Illinois walked out of Texas Tech with a road loss, and the film left a messy split screen: a few players flashed real fight, while others never quite found the pace of the game. The grades reflected that divide. A couple of Illini still earned A marks, but most of the roster landed well short of that level.
Lincoln Williams was one of the bright spots, and his second half stood out even with the missed free throw. He made life miserable for Texas Tech guard Cruz Davis, holding him to 2-for-7 shooting with two turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
Williams kept disrupting the Red Raiders’ flow, forcing late-clock possessions, and he also jumped a passing lane for an and-one that swung momentum toward Illinois. He added a few tough finishes at the rim, too.
Andrej Stojakovic brought confidence from deep, even though the threes didn’t fully fall, as he finished 1-for-4. That threat alone changes how defenses have to guard him.
He also did a solid job balancing his own scoring chances with finding open teammates. Still, the turnovers piled up at three, and the rebounding was a problem.
Three boards in 33 minutes from a 6-foot-7, uber-athletic player is not enough. On the other hand, his defense was a major plus, with two blocks, a steal and strong on-ball work.
Quentin Coleman battled through what looked like multiple injuries and an illness, though none were considered major concerns, and still produced 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. His effort never really drops, and neither does his anticipation, especially on defense.
He also kept Illinois alive with timely shotmaking, going 5-for-6 from three. The one area that still needs work is his decision-making in ball-screen action.
He also missed both free throws.
Tomislav Ivisic had one of the better offensive nights for Illinois. He showed the face-up and rip-and-go game Brad Underwood had been talking about, and he looked comfortable letting it fly from three even while going just 1-for-5.
He was physical inside, too, and he kept the ball moving with three assists, including a strong feed to a cutting Ethan Brown. Defensively, he added two steals and held his ground around the rim.
But the glass was a different story. Texas Tech’s Jamichael Stillwell, a 6-foot-8 forward, pushed Ivisic and his twin brother, Zvonimir, around on the boards.
Ivisic also had trouble protecting the ball, finishing with a game-high four turnovers as Texas Tech kept sending doubles and forcing him into mistakes.
Brown had a rougher night. The freshman guard, usually so composed, looked sped up against Texas Tech.
Whether it was the size and athleticism on the floor, the environment, his back spasms or some mix of all three, he never looked settled. He finished with five points, four rebounds and three assists, but also had two ugly turnovers and wasn’t sharp defensively.
He did manage two steals.
Stefan Vaaks kept firing, because that’s what he does. He led the Big East in three-point percentage last season, and the shot diet he’s built in Illinois games is still built around those deep attempts.
Against Texas Tech, though, the volume outpaced the results. He went 2-for-10 from three, with one of the makes coming on a late-game prayer.
He did help spark the comeback with an and-one, but the free throws were rough at 2-for-6, and three rebounds is too little. Even so, his defense was better than expected.
He stayed tight on the ball against quick guards and stronger wings, and his isolation stop against Darrion Williams, which ended in a block, was a standout play.
Zavier Zens had some useful moments, but the aggressiveness wasn’t there when Illinois needed it most. He passed up a three the Illini badly wanted, apparently because he had missed his first two.
He did finish a strong cut, grabbed a team-high four defensive rebounds and defended with effort. His boxing out was also excellent.
But his reluctance to shoot can’t become a habit.
Zvonimir Ivisic had one of his signature blocks, but that was about the highlight. Stillwell gave him problems all night, backing him down, getting to his right hand and finishing off the glass on one possession, then knocking him out of rebounding position over and over.
Big Z finished with one defensive rebound, while Stillwell had six offensive boards. Offensively, Ivisic was fading away on catch-and-shoot threes, which only made things harder.
With David Mirkovic still on the mend, Illinois needs him to sort it out.
In Other News...
Collin Dixon Is Fueling Illinois Momentum In A Much Bigger Way
Collin Dixons latest big afternoon came at just the right time for Illinois, which kept its momentum rolling with a 16-13 win over Nebraska. The receiver set a new single-season program record with 12 receiving touchdowns, and he did it in a game where the Illini needed every bit of production they could get. Dixon finished with eight catches for 129 yards and two scores, giving Illinois another reliable spark as the offense found enough rhythm to extend its run.
The victory marked Illinois fourth straight and kept the program bowl eligible for a third consecutive season, a sign that this stretch is about more than one hot hand. Katin Houser and other Illini also played their part, but Dixons consistency has become a defining piece of the surge. With the season moving into its next phase, Illinois has a lot to like about the way its offense is being carried by more than one contributor. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Exposed A Big Early Question About This Team
Illinois first real test against a ranked opponent brought a familiar kind of warning sign into focus. The No. 3 Illini were pushed around early by No. 16 Texas Tech, fell behind badly by halftime and only found a better rhythm after the break, a reminder that this roster is still sorting out its identity while leaning heavily on freshmen guards.
The bigger concern was less about one loss than the pattern behind it. Illinois has already shown how much its rotation can change with injured and returning players moving in and out, and the issues on the defensive glass only sharpen the questions about how steady this group can be when the schedule tightens. The talent is obvious, but the margin for inconsistency may be thinner than it looked before this game. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Needs A Fast Response In A Home Test Fans Can't Ignore
Illinois gets back to work Friday night at the State Farm Center, where the Illini will try to steady things after opening the season 2-1. Sam Houston comes in with the same record, setting up a nonconference matchup that offers an early read on where both teams stand, even if there is no history between them to lean on. It will also be a different kind of test for Illinois, which is still sorting through its rotation.
The Illini will be doing it without Jake Davis and David Mirkovic, both sidelined by injuries, so the margin for error is a little thinner than usual. With a home crowd in Champaign and a first-ever meeting on the schedule, this is the kind of game that can either help calm the early-season noise or leave more questions hanging around Illinois heading into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]