LINCOLN, Neb. — After making a remarkable run to the Elite Eight last season, Illinois has revamped its roster, leading to challenges as they navigate the current season with one of the youngest squads in the Power Four. Coach Brad Underwood anticipated a mix of successes and setbacks, and the 18th-ranked Illini (14-7, 6-4 Big Ten) are currently facing a challenging phase. Their recent 80-74 overtime defeat against Nebraska marked their fourth loss in six games.
Initially, the Illini began the season strong, holding a record of 12-3, with losses only to then-No. 8 Alabama and a heartbreaking last-second defeat to then-No. 1 Tennessee. Just a few weeks back, they were ranked 13th, encouraging Underwood to express confidence in their potential for another deep run in the postseason. “It’s frustrating for me,” he remarked following the Nebraska loss. “I know where we can be and what we were getting to.”
The absence of 7-foot-1 sophomore center Tomislav Ivisic, who is currently sidelined indefinitely due to mononucleosis, has seriously impacted the team. Ivisic is the second-leading scorer with an average of 13 points and the top rebounder, gathering 8.5 rebounds per game. Morez Johnson Jr., who stands at 6-9 and weighs 255 pounds, has stepped into the starting role in place of Ivisic during the last three games. “It’s big for sure,” noted sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn regarding Ivisic’s missing presence. “Tomi is a great player, and we have to adopt a next-man-up mentality.”
Additionally, star freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis missed two games earlier this month due to a left wrist injury. Leading the team with 15.9 points per game and shooting a solid 37.5% from beyond the arc, his absence was felt. Another promising freshman, Will Riley, faced illness and was limited in his playing time during a significant 91-70 loss against Maryland last week.
Underwood expressed concern about the timing of these injuries, stating, “I don’t know when we’ll get whole again. Tomi is a big piece of what we do, and Morez was becoming that.” He further highlighted the importance of having both players on the court, as they contribute significantly to the team’s currently leading defense.
The recent lineup changes have had adverse effects on the Illini’s offense. They have struggled from the three-point range, managing just 25% (48 of 190) and averaging 13 turnovers across their last six contests. Underwood voiced frustration about many of these turnovers, attributing them to players ignoring scouting reports and taking risky passes. During the Nebraska game, several ill-fated passes went right into the defense’s hands.
“Grow up. Grow up,” he exclaimed, his frustration evident. “I expect an explanation. We had four turnovers that stemmed directly from our scouting report, and we continuously made those errors. Tonight was uncharacteristic of us; you can’t win games playing that way.”
This game marked the start of a critical stretch where the Illini will face three road games in the next 10 days. They will host Ohio State on Sunday before heading to Rutgers and Minnesota, with all three schools currently struggling in Big Ten play, being below the .500 mark.
Riley commented on the young nature of the team, stating, “I feel like with this team, we’re going to go on our little slumps. We’re very young, but I think we’re becoming more consistent as time passes. We’ll move on to the next game with high intensity and effort.”
