Illinois team leaders called a players-only meeting last weekend after an early exit from the Big Ten tournament.
It allowed the Fighting Illini to regroup as they await the chance to reset for the NCAA Tournament.
Third-seeded Illinois meets No. 14 Penn in a South Region first-round game on Thursday in Greenville, S.C. The Illini (24-8) hope it’s a springboard to additional road trips in the next three weeks.
“This is the last time this group of guys will ever play together,” senior guard Kylan Boswell said. “All of us have to go different routes, different ways. We don’t want to leave the season with any regrets or anything we feel like we left behind or left on the court. So, take the Penn game as seriously as we can, try our best to take care of business and just play with the right mentality.”
Illinois will meet a familiar foe, at least on the opposing bench.
First-year Quakers coach Fran McCaffery guided Big Ten rival Iowa for 15 seasons before being fired a year ago.
Illinois counterpart Brad Underwood called McCaffery “a great, great friend and obviously a guy that we had some battles with over the years.”
On Sunday, McCaffery became the fifth coach to lead five or more different schools to the NCAA Tournament as Penn (18-11) edged top-seeded Yale 88-84 in overtime to win the Ivy League tournament.
“They’re all incredible,” McCaffery said. “But I do think this was a little different. Not only coming home to my alma mater, I just feel blessed to have this opportunity. I feel blessed that I had the group of guys that I had when I first met them.”
It’s a group that could have a different makeup than during that occasion. Penn senior forward Ethan Roberts, the team’s leading scorer at 16.9 points per game, missed the conference tournament with a concussion and his status for Thursday is uncertain.
McCaffery told 94.1 WIP radio in Philadelphia that Roberts would attempt to practice Tuesday, but the team wouldn’t hurry his recovery through concussion protocol.
Junior forward TJ Power, who previously played at Duke and Virginia, torched Yale for 44 points and 14 rebounds and averages 16.8 points a game. He knows the Quakers face a tougher test in Illinois but also feels the team is up for the challenge.
“They have talent everywhere,” Power said. “Individually, if you look on paper, you might not favor us or our matchups defensively. But if we can be more connected, if we can be on the same page, we can [succeed].”
To be sure, Illinois brings size, with the 6-foot-2 Boswell the only starter listed below 6-6. All five starters average in double figures, led by Big Ten Freshman of the Year Keaton Wagler (17.9). Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic follow at 13.4 points apiece.
Wagler shoots 40.2% from long range, one of multiple threats from deep.
“We just need to enjoy the moment,” Boswell said. “I think we’ve played our best all year when we’re super intense, aggressive and we play with the right mentality. Coach says, ‘Let it rip.’ I think us understanding one another and how much we love one another will be our biggest advantage.”
