"Well as I told our team, nothing is given; everything is earned," first-year Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "Give (James) Palmer credit. He made a heck of a shot. We felt pretty good watching him come up the floor, and we took about six seconds in the backcourt and the kid just stepped up and made a shot.
Not much in the middle: With Nebraska running a small lineup most of the night, centers Duby Okeke and Tanner Borchardt combined to play just nine minutes. Together, the duo put just two fouls in the box score.