‘We’ve gotta be dialed in’: Illinois looking for season sweep of Huskers

CHAMPAIGN, Ailing. — After a low-scoring victory in Madison, the Illini have now received six of their final seven video games. Illinois is seeking to get a a lot sooner scoring begin Tuesday night time because it hosts a weaker opponent in Nebraska.

In a recreation Saturday the place Terrence Shannon Jr. acquired into foul bother early, different guys needed to step as much as cleared the path in scoring for the Illini. Matthew Mayer had a career-high 26 factors, whereas Jayden Epps was second in factors with 13.

“I believed Jayden Epps was spectacular,” stated head coach Brad Underwood on Monday. “In his final 4 or 5 video games he’s hardly turning the ball over, making alternatives after they’re there.”

However now it’s onto Nebraska. Whereas they’re 3-8 in Massive Ten play, like coach Underwood has stated time and time once more, there in no simple recreation on this convention.

“It is a group that arguably had Purdue beat,” Underwood stated. “It doesn’t matter what the jersey says, now we have to protect. We have now to play exhausting.”

Whereas Coleman Hawkins might haven’t shined on the stat sheet towards Wisconsin, Underwood praised his management within the press convention. Hawkins mentioned his modified mindset with the media earlier than apply.

“I really was simply combating discovering the best strategy,” Hawkins stated. “I’ve talked with my sister, talked with my good friend, we’ve been doing Bible research on Sundays.”

As an upperclassman, Hawkins has embraced his function as a pacesetter of this group. Admitting that he had been getting simply pissed off earlier this season, it seems he has discovered his zen to permit him to remain calm on the courtroom.

“God’s been pulling by with form of my mindset,” Hawkins stated. “And simply altering the way in which I view issues and form of simply calming me down.”

In Illinois’ final six wins, they’ve allowed lower than 70 factors in every of these contests. Underwood and Hawkins credited robust defensive play as the primary purpose for the group’s latest successes in these powerful matchups.

A win towards Nebraska will give the Illini a three-game win streak in Massive Ten play. At the moment sitting at third within the convention standings, each recreation is extra essential than the final with solely 10 remaining till the Massive Ten Match.