Tyler Cottingham

🚨 NEWS: Here are your 40 Sweet 16 & Elite 8 Officials. ⬇️

Something I just realized this morning. The top four teams in the Big Ten all played yesterday and all four are moving on to the Sweet 16. The top of the conference was strong this season. #Illini

The original Every Day Guy.  With the win over VCU, @CoachUnderwood gets his 300th Division 1 victory!

Had to interrupt Zvonimir Ivisic watching the highlights of his second half to ask him about it. His one word description: “Nasty” (He also said it was the best dunk he’s ever had in a game.) #Illini

Illinois put together a dominant defensive effort against VCU. 🔒😤 Held VCU to 55 points Held VCU to 21.9% from 3 Both marks were season lows for VCU.

FINAL: ILLINOIS 76 VCU 55 A Sweet Night in Greenville. #Illini

Illinois up 71-51 with 3:28 left to go. The #Illini Express to Houston is now boarding.

If anyone ever deserved a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk - it was Tomislav Ivisic right there. Somewhere RJ Melendez weeps. #Illini

#Illini turning the tables (literally) on VCU. Two live ball turnovers from the Rams gives four points to Illinois and it’s a 19 point lead with 10 to go.

#Illini have fully controlled the second half and own a 15 point lead at 52-37 but have missed eight (!) layups and two free throws already this half. This lead could easily be 20+. I doubt anyone needs reminded of what VCU did down the stretch against Carolina on Thursday.

OH MY

#Illini lead 43-32 at the under 16 but missed two layups on consecutive possessions with chances to extend the lead. Time to see if they can dispel the “Illinois will let you back in games” narrative. Two Kylan Boswell FTs coming after the time out.

Illinois ball.

That OOB call was right in front of me and it looked very much like it was off VCU’s Hill. #Illini are challenging.

That was a 15-0 run from the #Illini to end the first half and start the second. That will play.

Illinois played a strong first 10 mins and led by as many 12 but live ball turnovers allowed VCU to come all the way back. Enter Andrej Stojakovic who saved the half for the #Illini - scoring 16 points including 11 straight to close the half. Illinois leads 35-28 at the break.

Andrej Stojakovic is getting to the rim at will. More of that would probably be a good thing for the #Illini.

The defensive glass has been a problem for an #Illini team with a huge size advantage against VCU. Rams have seven second chance points off of seven offensive rebounds. They are going to force turnovers so Illinois is going to have to protect possessions better in this game.

#Illini have missed a couple of chances to gain some distance on VCU. Missed threes with chances to go up 15 and 13 respectively and have already given up six offensive rebounds to the Rams. 23-17 Illinois at the under 8 TO

Tough sequence for Tomislav Ivisic - who was playing well. Gives up a turnover and picks up his second foul trying to get the ball back. #Illini