Illinois NCAA Tournament notes: Penn’s TJ Power sits out practice with illness; Ethan Roberts out for the year
GREENVILLE, S. C. — Penn guard AJ Levine called teammate TJ Power’s performance in the Ivy League championship game over the weekend “one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my life.
” Teammate Ethan Roberts said it was “like he was having an out-of-body experience on the court. ” Power had 44 points and 14 rebounds to help Penn knock off top-seeded Yale in overtime to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. But as the No.
14 seed Quakers prepared for their first-round tournament game against No. 3 seed Illinois on Wednesday, Power’s availability was in question. Penn coach Fran McCaffery said Power wasn’t up for practicing Wednesday as he deals with an illness and his status for Thursday night’s game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena is unknown.
McCaffery added later that he thinks Power, who previously was a reserve at Duke and Virginia, could be available. “I would think they’re doing everything they can to get him onto the court,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I had my best game in high school with a 102 degree fever, so I hope he doesn’t have his best game.
” Power’s absence at practice was on top of Penn being without Roberts, a 6-5 senior guard/forward from Hersey High School in Arlington Heights who led the Quakers with 16. 9 points per game. Roberts, who missed the Ivy League Tournament with a concussion, said he tried to practice but didn’t get cleared by a doctor.