Illinois Basketball: Illini are rolling after much needed win over Nebraska

The Illinois basketball team looks to have gotten back on track with a 26-point road win Tuesday night against Nebraska.

Just one week ago, all hope seemed lost, as the Illini had dug a deep hole after a loss against in-state rival Northwestern put the Orange and Blue at the bottom of the conference at 0-3.

The 13-point defeat, coupled with the leave of absence of Skyy Clark, left fans wondering if Champaign’s favorite team could spark a midseason turnaround. A victory against then-ranked No. 14 Wisconsin last Saturday made the fans believe that yes, the season is not lost and there is still an end goal in sight.

Tuesday night showcased a continuation of that newfound success, as Illinois hit the road to take on a struggling Nebraska team who had just earned its second Big Ten win three days prior.

Regardless, the Illini played an unfazed game, as a rocky first half that only saw Illinois manage an 11-point lead turn into one of the team’s best performances, as it conquered the Cornhuskers 76-50, improving to 11-5 and 2-3 in the Big Ten. It was Illinois’ third-straight road win against its Lincoln counterparts.

The story of the game was Illinois’ ball movement and the idea of creating the extra pass to set up critical baskets down the stretch.

Terrence Shannon Jr. played some of his best basketball since arriving in Champaign,  earning a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, including a big-time three-pointer to end any hope of a late Huskers rally.

The Illini also had double-figure performances from their key players, as Coleman Hawkins added 12 points, Jayden Epps had 11 points, and the duo of Mayer and R.J. Melendez each had 10 points in the victory, making it one of the most balanced games thus far this season and showcased the team’s full potential.

The Illinois basketball team is starting to get on a roll.

Brad Underwood feels like his team is finally beginning to gel after the 2022 calendar year ended on a sour note.

"“We weren’t right. We weren’t right,” Underwood said regarding his team’s recent performances. “We weren’t about us. You know, as we put it, you gotta fight for that and I do that. I’m competitive that way, us wins. Individuals don’t. I’ve said many times that I love this team. I like this team as much as any team we’ve coached, as people.  Not just basketball, as people. Unbelievable human beings in that locker room. Fun to be around. There’s no downers. There’s (none of that). It’s just an energy group. So, yeah, anything is possible. It’s a long season. We’ve said from day one with nine new guys that there were gonna be a lot of ups and downs.”"

The Illini will look to continue their momentum Friday night when they host Michigan State at the State Farm Center.

Illinois swept the Spartans during the 2021-22 regular season and will look for its third win in a row while trying to even the conference mark in the process. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on FS1.