Illinois' Brad Underwood Stops Just Short Of Blaming Officiating In Loss To Tennessee

The Big Ten basketball conference is known for its physicality. 

And that includes rebounding. And that is what the University of Illinois struggled in during the second half of Saturday's loss to Tennessee. The Fighting Illini were outrebounded 43-34

"It was a unique ball game," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "I'm not saying anything about officials but there's three fouls in the first half and there's 426 in the second. It was a tale of two halves. Give Tennessee credit, they whooped our butt on the glass in the second half. To go and win on the road, you have to go out and you have to rebound the basketball. I felt like we didn't do that." 

The Illini were ahead by two at halftime before things got out of control in the second half. The loss ended a five-game winning streak, but Underwood saw encouraging signs in the first half. 

"It's so very hard on the road and to beat a Top 10 team," Underwood said in the postgame press conference. "I thought it was a great challenge for our players to have to step up to that challenge. Again, a veteran team that's so well coached. [Tennessee coach Rick Barnes] is known for his toughness and defense. I was really please at halftime to shoot 34 percent and be ahead." 

The Illini have a week off before playing Colgate Dec. 19 at State Farm Center. 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher for Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com.