3. Illinois still played defense against Oregon
Illinois put a hurting on Oregon. Scoring 109 points against the No. 9 team in the country is a pretty impressive feat. When there is so much focus on scoring the basketball, the defensive side of the court can sometimes take a hit.
On Thursday night, that wasn’t the case. The Ducks were getting cooked, but Illinois still managed to play their usual lockdown defense and held Oregon to a bland night from the field.
Coming into the game, Oregon was averaging 79.5 points per game, which ranked No. 59 in the nation. Illinois managed to hold them to 77 points.
It was a great effort defensively both in the paint and out on the perimeter for the Illini. Oregon only hit 33.3% from three-point range, which is below their season average of 34.1%.
The Illini also contained some of Oregon’s best players. While quick and strong, Jackson Shelstad only shot 4-of-11 from the field and had three turnovers. Oregon’s starters weren’t on their game, as nearly half of the team’s points came from the bench, mainly Supreme Cook.
The fact Illinois could put up a massive number offensively and still have the energy to shut down a really good Oregon team is incredible. This type of two-way play is what will take Illinois from a top 25 program to a serious national title contender.