Offensive stagnancy in Indy puts Illinois’ season to rest
The Illini left it all on the floor Saturday night.
INDIANAPOLIS – Before Saturday night’s matchup, UConn had won 12 of its last 13 Final Four games. For Illinois, a program that had only won just one Final Four game ever, the task was simple: keep Tarris Reed Jr. away from the glass and make life difficult for him in the paint.
Reed Jr. was up to 11 points and five rebounds at half, but Illinois had something different to worry about: the rim had a lid on it. After missing their first eight three-point shots, the Illini gained their first lead of the night at the eight-minute mark following two triples from Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivisic, turning an early 11-18 deficit into a 22-21 lead.
But the Huskies answered in no time, as Solo Ball and Alex Karaban both knocked down triples to get on the board for their first points of the contest and put UConn back in front, giving the Illini a sneak peek of their second halves to come. Illinois did its best to take care of Reed Jr. , and in return won the rebound battle 44 to 37.
The Illini even won the paint-points battle, 22 to 20. The problem? Shots not going down, which led to a rushed offense.