The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the 14th-seeded Morehead State Eagles 85-69 on Thursday . This win was powered by the Illinois’ explosive offense. The team is led by third-team All-American and projected first-round pick Terrence Shannon Jr.
Shannon had 26 points in an outstanding performance but wasn’t the only one to shine. Junior guard Dain Dainja had 21 points off the bench. Morehead State kept the game close for a large portion of the game. However, with fourteen minutes left, the Fighting Illini pulled away, leaving the Eagles in the dust. This is the difference made by the Fighting Illinois offense. Many teams can compete for a portion of the game but will slow down eventually. Illinois doesn’t.
Their strong offense makes the Fighting Illini a scary team. They have guys coming off the bench who can drop twenty points. Even with two starters scoring zero points, the Fighting Illini were able to put up 85 points. This offense can play with anyone, making opposing teams fearful of this matchup.
A Matchup Against Duquesne Ahead
Next, the Fighting Illini will take on 11th-seeded Duquesne Dukes, who upset the BYU Cougars. The Dukes are hot; and, after beating a good BYU team, have the confidence to take on Illinois. These teams play two competing styles, which will make for an interesting game. Illinois will try and push the tempo, and make this an all-out offensive showcase. Duquesne doesn’t play as fast and has a strong defense. If the Dukes can manage to slow the game down, a potential upset could be in the works.
This matchup with the Dukes is massive for Illinois. In the early 2000s, the program was one of the top in the country. However, since their 2005 run to a national title game appearance, they haven’t even made it to a Sweet 16. This season the Fighting Illini certainly have the offense to make it there this year, but a strong Duquesne team stands in their way.
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