When Nebraska visited Illinois on Dec. 13, Jamarques Lawrence swished a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to give the Cornhuskers their most prestigious win of the season.
While the memory of that knockout punch still stings for No. 9 Illinois (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) as it visits No. 5 Nebraska (20-1, 9-1) for a Big Ten first-place showdown Sunday in Lincoln, Neb., the Fighting Illini also haven’t forgotten all the body blows administered by Pryce Sandfort that set it up.
Sandfort scored 26 of his career-high 32 points in the first half as Nebraska sped to a 14-point first-half lead. While the Illini caught up by halftime, Sandfort’s early blitz made the Illini uncomfortable throughout as they led for just 16 seconds on their home floor.
And for that, the Illini are grateful.
Since that 83-80 loss to Nebraska, Illinois has won 10 in a row to climb to No. 7 in the NET rankings.
“I think that was an eye-opening moment,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I didn’t think we were very focused on what it took to win. And they whipped us. … Our mental mistakes in that game were very high.”
“The Nebraska loss started it all,” added Illini freshman forward David Mirkovic, who averages 12.5 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds. “We changed our mentality after that. Coach was, I mean, we deserved that he got to be mad after that loss. We changed our mentality. We started living for each other, playing harder defense, communicating more.
“When we give our best and try to play as hard as possible, points find us and we win.”
Illinois boasts the nation’s most efficient offense per KenPom.com with 130.3 points per 100 possessions.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler (17.7 points, 4.2 assists), the reigning Big Ten and national player of the week, has received the lion’s share of praise recently, but the Illini feature five players in double figures.
“I think they play to a certain standard that they hold themselves accountable to,” Underwood said. “I appreciate that. I think that players buying into all their roles, and players being willing to sacrifice for the great of the team and commit to that, that’s all a part of it.”
Underwood could also have been describing the vibe at Nebraska, where the Huskers have earned their highest Associated Press ranking in school history by finding a way regardless of who’s on the court.
Yes, their 20-0 start came to an end Tuesday at No. 3 Michigan, but the Huskers led for 36:18 despite playing without two of their top three scorers in Rienk Mast (flu) and Braden Frager (ankle).
The only difference between Nebraska’s trips to Illinois and to Michigan? Lawrence’s last-second 3-point attempt, which would have tied the game, went off the rim against the Wolverines instead of swishing through.
“I give our guys all the credit in the world for the fight that they showed in that game from start to finish,” said Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg. “Listen, that team is projected by a lot of people to win a national championship. You got no Braden, you got no Rienk, you got no Ugie (Ugnius Jarusevicius), you got no Connor (Essegian) — and you fight ’em all the way to the finish and you lose by a basket.
“I mean, that shows the character of our team. And it also shows we can compete with anybody in the country… For our guys, it should be a confidence-builder.”
Mast (14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds) should be good to go against Illinois, but Frager (12.2 points) figures to need more time. Illini guard Kylan Boswell (14.3 points, 3.4 assists) will miss his fourth straight game with a broken right hand.
–Field Level Media
