Here is the official post-game blog from yesterday’s Illini game in Champaign:

 

The first half as I mentioned in the short post yesterday evening was bad, really bad. Let’s look at some of the numbers for the Illini in the first half.

 

Going into halftime, it was 26-26, a deadlock of sloppy offensive possessions for both teams. The Illini had ten turnovers in the opening frame(on pace for 20 at this point) which I said in the keys to the game is limit the turnovers. I know I am a broken record but it can’t go unnoticed. I’m more than certain that head coach Brad Underwood was infuriated with the turns in the locker room at the half. Coupled on top of ten first-half turnovers, the scoring was abysmal both ways. Going into the first media timeout, there were nine total points scored, yes, I said that right. UH would bring the ball up, chuck a three, the Illini would push it to the opposite end and turn it over. This happened for over seven minutes. As I stated last night, that might have been the worst first half of basketball I have witnessed in person. Hawaii came to play, and they played well in the first half. The Illini, on the other hand, did a great job of holding Stansberry to only four at the half. When they shut him down, that eliminated a vast majority of the Rainbow Warriors scoring. 

 

Second half: 

The Illini came out with a little more intensity and specifically Alan Griffen. He didn’t get into the scoring column until late in the last half, but it was the intangibles that I liked. He was tracking down offensive boards, using that vertical that has risen out of nowhere to get over guys and battle on the offensive glass. Kofi was able to notch the third double-double of his career(4th game) with 10:43 left in the contest. He was 10 and 11 before pulled the rest of the game with under six minutes reaming in the game. Trent and Ayo lit up a couple three’s from the parking lot back-to-back, and that sent a little murmur around the SFC. The second half was much better for the Illini than the first, but they still didn’t gain a large enough lead for my liking. I seriously think that having a week off after traveling to the desert was detrimental to the flow of the team. The Illini have another game on Wednesday night at home against The Citadel.

 

Scoring/Team Highs:

Kofi- 15

Trent- 13

Giorgi B- 10

Ayo/Kipper- 9

 

Rebounding

Kofi- 14

Giorgi B- 9

Andres- 8

Alan- 5

 

I will have another pregame podcast and blog up tomorrow night before the game!