Player of the game
Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr.
Here’s how hard Illinois leaned on its veteran guard in Thursday/Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with Iowa State. Shannon posted a usage rate of 55 percent against Iowa State. The second highest usage rate, per Ken Pomeroy, of any player in any game this season. Now think how high Shannon’s usage rate would be if he didn’t pick up a fourth foul midway through the second half and have to sit for 6 minutes. Think how many more points he might have scored. As it was, there were a lot anyway. Shannon finished with 29 points to go with five rebounds and two assists, as he led the Illini to another postseason victory.
Backcourt
Illinois: A
Iowa State: B+
Marcus Domask might not have been at his most efficient — just seven points on 2 of 11 shooting — but he knocked down key free throws and also had a game-high five assists as he continued to tap into his inner facilitator in another postseason game. The right kind of complement to Shannon’s continued dominance. Iowa State didn’t have quite enough to counter the Illini, despite Keshon Gilbert trying to will a second-half comeback.
Frontcourt
Illinois: A
Iowa State: B-
Each team basically rotates through a trio of bigs. Or, in Illinois’ case, has in the postseason with Dain Dainja carving out a more substantial role than he had most of the regular season. The Illini’s trio had the upper hand at TD Garden. Dainja, Coleman Hawkins and Quincy Guerrier all had at least five rebounds, and Hawkins showed off his typical versatility with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Bench
Illinois: B+
Iowa State: A
The Cyclones’ bench was essentially a one-man show. Curtis Jones was the only reason Iowa State didn’t get run off the court early in the game and ultimately scored 26 of the Cyclones’ 28 bench points. Illinois ran a little deeper with Dainja and Luke Goode accounting for most of the bench stats, but Justin Harmon and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn also providing good minutes off the bench.
Overall
Illinois: A
Iowa State: B+
Heading into Thursday’s game in Boston, Illinois-Iowa State was basically seen as a pick’em. A 50-50 proposition. Both teams had equal reason to think they’d come out on top. That’s where the Thursday start turned Friday finish ultimately wound up, too. The Illini built an early double-digit lead. The Cyclones threw the counter punch. A little more defensive intensity late — and actually making some free throws — helped Illinois come out on top. One step closer to the prize all the remaining teams are seeking.
