Jeremy Werner

Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1080 | Hits & misses from Illini's 87-73 win over UTRGV Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois basketball's 87-73 win over UTRGV.

🎙️ #illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1080 | Hits & misses from Illini's 87-73 win over UTRGV

@ktausk13 and I on lackluster effort and defense, Andrej Stojakovic's scoring gift, Mihailo Petrovic's role, the matchup with No. 5 UConn and much more ⤵️

LIVE POSTGAME POD: Hits & misses from Illini's 87-73 win over UTRGV - YouTube Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois basketball's 87-73 win over UTRGV. The guys discuss defensive and effort issues, another big...

LIVE POSTGAME POD: @ktausk13 and I react to #illini basketball's 87-73 win over UTRGV and look ahead to Friday's marquee MSG matchup vs. No. 5 UConn

Join us and weigh in ⤵️

Illinois coach Brad Underwood discusses a 87-73 win over UTRGV. UTRGV postgame: Illini coach Brad Underwood press conference

WATCH: #illini coach Brad Underwood discusses a 87-73 win over UTRGV

#illini Brad Underwood: The one thing I'm not going to stand for is not playing hard enough. I was disappointed in Mirk tonight. He played like he practiced yesterday, which was not very good. The opposite of his 20/20 game.

#illini Brad Underwood said Ben Humrichous "is becoming an elite perimeter defender." Rebounding at a really high level.

"On a night that wasn't Mirk's best night, [Humrichous] was outstanding on that [defensive] end."

#illini Brad Underwood: on Mihailo Petrovic role: "I don't know, if you want me to be honest. ...I'm still searching. I don't have a really good feel for the rotation."

He impacted the game at a really high level with his ability to get to the paint.

"It's nice to have him."

#illini Brad Underwood: The thing I'm most disappointed in was scouting report mistakes.

#illini Brad Underwood: Tonight, we escaped. Didn't shoot the ball very well and still scored close to 90. I thought we were just OK. Defensively, some of these smaller teams give us challenges.

#illini Brad Underwood: Hats off to UTRGV. He's got them playing really hard. I thought they played harder than we did tonight with a little more focus.

Illinois players Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic discuss an 87-73 win over UTRGV. UTRGV postgame: Illini players Andrej Stojakovic & Zvonimir Ivisic press conference

WATCH: #illini players Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic discuss an 87-73 win over UTRGV.

#illini Andrej Stojakovic: Disappointed in some scouting report errors that we made, but we just got to learn from it and put behind us now.

#illini Andrej Stojakovic on Mihailo Petrovic: Speed, craftiness, IQ in the pick and roll. He allows us to switch things up offensively.

Quick hits: No. 13 Illinois sloppy but separate late in 87-73 win over UTRGV Andrej Stojakovic starred and Mihailo Petrovic sparked the Illini in a tougher-than-expected win over UTRGV

Quick hits: No. 13 #illini sloppy but separate late in 87-73 win over UTRGV

🔸 What happened
🔸 What it means
🔸 Star of the game
🔸 Stats of the game
🔸 Don't overlook
🔸 What's next

FINAL: #illini 87, UTRGV 73

Tougher-than-expected game as UTRGV brought the physicality and effort. Perfect ammo for Underwood leading into UConn.

Stojakovic 24 points
Petrovic 12 points, 4 assists
Mirkovic 10 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds

Kye Dickson 21 points

Ben Humrichous 0-for-2 FG and passed up some looks. But he's got 7 rebounds and 2 blocks and is playing incredibly hard defensively.

Tomislav Ivisic gets another three to go. It hasn't been the prettiest, but Ivisic has 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

#illini up 86-70 with 2:02 left

#illini Andrej Stojakovic (24 points on 11-17 fG) with 20+ points in four of his last five games. He's 11-for-12 from two.

Zvonimir Ivisic has altered about four straight shots at the rim.

#illini up 79-64 with 5 minutes left.

#illini have been disconnected all night defensively. UTRGV shooting 54.5% in the second half, including 5-for-6 from three.

Illinois up just 75-64 with 6:37 left.

#illini Brad Underwood wasn't lying about Andrej Stojakovic's athleticism. #elite?

The people love Petrovic. So much speed getting downhill. He's got 11 points and 3 assists in 12 minutes off the bench.

Mihailo Petrovic showing his skill here. Nine points on 3-3 FG and creating opportunities for teammates.

But UTRGV ain't scared of Illinois. Kye Dickson has 11 points on 4-6 FG in the second half.

60-49 Illinois with 12:53 left.

Back-to-back David Mirkovic and-ones give #illini a 50-38 lead

Mirkovic with 10 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

Petrovic on the court much earlier in this half, playing alongside Boswell.

#illini starting backcourt: Kylan Boswell 0-3 FG, Keaton Wagler 2-for-9 FG

#illini 5-20 from three.

UTRGV cuts the deficit to 42-36 with 18 left.

HALF: #illini 42, UTRGV 31

Vaqueros brought the physicality to Illinois, and they didn't handle it all that well with eight turnovers and allowing six offensive rebounds for seven second-chance points. Imagine Brad Underwood gives them an earful.

Since UTRGV took an 18-14 lead, #illini have rattled off a 26-8 run to take a 40-26 lead.

Zvonimir Ivisic alters a shot at the rim, Mihailo Petrovic pushes in transition and threads a pass to David Mirkovic for a fastbreak layup.

Petrovic with some boom (made 3 and assist) and bust (fastbreak turnover) in his first few minutes.

Mihailo Petrovic sinks a quick 3 off a Zvonimir Ivisic ball screen. 32-22 #illini

Mirkovic with two turnovers but also four assists. Doing a great job finding cutters.

#illini open up largest lead, 29-22.