NEW YORK — Illinois’ opening game of the Big Ten tournament ended up a microcosm of the season as a whole. It had everything, running the entire spectrum of positives and negatives that have come to define the Illini this season.
Illinois’ 47 percent three-point shooting was balanced out by Iowa feasting on high percentage scoring opportunities. Forcing the Hawkeyes into 18 turnovers while boasting sound ball security and coughing the ball up just eight times was countered with Iowa shooting 41 free throws and making 34 of them.
Iowa even had an answer to Illinois redshirt sophomore Kipper Nichols scoring a game-high 31 points and three of his teammates hitting double figures.