The Illinois Fighting Illini took down the Oregon Ducks last night in a 109-77 rout. The game was close at halftime with Illinois hanging on to a seven-point lead. A 22-6 run to open the half opened the floodgates and the Oregon Ducks couldn’t keep the game competitive after that. The ninth-ranked team suffered their second defeat of the season and one that is going to leave a mark on them moving forward. The loss left a mark in the record books as well, with Illinois’ victory setting a new record for the biggest loss by an AP Top 10 team playing at home.
Illinois had tremendous success from deep to help them set this record. Brad Underwood’s crew improved to 10-3 with the resounding victory and put the country on notice. Illinois had faded into the background of the national spotlight after losing their Big Ten opener to Northwestern and coming up short at home against the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. This outing in Eugene bodes well for the Illinois Fighting Fighting Illini moving forward as they try to compete in the rigorous and expanded Big Ten.
Illinois Fighting Illini Dominant Over Oregon
The Illinois Fighting Illini rode the three-pointer to a huge 109-77 victory in Eugene over the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night. Brad Underwood’s team shot above 50% from distance, going 16-of-29 from beyond the arc and pummeling the Ducks. Illinois has had their fair share of big games so far on the season and this was their best performance. In addition to the three-ball working for them, they played hounding defense when the game was still in doubt and showed their potential.
The potential of the Fighting Illini was realized in this ranked matchup. The defeat of the No. 9 team in the country by 32 points is the largest blowout of a top ten team playing at home in the history of the AP Poll. Illinois was able to smother Oregon on the defensive end and be versatile on the offensive end. The trouble for the Illinois Fighting Illini offense had been a rigidity that overemphasized the three-point line and reduced the skill set of many of their best players. Kasparas Jakucionis stood out for his playmaking, leading the team with six assists and more importantly, only committing two turnovers.
Identity Beginning To Form
Jakacionis is the head of this Illinois snake, a projected lottery pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, but there is depth to this Fighting Illini team behind him. That depth was on display against a top ten team on Thursday night. Ben Humrichous had one of his better games of the season, showing what he can do as a quick big on the perimeter and premier shooting threat who plays well at the four position. Kylan Boswell has turned heads all year, assuming a larger role on this team than many expected, and Oregon players were turning their heads as Boswell took the game over at times with his play on the perimeter.
Tre White stole the show for Illinois by the end of this one, leading the team in scoring with 20 and pairing that with 11 rebounds and 8-of-11 shooting from the field. White is one of many Illini players who have the potential to change this team’s fortunes in March and April if he can continue to become an integral part of the team’s identity.
Illinois came into this game as No. 22 in the country with a 9-3 record. With those two losses coming against Tennessee and Alabama, it looks as though that slot in the poll is selling the Fighting Illini short. Dominating Oregon and doing it in record-setting fashion might be the game that sets the country on notice and gives Illinois a jolt ahead of the bulk of Big Ten conference play.
Final Thoughts
The Illinois Fighting Illini are going to be a volatile team this season and Thursday night was a prime example of that. They have the potential to set NCAA records in a win over a top ten team and they also have the potential to lose to Northwestern.
They have great athletes who can be very dynamic or very harmful to team success. If they can put up more performances like this one, and better yet become less reliant on the three-pointer, then they can make some noise in March and maybe even into April. Dominating a quality team like Oregon shows fans around the country what Brad Underwood’s team can do on its better days.
