Without overreacting to one game against a SWAC opponent, it was hard not to be impressed by the results in the Illini's landslide win
On the first official night of its 2025-26 season, the Illinois men's basketball team came very close to fulfilling the vision coach Brad Underwood has had for it since assembling all the pieces in the offseason: virtually positionless basketball, shooting galore and talent everywhere you look.
Very encouraging stuff for early November. Even given the quality of the opponent in the Illini's 113-55 win over Jackson State on Monday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, it was hard not to be impressed. Illinois broke the century mark on the scoreboard, had six players score in double figures, canned 17 threes – one shy of tying the school record – and had 23 assists on 40 field goals. Oh, and those rebounding issues Underwood had been so "pissed" about? The Illini received the note, annihilating the Tigers on the boards, 61-19.barely more than 24 hours before tipoff, the results were about as positive as anyone could have hoped for – even if a few nits could be found to pick. With that, we'll throw you into the pool for a deeper dive. Here are three instant observations from Illinois' season-opening landslide win:The amorphous, five-headed three-point shooting beast that Dr. Underwood has spent all offseason in his lab bringing to life is ... alive! Sometimes aesthetics tell a story: The Illini shot the three against the Tigers in rhythm, off the catch and with supreme confidence. Rather than chucking willy-nilly from behind the arc as they did much of last season, the Illini on Monday night moved the ball quickly, working it inside and out, around the horn and searching for the best look – not just the first available shred of daylight. They cooled in the second half but still shot 45.9 percent from long distance on the game. As hoped, the gravitational pull drew JSU defenders out of the paint, creating more driving opportunities and better passing angles inside. Those margins will narrow as the competition improves, but Underwood had to have been heartened by seeing the theoretical finally materialize on the floor. The Illini rampaged early, pushing their lead to 33 within the game's first 14 minutes – and it wasn't owed entirely to their work on offense. Although the gaudy block and steals numbers were missing, Illinois suffocated Jackson State nonetheless. The Tigers shot 29 percent and had just one second-chance point in the first half, making the most of their size and length to contest shots and finish defensive possessions on the glass. As former Illini honcho Bruce Weber mentioned on the Big Ten Network telecast, Underwood will likely have to play a fair amount of zone this season to avoid getting caught in too many mismatches and screen-and-roll quagmires. But especially when the Ivisic twins play together or Underwood breaks out other big-lineup variations (Illinois has a lot: Ivisic twins and MirkovicYet again, Monday's results must be taken with a grain of salt – Jackson State is a far cry from Purdue – but we know a good thing when we see it. Illinois' freshmen more than qualify.all instantly looked the part in their college debuts Monday. Practically the only beat missed by the first-year guys was a lob-dunk attempt to the 5-foot-10 Fagbemi that might have brought the State Farm Centers rafters tumbling down around the place. Illinois' teenagers can play – and playJason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Four Observations From Nebraska's Loss to No. 23 USCNebraska fell to 6-3 with a 21-17 loss to No. 23 USC. The Huskers had trouble stopping the run and suffered an injury at quarterback. Plus, how Matt Rhule's use of timeouts and thoughts on the Blackout.
Read more »
Dear Abby: I’ve been engaged three times and three times the engagements were brokenI can’t help but wonder if it will ever happen for me.
Read more »
Instant analysis of 49ers’ 34-24 win at New York GiantsThe 49ers (6-3) scored their most points of the season and pulled away for a 34-24 win over the host New York Giants.
Read more »
Instant Takeaways From The Hawks Loss Against The CavsThe Hawks faced a struggling Cleveland Cavaliers team, which had lost its last two games, while Atlanta had won its previous two games. However, that didn't mea
Read more »
Trump Hit With Instant Fact Check About His Retribution CampaignThe president asked about his adversaries getting indicted during his “60 Minutes” interview.
Read more »
'Bucky Ball' Has Already Made an Instant Impact in This Key AreaThe Texas A&M Aggies got their first win in head coach Bucky McMillan era, with former Spanish pro Rubén Dominguez stealing the show.
Read more »