Age gap proves costly for Illini in second-round loss to Kentucky
Illinois wasn't particularly competitive in Sunday's season-ending 84-75 loss to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The matchup felt like last year's varsity players came back to school to face this year's freshmen. Just check Kentucky's starting lineup.
Sharpshooter Koby Brea spent four years at Dayton (before transferring), center Amari Williams played four years at Drexel, forward Andrew Carr spent two years each at Delaware and Wake Forest, while defensive stopper Lamont Butler was at San Diego State for four years and played in the 2023 NCAA title game.
This Kentucky squad might be new under first-year head coach Mark Pope, but it is also very old by college standards. Illinois' two best players are freshmen and it showed.
The Illini coughed up careless turnovers early, fell behind by double digits and every comeback attempt was thwarted. Junior point guard Kylan Boswell led Illinois with 23 points, while first-year center Tomislav Ivisic added 19 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
“I think experience is everything, especially when it comes to college basketball, just being able to have a couple years under your belt and not be too fazed by the moment,” said Brea, who led Kentucky with 23 points. “It kind of feels like we've been here before. It doesn't feel too new.”
Young teams typically say, “Wait till next year,” but that may not apply in this case. Illini freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley are expected to be NBA first-round picks in June, and it's possible Ivisic joins them at the next level.
Jakucionis didn't have his best game, finishing with 13 points and 6 turnovers, while going 2 of 9 from 3-point range. Riley did even less, 5 points and 3 turnovers on 1-of-7 shooting.
“It was a great experience,” Ivisic said in the interview room. “I really liked it here. I'm glad I was a part of this team, this group and we'll come back.”
After the early turnovers put the Illini in a hole, Boswell seemed to ignite the offense with a couple drives to the hoop late in the first half, closing the deficit to 37-32 at intermission.
But Kentucky opened the second half with a 10-0 run, scoring on all five possessions while Illinois missed 3 shots and coughed up a pair of turnovers. The closest it got at the end was 6 points with 1:36 left.
Illini coach Brad Underwood lamented Kentucky's 26 points off turnovers, while 13 of the 14 giveaways by the Illini were live-ball, which meant the Wildcats were off and running in the other direction.
“I'd say they were just really, really intense from the jump,” Boswell said of Kentucky's defense. “They were making stuff uncomfortable for us … a shock to your central nervous system. They did a good job with icing the ball screen and that kind of riled us in the beginning. Still, we can't turn the ball over that much.”
Underwood spoke fondly of this team, which endured multiple injuries and illness at an important time in the Big Ten season.
“My 38 years, I've never seen anything like I saw this year,” Underwood said. “I hope I don't see it for another 38, because it was challenging, just the ability to practice some days.
“This group will always have a special place in my heart because of their resilience, their toughness, their love for the game.”