How to Watch No. 13 Illinois vs. No. 5 UCONN (Madison Square Garden)
Game Time: 11:30 a.m.
TV Channel: Fox
Online Streaming: FOXSportsGO
Odds: N/A (Illinois 45.3% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor)
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 171-102)
Last Game: Illinois 87,
UTRGV 73
Gameday Reading:
UCONN Huskies (5-1, 0-0 Big East)
Head Coach: Dan Hurley (8th season)
Last Game: UCONN 72, Bryant 49
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
- UCONN leads the all-time series 3-1.
March 30, 2024: UCONN 77, Illinois 52 (Elite Eight)
BOSTON — The run is over.
Going into what was possibly the matchup of the Elite Eight between the Big Ten Tournament champs and the Big East outright champs, a close game became a blowout in an instant.
After a super-tight first half, No. 1 overall seed UConn used a massive 25-0 run to start the second half to get up 30, and would end up blowing out Illinois 77-50 Saturday at TD Garden.
“Today wasn’t our day,” said head coach Brad Underwood. “We’re a game short of the Final Four. But getting to the Elite Eight, not something we’re going to just forget about.”
In a game where a fast start was needed, the Illini (29-9) did the opposite. An 0-of-4 start from the field allowed the Huskies (35-3) to feel comfortable right away.
UConn’s Donovan Clingan was dominant out the gates, scoring the first seven points of the game while collecting three early boards.
“[Clingan]’s good, he did his job,” Underwood said. “Give him a lot of credit.”
Clingan would leave the game prior to the first media timeout, and this allowed for Illinois to finally settle in.
Marcus Domask would hit his first couple three-point attempts and started out 3-of-4 from the field.
It began to have the feel of the dogfight everyone expected it would be.
Domask would be the first player in the game to reach double figures, as he had 13 points going into the final four minutes of the first half.
UConn led nearly the whole way in the first stanza, until Illinois would tie things at 23 with just under two minutes left. But from there, it was the No. 1 overall seed who scored the final five points in said half and led at the break 28-23.
“I thought that we were in a good spot at half, especially after the slow start,” Underwood said.
Illinois shot just 10-of-35 from the floor at this point, and being down five to a team like UConn felt like a miracle. But, similar to the Thursday’s Sweet 16 win over Iowa State, it was the Illinois defense that impressed.
The Huskies only shot 10-of-30 from the floor and 1-of-11 from three to start things out Saturday.
Although, keeping it close only lasted for so long.
UConn got out to a ridiculously hot start in the second half while Illinois couldn’t have been more cold.
“Obviously came out in the second half and got blitzed,” Underwood said.
Just like each game they played in the Big Ten Tournament, the Illini found themselves down double digits in the second half. This time, the lead was insurmountable.
Clingan led the way for UConn with 22 points, and Domask would end with 17 for Illinois.
“Marcus came in and was everything and more that we thought he would be when he transferred in,” Underwood said.
First (and only) time the Illini have lost a game by double digits this season.
Regardless, still the best Illini basketball team since 2005.
“29 wins. Big Ten Championship. Elite Eight . . . What an incredible season,” Underwood said.
