Illinois-Indiana Full-Court Vision: Live Blogging, Commentary & Analysis

Illinois falls to the Indiana Hoosiers 52-49 during an ugly loss that creates some serious doubts about this team’s NCAA tournament chances (are we really reliving this song and dance again?).

Senior guard Demetri McCamey (6 points on 2-11 shooting, 3 assists, 5 turnovers) was a non-factor for the second consecutive game, and the Illini were unable to get any real offense going en route to shooting 32 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line.

After coming from behind to take a 32-30 lead at the half, Illinois went more than five minutes without a basket in the second half and only scored 17 points in the final 20 minutes as the Hoosiers pulled off their first win against a top-25 team since Tom Crean became the head coach.

All of Illinois’ guards struggled in tonight’s game, and the team was only kept in the game thanks to some very strong rebounding from the post players.

Mike Davis (14 points, 7 rebounds) was the only Illini in double-figure scoring. Coming off the bench, Jereme Richmond just missed his second career double double, finishing with 9 points and 11 rebounds.

Illinois center Mike Tisdale (8 points, 6 rebounds) had a huge turnover with less than 30 seconds remaining, and Brandon Paul (5 points) missed a potential game-tying three at the horn, resulting in yet another Illini loss to an inferior opponent.

Much more on this tomorrow and what it means for these players as March approaches.

Final Score: Indiana 52, Illinois 49

Out of Time Out

• Tisdale throws the ball out of bounds.
• Hulls is fouled.
• Hulls makes both free throws.
• Illinois down by 3 with 12.5 remaining.
• Richardson misses 3.
• Illinois ball with 2 seconds remaining.
• Paul misses 3.
• Illinois loses 52-49.

Out of Time Out

• Paul makes both free throws.
• Paul makes 3.
• Foul on Tisdale.
• Watford makes both free throws.
• Pritchard makes put back.
• Illinois timeout.

Just like Penn State, Illinois did not block out, and Indiana now has the lead. 35 seconds remaining: Illinois ball down by 1. It all comes down to this last play.

Out of Time Out

• Richmond makes one of two free throws.
• Foul on Davis.
• Watford makes both free throws.
• Davis makes jumper.
• Hulls makes 3.
• Davis makes jumper.
• TV timeout.

I’m a bit puzzled as to why Weber is not using his timeouts. The Illini are only down two, but the IU crowd is very energized and his players are starting to panic.

Out of Time Out

• Hulls makes layup.
• Tisdale fouled, will shoot one-and-one.
• Tisdale makes both.
• Rivers makes layup.
• Hulls makes 3.
• TV timeout.

Illinois’ sloppy play in the second half has caught up with them. The Illini have scored only 7 points in almost 13 minutes of play. The first team to get out of this ugly shooting slump will win this game.

Out of Time Out

• Davis makes jumper.
• Foul on Tisdale.
• Oladipo makes both free throws.
• Tisdale makes hook shot.
• Foul on Davis.
• Shooting foul on Pritchard.
• Tisdale makes one of two.
• TV time out.

Both teams are still struggling as the referees have started to call some tight fouls.

Out of Halftime

• McCamey called for charge.
• Pritchard fouls McCamey.
• Foul on Tisdale.
• Foul on Watford.
• Foul on Sheehey.
• TV time out.

No scoring in more than 5 minutes. Illinois is lucky that Indiana is not hitting its shots either or it could turn out like the Ohio State game.

Out of Time Out

• Richmond draws foul.
• Richardson makes 3.
• End of first half.
• Illinois leads 32-30 at the half.

Illinois has the lead at the half because of its rebounding. The Illini have a 20-13 rebounding edge. A problem for Illinois has been drawing fouls. The Illini did not shoot a single free throw in the first half. Illinois needs to extend its lead in the second half. Indiana has a much better shooting percentage, and recent games prove that Illinois can not be comfortable with a close game.

Out of Time Out

• Davis makes layup.
• Watford makes put back.
• Davis makes layup.
• Richmond makes dunk.
• Watford makes jumper.
• TV time out.

Christian Watford is giving Indiana everything he has. The power forward has 12 points to lead all scorers. What Illinois really needs to do is work on drawing the foul. Illinois has 5 team fouls against only 1 for the Hoosiers.

Out of Time Out

• Watford makes layup and draws foul.
• Watford makes free throw.
• Richmond makes alley-oop from Paul.
• Ellston makes short jumper.
• Richmond makes jumper.
• Cole makes dunk off of steal.
• Shooting foul on Tisdale
• Sheehey makes both free throws.
• Illinois turnover.
• Sheehey makes layup.
• Davis makes layup.
• Seehey makes dunk.
• Watford makes layup.
• Timeout Illinois.

Illinois needs to take smarter shots. The Illini are only shooting 37% to the Hoosiers 50%. The Illini are down three and can not let the Hoosiers build a lead going into the half.

Out of Time Out

• Shot clock violation Indiana.
• Brandon Paul misses 3, Davis rebounds miss.
• McCamey draws foul.
• McCamey makes deep 3 pointer.
• Indiana misses 3.
• Richmond makes layup.
• Foul on Meyers Leonard.
• TV time out.

Illinois did what it needed to and now has a 15-13 lead. The Illini have 6 offensive rebounds, which has really helped them keep the lead. The Illini are only shooting 31%, but the second chance points have kept them ahead.

Game Start

• Illinois starts Demetri McCamey, D.J. Richardson, Bill Cole, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale.
• Indiana wins tip off.
• Jordan Hull makes three pointer.
• Watford makes 3 pointer.
• Richardson makes layup.
• Davis makes dunk shot.
• Foul on McCamey.
• Hull makes 3 pointer.
• Pritchard makes lay in.
• McCamey makes 3 pointer.
• Watford makes layup.
• Tisdale makes 3 pointer.
• TV time out.

Indiana has come out on fire, making 3 of 4 from three and taking a 13-10 lead. The Illini have done well hanging in during the shooting streak, and with their rebounding and converting turnovers into points. Illinois needs to keep playing strong and keep driving to the basket to draw some fouls.