CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Darian DeVries knew the challenges No. 8 Illinois presented Indiana men’s basketball two days before the two squads faced off Sunday.
When the Hoosiers head coach sat inside the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall press room in Bloomington and spoke to reporters over Zoom on Friday, he said there was plenty that concerned him regarding the Fighting Illini.
Whether it was Illinois’ imposing size — which DeVries previously noted — physicality or effort Sunday, all three combined to hamper the Hoosiers inside the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. In turn, Indiana fell 71-51 and moved to 1-5 against ranked opponents this season.
The Fighting Illini outrebounded the Hoosiers by 13 and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds to the Hoosiers’ four. Junior center Tomislav Ivisic and senior guard Kylan Boswell each grabbed four offensive boards, leading the hosts.
“We knew it was the number one thing that we had to do a good job of if we were to come in here and win,” DeVries said postgame. “Illinois is one of the best rebounding teams in the country, and for good reason.”
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler, who entered the matchup averaging 18.5 points, hauled in three offensive rebounds while freshman forward David Mirkovic grabbed two. The former scored 18 points while the latter notched a game-high 25.
Not only did the Hoosiers’ inability to corral defensive rebounds provide the Fighting Illini with extra offensive possessions — they scored 17 points second-chance points — it also prevented Indiana’s transition offense from commencing.
The Cream and Crimson failed to score any fast-break points Sunday. In all, they scored just 51 total points — six fewer than their previous season-low of 57 against Iowa in mid-January.
Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson scored 21 of the Hoosiers’ 51, while five other players accounted for the rest of Indiana’s 30 points.
DeVries thought Indiana’s best offense would come on a broken floor — when the opponent isn’t able to get fully set to properly defend the offense. Illinois’ size largely prevented the Cream and Crimson’s best dribble penetrators from getting easy looks near the basket.
“The more we could get them moving and playing in space, we thought was our opportunity,” DeVries said.
But the Hoosiers couldn’t convert their plan. Simply, they didn’t execute enough to provide opportunities to do so. And while Indiana’s offense faltered, so, too, did its defense.
Although the Cream and Crimson held the Fighting Illini, the most efficient team nationally, to 71 points, they couldn’t connect on enough shot attempts to form any sort of chance at the upset in enemy territory.
Despite holding Illinois’ offense to its second-fewest total points in a game this season and just 43.9% from the field, the Hoosiers couldn’t overcome the Fighting Illini’s size.
“They've done a terrific job of creating those habits of guys going and going with force to go get the ball,” DeVries said. “There's a few of them where they come off long, and you’ve got 6-10, 7-foot everywhere where they’re able to just grab it over top of you.”
Indiana — a smaller team by an average of almost two inches — received just 26 points and 13 rebounds from its three forwards. Illinois’ two centers and five forwards, however, combined for 44 points and 23 rebounds.
The Hoosiers were no match for perhaps a Fighting Illini team bound for a deep NCAA Tournament run next month.
“They are a reason why they're one of the best teams in the country,” DeVries said, “and I think you saw a lot of that today.”
Indiana’s loss doesn’t particularly harm its March Madness resume, but it left Champaign without a victory that could’ve nearly solidified its case for the Big Dance should it win the final three of five games it’s favored in, according to Bart Torvik.
Still, the Hoosiers have another opportunity on the docket in five days: No. 13 Purdue in West Lafayette — the squad they defeated less than a month ago.
Sunday’s 20-point loss provides Indiana with an opportunity with a firsthand experience to see what one of the nation’s best teams looks like, something DeVries knew two days beforehand.
Now, the Hoosiers must continue their positive stretch — winners of five of their last seven — and parlay it into a successful stretch run into March.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
