Fighting Illini vs Cougars
CBB • S16 • Mar 27 2026
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7.3
@FlameRaptorRaven
5mo
You know what they say? Defense wins championships. Except, just like the last year’s National Championship, it was Houston’s opponent who stole the show with their defense. Houston’s defense was on their A-game in the first half, unfortunately for Houston, so was Illinois’s. Both teams finished the first half with their season-low for points in a half with 24 for Illinois and 22 for Houston. Illinois could’ve been up by more if not for a brief 5-0 run to end the half. It would come down whichever team got off to the best start in the 2nd half. Cenac started the 2nd half with a dunk on Illinois defenders, with an s. However, after a couple minutes where Illinois already went on a 9-2 run, they proceeded to go on a 17-0 over the next 6 minutes and put Houston’s hopes of redemption for last season 6 feet under. Houston made a few runs in the last 10 minutes, only for Illinois to shut them down with a couple buckets. Stojakovic, Mirkovic and Wagler were often responsible for those runs.
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6.7
@j4c3
5mo
Was a super ugly first half for both teams, but Illinois shot better, and that was the game. I honestly did not expect Houston to play as poorly as this in what seemed like a pseudo-home game in Houston, only 2 miles away from campus.
I really don’t think the Cougars could have played much worse, and I’m starting to wonder if a Kelvin Sampson team can win the title in the next couple of years. Feels like they’ve been due for years.
Give Illinois credit, their frontline is huge and their guardplay is a perfect mix of seasoned veteran with Kylan Boswell, and talented freshman with Keaton Wagler ( who I have been more impressed by than any other player in this tournament so far ).
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6.1
@lucasmitchell
5mo
Wow Houston what was the 2nd half. This was my damn natty pick and man they gave up that huge run to Illinois and that was it. Basically a home game too. They had changes to take this game and they couldnt. The cycle repeats. We now have a guaranteed B10 team in the Final Four with Iowa and Illinois facing off which will be fun. Really disappointed in Houston but thats on me for picking them.
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6.5
@packers
5mo
This was the year for Houston to finally do it. It would’ve been the first 2 seed to win the national championship since Villanova exactly 10 years ago but that might’ve been one of the most pathetic offensive performances I have seen the entire tournament. Lowest scoring first half of any tournament game so far. If Houston would’ve won, they would most likely be going back to the final four and potentially have a rematch with Duke. Instead, we get in all big 10 matchup between Illinois and Iowa. Not very often you see a 9 seed playing a 3 seed in the elite 8. The madness in March is not dead.
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