STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Illinois’ starting five typically has been the same five that opens the second half as well this season. But Illini coach John Groce made an adjustment after halftime Saturday at Penn State, looking for something to stem the tide with his team trailing by 20 at the break.
Groce tweaked his frontcourt and backcourt to start the second half. Michael Finke replaced Maverick Morgan at center, and Tracy Abrams made for a dual point- guard backcourt alongside Te’Jon Lucas in place of Jalen Coleman-Lands.
“Quite honestly, what I did was I played the guys I thought were the most productive in the first half and that competed the best and took best care of the ball and did what we needed them to do,” Groce said.