After two straight losses, No. 11 Illinois (23-7, 14-5) walked away from State Farm Center victorious on Senior Night, defeating Oregon (11-19, 4-15) 80-54 in its final home game of the season. The night was filled with all sorts of emotions as Illinois’ three seniors played the final home game of their careers. However, junior wing Andrej Stojaković and freshman forward David Mirković were the players who led all scorers, with 21 and 19 points, respectively. The Illini also showed defensive improvements from Friday.

“When we get in trouble, we get selfish defensively,” said head coach Brad Underwood. “We take it, ‘Well, my guy scored.’ You know, it’s one on Illinois, and we have to have that mentality, and we have to help each other. I thought we did that.”

*Kylan Boswell (C-): It was an emotional night for senior guard Kylan Boswell as he took the court for the last time at State Farm Center. However, his performance was a quiet one, as his shooting struggles continued from Friday’s matchup with No. 3 Michigan (27-2, 17-1). In 22 minutes, Boswell only scored 3 points on 1 for 6 shooting from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range. Although Boswell is going through a bit of a shooting slump from three, that doesn’t excuse the easy misses at the rim.

Boswell also didn’t show up on the glass like he normally does game after game on Tuesday. The senior only recorded one offensive rebound in the contest. While other Illini picked up the slack in his absence, Boswell can’t settle for one or two boards a night consistently. His usual effort to chase after long rebounds on both ends of the floor is a huge part of what makes Illinois successful.

*Keaton Wagler (B): In the first half of Illinois’ win over Oregon, freshman guard Keaton Wagler was playing his usual high-level, unfazed style of basketball. Wagler scored 11 points in the first half on 4 for 8 shooting from the field, grabbed three rebounds and dished out four assists. Per usual, Wagler did it all on the offensive end and was one of the key players in Illinois’ long first-half run. Once Wagler got going, knocking down threes and finishing through contact, the Illini seemed to get going as well. 

The second half was a different story, though. The freshman didn’t notch a single point in 15 minutes of second-half play, despite three field-goal attempts. With Wagler’s other high-scoring teammates taking on much of the offensive weight, he didn’t get as many shot attempts as he normally does, but it didn’t impact the outcome of the game. Wagler still made sure to be an active presence on the glass, as he usually is, with six total rebounds as well. 

“He just sets the table for us on every front,” Underwood said. “ … He’s got that unique ability. If we needed him to get 30, he has the ability to go do that, and that’s been proven time and time again. But tonight it was spreading it out, and he was very good.”

*David Mirković (A-): Domination was the name of the game for Mirković. Mirković was a tough matchup for all of the Ducks, and his efficiency was evident both in the paint and from outside the 3-point line. Despite fouling out with two minutes left, Mirković was the second-leading scorer of the game. He had 19 points on 8 for 15 from the field. Even against Oregon’s bigger lineup, Mirković scored with ease in the paint by not only backing down defenders, but cutting and driving too.

Mirković’s improvements defensively after playing against Michigan’s frontcourt Friday shouldn’t go unnoticed either. He got the chance to match up against Oregon senior center Nate Bittle, whose strength down low and ability to pick and pop were worries. Mirković was ready for the challenge and helped hold Bittle to an inefficient 1 for 7 from three and only five rebounds. The freshman didn’t back down from the physicality in Illinois’ win and needs to continue to do that moving forward. 

“It was just much easier to guard when everyone is engaged, everyone talks,” Mirković said. “Everyone in gaps helping me a lot. I would just be thankful to my teammates.”

*Jake Davis (C-): Junior forward Jake Davis finally hit his first three of the night with nine minutes left in the first half. However, that was the first and last three Davis knocked down. In 22 minutes, Davis scored 5 points on 1 for 5 from the field, plus 2 for 3 from the free-throw line. At the end of the first half, the junior attempted a top-of-the-key 3-pointer near the end of the buzzer that he got fouled on, but couldn’t manage to hit all his shots from the charity stripe. 

Davis is just one of a few Illini who are going through a shooting slump at this point in the season. For Davis, hitting shots is important, but continuing to take the right shots through Illinois’ offense, even if they don’t go in, is necessary as well. Aside from shooting, Davis wasn’t an active presence on the glass either, as he only recorded one rebound.

*Tomislav Ivišić (C): Speaking of shooting slumps, junior center Tomislav Ivišić is experiencing one of his own right now, and that continued on Tuesday. Tomislav finished with 2 points on 1 for 6 shooting from the field, including 0 for 4 from three. Same as Davis, this shouldn’t stop Tomislav from taking those shots whenever he gets the chance. The 7-footer is an asset to the Illini because he’s versatile and shoots the three, which puts interior defenders in uncomfortable positions to guard on the perimeter. 

“When he’s open, I want him to shoot the ball,” Underwood said. “No one’s got more confidence in Tomi than I do. He’s got to let that thing fly when he’s open. He’s one of the best shooting bigs in college basketball.”

