MADISON, Wis. — The Fighting Illini had their focus on health rather than sportsmanship after their recent game against the Wisconsin Badgers. Following the defeat, which ended in a 95-74 scoreline, Illinois opted out of the customary postgame handshake amid a virus outbreak affecting several players. Coach Brad Underwood emphasized the importance of not passing on any illnesses. “They don’t need this,” he expressed regarding the potential germ-sharing that could occur. “In 38 years of coaching, I’ve never experienced anything like what our team is going through.”
Currently, Illinois holds a record of 17-10 overall and 9-8 in conference play, keeping them in a strong position to make it to the NCAA Tournament for a fifth consecutive year. Prior to the game against Wisconsin, the Illini were projected as a No. 6 seed according to Bracket Matrix predictions. Underwood remains optimistic, stating, “We’re going to survive. We’re going to be fine. We’re a really good basketball team. We’ve proved that.”
However, the team is facing numerous challenges both on and off the court, especially as they approach a tougher segment of their schedule. A significant casualty for Illinois was freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr., who suffered a wrist fracture during a recent game against No. 14 Michigan State. This injury adds to the team’s troubles, as many issues are linked to illnesses rather than injuries.
Tomislav Ivisic, who leads the team in rebounds and ranks second in scoring, had to come off the bench for the first time this season due to illness. Underwood noted that Ivisic traveled separately to Wisconsin, highlighting the severity of the situation at hand. In 21 minutes of play, Ivisic contributed seven points and collected three rebounds, despite a history of challenging health circumstances this season, including mono and previous ankle issues, which have limited his practice time significantly. Reserve forward Jake Davis also faced difficulties, as he fell ill just after warmups.
“From day to day, we’re uncertain about our lineup,” Underwood noted. “I didn’t know who I would start today.” On a brighter note, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn emerged as the top scorer for the Illini in this game, despite having had his own brush with illness earlier in the season. After previously struggling to make an impact, he turned in a strong performance, netting 17 points and providing five assists against the Badgers.
“Right now, we’re going through a tough stretch,” Gibbs-Lawhorn commented. “But we are a good basketball team, and we understand that.”
Looking ahead, the challenges will continue as Illinois prepares to pause their Big Ten rivalry for a high-stakes matchup against No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden this Saturday. Underwood described the upcoming game as “David playing Goliath”—mercilessly tough—but reaffirmed the team’s commitment to compete with heart. “We’re going to show up and we’re going to fight,” he pledged, underscoring their determination despite the struggles they currently face.
