Good Morning, Illini Nation: Crashing the boards

To subscribe, click here. Sign up for our daily basketball newsletter here Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large: Illinois out-rebounded Oakland 37-27 on Wednesday night at State Farm Center.

No single Illini dominated the boards. It was more a team effort, with eight of the nine players to get on the court hauling in at least two rebounds. (Only Carey Booth was rebound-less).



Tomislav Ivisic, Ben Humrichous and Kasparas Jakucionis led Illinois with six rebounds apiece. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn tied Humrichous for the team lead with three offensive rebounds. "We need our guards to rebound," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said.

"There's no doubt we've got to become a five-man rebounding team. That's at both ends. .

.. You can't let the tempo and the flow of the game slow you down.

You still have to find your energy. When our guards rebound, that's when we're at our best in terms of transition and running. KJ got every rebound early, and that's a great sign for us when our guards rebound.

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