CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time in nearly eight months, Illinois took the State Farm Center floor in front of a sea of orange and blue.
Unlike the last time — a double-overtime thriller that saw the Illini top Michigan — the stakes were low. Regardless, the Illini’s 116-65 victory Friday over NAIA Ottawa marks the unofficial return of college basketball.
From the first possession, Illinois was in firm control. The Illini stormed out to a 19-4 lead at the first media timeout and from there, the result of the game was never in doubt.