The stars were out in Champaign on Thursday night, as the Illinois basketball team beat down Penn.
It was an exciting night for the Illini, who defeated old rival Fran McCaffery and the Penn Quakers 112-70 in non-conference play. Andrej Stojakovic led Illinois in scoring with 25 points, with freshmen Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown adding 19 points and 13 points, respectively.
The Illini were flying high at the State Farm Center and have now started 2-0 or better for the eighth straight season under Brad Underwood. It was a great night, but it got even better for Coleman and Brown when they learned that basketball superstar Caitlin Clark was in the building.
ICYMI: #Illini guard Quentin Coleman had quite the reaction when finding out Caitlin Clark was at the game tonight.
— Noah Cowell (@cowell_noah) November 6, 2026
"Yoooooo! I gotta tell my sister bro... Caitlin Clark still here? Shoot."
Peja Stojaković was also here. Underwood said they shouldv'e had a 3-point contest. pic.twitter.com/lJNH4oKSbb
Coleman's jaw almost hit the floor during Illinois' postgame press conference after learning about Clark. He was stunned, letting out an emphatic, "Yooooooooo! I got to tell my sister, bro!"
The Illini are the most entertaining team to listen to on the mic, and Coleman is certainly learning from his predecessors.
Quentin Coleman joins a legacy of top Illinois sound bites from the Brad Underwood era
The men's basketball program has very little filter when it comes to interviews, with some fans saying they have the "worst media training" in the country. They love to have fun when they're around a microphone, with David Mirkovic's cowboy hat and "it's a secret" interviews highlighting some of the team's best moments.
#Illini David Mirkovic wearing a cowboy hat for postgame interviews:
— Tristan Thomas (@TristanThomasTV) March 29, 2026
Where did he get it? Amazon.
How much? $34
What brand? Not sure.
Does he feel like a cowboy? "Yeah, why not, we in Texas."
Video: KXAN pic.twitter.com/TcWiz3u4S7
"Secret. I can't tell you." 😂
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 27, 2026
David Mirkovic & Tomislav Ivisic were sharing secrets as they caught up with @LaurenShehadi 🤫 @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/pbBSitX8fl
Coleman's postgame interview doesn't match the creativity and goofiness of Mirk, but it is still something that puts a smile on fans' faces. He is a kid playing the game he loves, and when something like this happens, he's not afraid to react to it.
This team loves to have fun, and that energy is making its way to the underclassmen. This season is going to be a special one, and if Coleman is any indication of what's to come, we should expect even more sound bites from the University of Illinois.
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