Illinois Finds Its Defensive Identity - and a Statement Win - in Victory Over No. 5 Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. - After the final buzzer sounded and Illinois had secured a 78-69 road win over No. 5 Nebraska, Tomislav Ivisic found himself near the loading dock of Pinnacle Bank Arena, arm around defensive coordinator Camryn Crocker, grinning and asking a question that felt more like a statement.
"Is it easier when you’ve got the best defender on the court - your big guy?"
He didn’t wait for an answer. He pointed to himself.
And honestly? He’s got a case.
The Illini’s frontcourt has become the backbone of a defensive resurgence that’s turned their season around. Tomislav and his twin brother Zvonimir Ivisic have become what Crocker calls “the forest” - two towering trees anchoring the paint and making life miserable for anyone trying to score inside. On Sunday, that forest stood tall in one of the toughest road environments in the Big Ten and helped Illinois notch its second top-five win in just over a week.
This wasn’t just another win. This was a full-circle moment.
Seven weeks ago, Illinois suffered its worst defensive outing of the season - a 16-point home loss to this same Nebraska team, where the Huskers lit up the scoreboard with 1.32 points per possession. That night, the Illini looked lost defensively, disjointed, and lacking identity.
Since then? They’ve rattled off 11 straight wins, climbed the Big Ten standings, and now sit at 19-3 overall and 10-1 in conference play. They’ve gone from reeling to rolling, and Sunday’s win in Lincoln was a clear sign of just how far they’ve come.
Nebraska, now 20-2 and 9-2 in the Big Ten, still hit 15 threes on 35 attempts - a solid clip - but Illinois made them work for everything. The Huskers managed just 1.09 points per possession, their seventh-worst offensive performance of the season.
That may not sound like a defensive clinic on the surface, but context matters. Against a red-hot team in a raucous arena, Illinois dictated the terms.
They owned the paint, contested shots, and forced Nebraska into tough decisions all night long.
For Crocker and the Illini coaching staff, the turnaround has been about more than just Xs and Os. It’s been about accountability.
“I think it starts with just everybody taking accountability for what had happened up until that point,” Crocker said. “Program-wide, top to bottom, we all had to look in the mirror and figure out how we wanted our season to go, who we wanted to be and what we wanted to be about.”
That December loss? It stung. But it also sparked something.
“I think that game was a real litmus test for us,” Crocker said. “And in a lot of ways, it was unacceptable - the results were - and we all knew that. I’m proud of how the guys came out and fought and continued to stay together.”
That’s been the story of this Illinois team since mid-December: growth, unity, and a rediscovered defensive edge. The Ivisic twins have been central to that evolution, but it’s been a collective effort - from the coaching staff down to the last man on the bench.
Everyone bought in. Everyone responded.
Now, Illinois is not only in the thick of the Big Ten title race - they’re making a legitimate case for a top seed in March. And if Sunday’s performance is any indication, they’re not just winning games. They’re sending messages.
This team remembers what happened last time they faced Nebraska. And now, they’re making sure nobody forgets what they’ve become since.