Illinois Falls to Texas Tech, Underwood Criticizes Rebounding

No. 3 Illinois lost 84-78 at No. 16 Texas Tech after falling 20 points behind at halftime and rallying to within one late in the game. Coach Brad Underwood criticized the Illini’s lack of physicality, turnovers and rebounding; Texas Tech won the boards 43-32, including 18 offensive rebounds, while Illinois made just 8 of 19 free throws. Illinois was also without David Mirkovic and Jake Davis, but Underwood said the team could not rely on their return to fix its rebounding problems. He praised the team’s second-half fight and called Texas Tech’s sold-out crowd one of the best atmospheres he had experienced, while saying the loss offered a valuable test for his players.