CHAMPAIGN — Matt Bollant spent essentially the entire preseason saying this year’s Illini were one of the best offensive teams he’s had.
When Kyley Simmons hit a three-pointer six seconds into Friday night’s game against Chicago State, that certainly looked like it might be the case. Especially considering it took Illinois two games to make its first three-pointer a year ago.
A nearly five-minute drought without a made field goal in the second quarter and just two makes in their final 11 shots took some shine off the Illini offense. But Illinois still had its shutdown defense to lean on and did enough offensively to beat Chicago State 67-36 in front of a 1,001-strong crowd at Dodds Athletic Center.