No. 14 Illinois is a late entry into Big Ten play after a tough nonconference schedule but will take those experiences into the conference opener at Ohio State on Tuesday in Columbus.
The Illini are one of three teams, along with Penn State and Nebraska, not to have played at least one Big Ten game. Illinois has been busy against high-quality opponents, the latest a 75-62 victory over No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday in Nashville to give Illinois (7-2) a 2-2 record vs. ranked nonconference opponents.
“I still believe this team can be very, very good and accomplish a lot,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “But it’s been frustrating due to the lack of practice. It’s almost like an NBA preseason where you’re playing into shape and playing guys into shape.
“That’s hard when you’re playing UConn, Alabama right down the list, Tennessee and the league games coming up. It’s been really challenging.”
Ohio State (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) started its conference docket with an 86-82 win at Northwestern on Saturday and may have found another player to complement starters Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., Devin Royal and Christoph Tilly.
Brandon Noel, a sixth-year transfer from Wright State, has meandered his way through the nonconference schedule but exploded for a season-high 29 points and seven rebounds against the Wildcats, hitting 13 of 15 field goals.
It was different from the previous game, a 67-66 loss to Pittsburgh, when Noel had no points or rebounds in nine minutes. That prompted talks with coach Jake Diebler during the week between games to try to find the form that produced 15.1 points per game in 97 career games for Wright State.
“He needed some clarity on where that production was going to come from and we talked that out and it was a great conversation,” Diebler saidl. “And the way he practiced this week was like, I didn’t know he’s going to have 29 and seven, but you just knew he was going to play well because he earned the right to play well.
“We played him a little bit more at the center position, which I think he’s able to use his athleticism, ability to drive it and that helped some. But when he was able to get active on the glass and he was able to finish and get some easy looks in transition, I think that just kind of unlocked the rest of the game.”
Noel’s performance came out of nowhere, unlike the steady play of Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler, who is averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and has 21 assists to 10 turnovers. He is also tied for the team lead with 14 made 3-pointers, shooting 34.1%.
Wagler had 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers vs. Tennessee.
“Keaton just plays,” Underwood said. “The environment doesn’t bother him, maybe a little bit of the physicality, but it’s just a matter of him getting comfortable with it.
“We didn’t even talk about his shooting threes but what he does, we needed him to be more aggressive and assertive. But the most impressive thing is no turnovers. Seemingly most every single day he takes care of the ball. Avery is a very mature decision maker, something you don’t see with freshmen.”
