Illinois looks to exorcise Elite Eight demons after statement win over Houston
The program is one win away, same spot they were two years ago....
Illinois looks to exorcise Elite Eight demons after statement win over Houston originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . For the Fighting Illini of Illinois, the next step is pretty simple.
After taking care of business in the Sweet 16, the focus now shifts to getting past the round that has stopped them before. The 65-55 win over the Houston Cougars was one of their more complete performances of the season. Illinois controlled the game from start to finish, handled Houston’s physical style, and never really let things get out of hand.
And maybe most importantly, Illinois out-toughed the team that usually wins that battle. The Illini bullied the bullies. Houston, last season’s national runner-up under Kelvin Sampson, has built its identity on being the more physical, more relentless team.
That edge wasn’t there in this one. Illinois matched it and, for long stretches, exceeded it. But as solid as that was, the bigger story is what comes next.