Tomislav didn’t let his poor shooting impact the rest of the ways he could positively affect this game. With Mirković defending Bittle, that meant Tomislav’s job was to limit junior forward Sean Stewart’s production in the paint. Tomislav did just that by holding Stewart to 3 points on 1 for 5 shooting. The junior also picked up the slack rebounding, which he didn’t do against Michigan. Tomislav was the Illini’s second-leading rebounder with eight rebounds in the contest. With those two assists added in, Tomislav played a complete game aside from scoring. 

“He had a 97% go-rate tonight on the glass, which is elite,” Underwood said. “It’s been something that’s been much better. What I want him to do is keep shooting every ball.”

Andrej Stojaković (A): Underwood’s message for Stojaković after only playing 12 minutes on Friday was that he needed to show up as a rebounder and defender. Well, Stojaković responded, and his response wasn’t a quiet one. The junior recorded his second double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Illini in both categories. Stojaković played aggressively and confidently from the second he checked into the game, and Oregon couldn’t find an answer to slowing him down when he attacked the lane.

“I don’t think he’s ever doubted his abilities or what he’s capable of,” Underwood said. “But tonight was a great night for him, but it started with his effort and his work. I mean, he was dominating practice, and I always love to see really good players dominate practice.”

On the glass, Stojaković was relentless. His effort to crash the boards on both ends of the floor was very apparent, and his stats clearly reflected that. When Stojaković is an avid rebounder, the Illini can push the pace in transition a bit more, and his downhill driving in the full court becomes even harder to defend. Stojaković’s perimeter defense also helped hold Oregon to shooting 17.2% from three in the game. With his length, Stojaković can be a lockdown defender, and he’s proved that before this season. Now, it’s a matter of staying consistent. Overall, Stojaković didn’t back down from Underwood’s challenge. Both he and the Illini benefited from that.

“I think to stick with coach’s plan that he had for me was the most important thing,” Stojaković said. “ … I mean, there’s going to be highs and lows, and I think obviously I was frustrated with the game against Michigan. I also felt like I wasn’t myself. So, I think the mindset going into this game and moving forward was just to carry over from the days of preparation.”

Ben Humrichous (C+): Graduate student forward Ben Humrichous participated in the second Senior Night of his Illinois career on Tuesday night and was solid. In his final game at State Farm Center, Humrichous scored 6 points on 2 for 4 from three and grabbed three rebounds. To see Humrichous knock down a few triples on Lou Henson Court for the last time brought plenty of cheers from Illini fans. One of his threes was even on an assist from fellow senior Boswell.  

On the defensive side, Humrichous didn’t falter from the principles he’s improved upon in his second season as an Illini. The graduate student got in passing lanes and recorded two steals in the contest. As Underwood is encouraging Illinois not falter on the defensive end, Humrichous’ consistency is a good sign. 

Zvonimir Ivišić (B-): During Illinois’ extended run in the first half, junior center Zvonimir Ivišić was a spark off the bench. Zvonimir led Illinois with his defense in the paint with two first-half blocks that helped contain Oregon’s front line. Zvonimir also ran the floor well, as he caught lobs for a few dunks in transition. The most impressive one was off a lob near half court from Stojaković. 

AJ Redd (B+): The star of Senior Night was none other than the manager turned walk-on, senior guard AJ Redd. The chants for Redd to check into the game came with less than five minutes left in the second half, and Redd checked in at the 3:27 mark. After Redd checked in, he didn’t wait around to shoot a deep three, which missed the mark. Underwood wasn’t too happy after that one, calling a timeout shortly after. 

“I told the network, he’s done one dumb thing in four years here, and that was shoot that shot,” Underwood said.

Redd did finally get his moment with less than a minute to play. Redd trailed sophomore guard Mihailo Petrović in transition and got a clean look from three that he knocked down. The cheers at State Farm Center were deafening, and nearly every fan was out of their seat to celebrate. Redd didn’t stop there. The senior scored the final points at State Farm Center this season with a driving layup to reach his career-high 5 points. 

“I think it’s a perfect way to recap my career here playing at State Farm Center,” Redd said. “After the first one, coach didn’t like that too much. But, just to have the confidence in my teammates to still give me the ball, and I shot the next one with confidence, and it went in.” 

Mihailo Petrović (C+): Sophomore guard Mihailo Petrović only played three minutes, but he was a crucial part in Redd scoring his first bucket of the game. Petrović dished a nice backward pass between his legs to a trailing Redd, who knocked down the triple. He also added one offensive rebound.

Brandon Lee (C-): In three minutes, freshman guard Brandon Lee went 0 for 1 from the field and didn’t record any other stats.  

Blake Fagbemi (C): In his two minutes of play, freshman guard Blake Fagbemi recorded one defensive rebound but no other stats. 

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