Illinois puts on a show in 76-55 win over VCU to advance to Sweet 16
GREENVILLE, S. C. — Andrej Stojaković dribbled behind his back to get a step on Terrence Hill Jr.
in the first half Saturday night and then took off. When he completed the slam over VCU forward Lazar Djokovic, he hung ever so slightly on the rim, looking back toward the Illinois bench with a satisfied look on his face. It was all part of the Illini show for the crowd at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
There was 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivišić taking a feed from Kylan Boswell near the 3-point line and somehow flying to the rim for a monster dunk, causing his teammates on the bench to leap around in celebration. There was Stojaković coming up with another big dunk on a Ben Humrichous assist in the second half. Tomislav Ivišić got in on the action with a couple of jams.
The No. 3 seed Illini were on their offensive game once again in Greenville — and turned in a pretty big defensive performance too — to top 11th-seeded VCU, 76-55. They advance to the Sweet 16 to play No.
2 seed Houston on Thursday in Houston. Illinois will make its second Sweet 16 appearance in three years after making an Elite Eight run two years ago. The last time the Illini did that was a span of four appearances in five years from 2001-05, including the Elite Eight in 2001 and the national championship game in 2005.