Illinois basketball had a roller coaster of a game against Minnesota, but it was a victory nonetheless.
The Illini came out of the gates looking putrid. Minnesota was hitting shots, and Illinois’ lack of presence was known.
Thankfully, the malaise eventually wore off, and Illinois started to get their stuff together. Brad Underwood wasn’t too happy in the first half. He mentioned quite a few things in his postgame press conference.
Here are the five interesting Brad Underwood quotes from the Illinois basketball presser vs Minnesota
- “I was really hoping our team would come out with some pop and aggression on the defensive side to see if we could make sure we had energy. Obviously, a minute in, we called timeout.”
This was one of the worst starts, and really the worst first halves of the season. Illinois looked drowsy to start the game, and that didn’t wear off until the second half.
Offensively, Illinois was actually scoring. As Underwood said, it was more the defensive end of the court that was concerning. Minnesota started hot with two big three-pointers, and Underwood adjusted some things about a minute into the game. This was a great timeout, and it helped turn the tide a bit.
- “My hats off to Mihailo (Petrovic). We don’t win the game without him. He changed the whole outlook of the game.”
I am glad that Underwood gave Mihailo Petrovic some love in the postgame press conference. This kid has been through a lot this season, with coming over to the States and then not seeing a ton of action thus far.
Petrovic changed the feel of this game late in the first half. I mentioned it in the observations article. There was zero momentum for the Illini, and he came in, and his hustle was infectious. Underwood took note of the big minutes.
- “They were in some zone early, and he’s (Zvonimir Ivisic) very, very difficult to zone. For one, he can shoot it. Secondly, he can play over the top of it.”
You have to give some love to Zvonimir Ivisic. He was huge for the Illini, leading us in points and rebounds against Minnesota.
Ivisic’s ability is quite impressive. He can do everything on the court, and Underwood commented on that fact. He can shoot from the perimeter, which hinders a zone defense. And when you can get the ball inside on a zone, it makes it collapse. Ivisic can do both of those key things, and that makes him such an asset.
- “Not everybody, other than maybe Mihailo (Petrovic), they (the bench) don’t want the ball. They don’t need the ball to be very, very effective. Mihailo, as a point, needs it. There’s a lot of guys who come in here, and they want to dominate it. They think it’s their time. With us, it’s not.”
Underwood commented on the bench play as a whole, but honestly, this comment can be applied to the entire team. Illinois is a team of unselfish players who don’t need the ball at all times.
Even the Illini’s best player, Keaton Wagler, is incredible without the ball. He is constantly moving and trying to set screens. Movement is key for Illinois, and if you have one player pounding the rock, then we won’t get anything accomplished.
- “There was a lot (of zone) in the first half. We got really stagnant. In the second half, we just ran our man stuff against it, just ball-screened, and let Keaton (Wagler) find open guys.”
Underwood gives more praise to Wagler in this quote. Illinois didn’t look great against the Minnesota zone in the first half. It was a reason this game was close, beyond not being able to defend well.
It is such a luxury to have a player like Wagler as the lead man, too. Illinois can get him the ball, and he is going to make the right decision 95% of the time. His abilities and IQ are at a senior level, and he isn’t a full year into his college experience. What a wild ride.