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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With all the hope in the world, Illini fans were let down Friday night.
Despite a sold out State Farm Center crowd and a sense of hunger to take home a victory, No. 10 Illinois couldn’t hold off the most athletic team in the nation, falling 84-70. The Illini faithful did their best to spoil Morez Johnson Jr.’s return to Champaign and delay Michigan’s Big Ten regular season title celebration, but the Wolverines’ defensive intensity and physicality in the paint left Illinois hopeless.
Friday night marked the first time in 20 years that two Top-10 teams faced off in Champaign, in one of college hoops’ most electric matchups all year and a game that had major implications for both programs. The No. 1 KenPom offense hosting the No. 2 KenPom defense. With how physical this game was, it was easy to tell that both teams were starving for this victory: Michigan aiming to snap Illinois’ nine-game win streak over the Wolverines and defend Morez Johnson Jr., and Illinois desperately needing to get back in the win column after suffering three overtime losses in its past five matchups — the most recent heartbreaker being Donovan Dent’s buzzer-beating layup last Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.
The night started off quickly for Morez Johnson Jr, who was loudly boo’d at the free throw line just one minute after the tip. A few late tip-ins helped the Wolverines stretch their lead to seven entering halftime and bring Johnson Jr. to 13 points in the first half, and he ultimately made his presence felt in his return, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Altogether this Illini offense, one that has been a slow, decision-making offense that likes to use a good amount of the shot clock up every possession, tried to catch the Wolverines off guard in the first half by taking it to the hoop with pace in transition through guys like Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell. And although Boswell was a major factor in keeping Illinois close, he didn’t hold back about being “frustrated” with himself after the loss. David Mirkovic also did his best to keep the Illini afloat today with his effort on the glass paired with his offensive efficiency both in the paint and beyond the arc, finishing with a double-double. Ultimately, Michigan’s smothering defense made it tough for Illinois to be offensively efficient both early in the shot clock and late.
But Illinois didn’t have much of an answer for Michigan’s powerhouses in the paint, with Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson Jr. taking every opportunity they could to flush down a dunk. Michigan dominated the paint on offense, with 42 points to Illinois’ 32 in the paint. Mara finished with 19 points and five rebounds, and Lendeborg tallied 16 points and seven rebounds.
It’s tough to thrive off of rebounds and second-chance buckets against a team that likes to do just the same. Michigan was able to win the rebound battle 34-30 and the second-chance points battle 22-20. Additionally, if Illinois wanted a chance at winning this game, having an “on” night from the three-point line was a must. Neither team was able to get going from beyond the arc, with the Wolverines shooting 8-of-22 and the Illini shooting 9-of-29 from long-range. And in the second half, the Wolverines continued capitalizing in the paint while the Illini stayed stagnant, thanks to Michigan head coach Dusty May’s switch-heavy defense.
Stat Stuffers
- Keaton Wagler: 23 points, two steals
- Kylan Boswell: 15 points, two steals
- David Mirkovic: 12 points, 10 rebounds
The loss marks Illinois’ fifth Big Ten loss and seventh overall on the season, snapping the Illini’s nine-game win streak over the Wolverines.