MADISON, Wis. — The Illinois team exhibited sportsmanship by refraining from a postgame handshake following their match against Wisconsin, prioritizing health over custom. The Fighting Illini, who lost 95-74 to the 11th-ranked Badgers, are grappling with a virus affecting several players, and the decision was made to avoid any potential spread of illness.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood commented on the unusual circumstances, stating, “In my 38 years in coaching, I’ve never encountered anything quite like this.” Despite their recent setback, the Illini (17-10, 9-8) maintain a strong chance at securing a fifth straight NCAA Tournament bid, entering the game as a projected sixth seed.
Underwood expressed confidence in his team’s potential to recover, saying, “We’re going to survive. We’re going to be fine. We’re a really good basketball team. We’ve proved that.” Meanwhile, the Illini face various challenges both on and off the court as they navigate this critical phase of their season.
One of the major setbacks came when freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. sustained a broken wrist while attempting to block a shot in a recent 79-65 defeat to No. 14 Michigan State. However, the majority of injuries currently affecting the team stem from illness rather than physical injuries.
Tomislav Ivisic, the Illini’s top rebounder and second-leading scorer, made an unusual appearance off the bench after grappling with sickness. Coach Underwood noted that Ivisic chose to drive to Wisconsin separately instead of traveling with the team. In 21 minutes, he managed to contribute seven points and three rebounds. Earlier this season, Ivisic faced challenges with mononucleosis and an ankle injury, which significantly limited his time on the court for practice.
Underwood also mentioned that reserve forward Jake Davis expressed a desire to play but fell ill right after the pregame warmups. “We don’t know who we’ll have from day to day,” he remarked. “I didn’t even know who I would be starting today.”
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn emerged as Illinois’ top scorer against Wisconsin, having previously been sick earlier in the month. After struggling to make an impact in his last three games, he rebounded with a performance featuring 17 points and five assists. Forward Ben Humrichous, who scored 13 points in the game, reflected on the difficulties the team is facing, noting, “Right now we’re going through a stretch that’s difficult. But we know we’re a good basketball team.”
The upcoming schedule remains challenging for Illinois. They will step away from Big Ten competition to square off against third-ranked Duke at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Underwood likened the challenge to “David playing Goliath,” promising, “We’re going to show up and we’re going to fight.”
