years, and survived a scare from instate rival Northwestern, defeating them 75-71. The Illini tried several times in the second half to deliver the knockout blow but the Wildcats kept getting back up.
"They've done this with everybody," says Illinois head coach Brad Underwood." I mean, midway through the second half against Michigan State it's a two possession game. They've had very few nights where teams have been able to just deliver that knockout punch.
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