“Terrence” Shannon Can Illinois make him go 1.

Terrence Shannon: Can Illinois make him go?

To emerge victorious over powerhouse UConn, Illinois requires nothing short of a spectacular second-half scoring explosion from Terrence Shannon Jr., whose previous exploits include lighting up the scoreboard with respective totals of 26, 30, and 29 points in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, followed by 28, 40, and 34 points in the preceding Big Ten championship. Sadly, he labored through a forgettable first half, notching a mere two points on a disappointing 1-for-7 shooting display.

Offering insights during the interval, UConn mentor Dan Hurley revealed his commitment to aggressively disrupting Shannon Jr.’s progress by throwing his frame into defensive duties whenever possible. By employing rigorous man-marking tactics and skillfully shutting down avenues for catch-and-shoot triples, the Huskies contained Shannon Jr. adeptly in the opening half. Despite these obstacles, Hurley remains acutely aware of Shannon Jr.’s considerable talents and expects him to pose a credible threat for the remainder of the contest, given the length of the game itself.

UConn 28, Illinois 23 at the half.

Engaged in a fierce struggle for a coveted spot in the Final Four, top-seeded UConn locked horns with Illinois, taking a narrow 28-23 lead into the locker rooms at halftime. Hardly a treat for fans of flowing offensive action, this tightly fought encounter featured erratic shooting displays from both protagonists, reflecting the enormity of the occasion.

Plagued by an anemic 29% conversion rate from the field, Illinois sorely missed numerous opportunities to build a healthier buffer. Likewise, the heavily favored Huskies squandered their fair share of early chances, misfiring on their initial ten attempts from beyond the arc and converting a meager 1-of-11 long-distance strike. Neither side lived up to their reputations as two of the nation’s premier offensive forces, suggesting that we may be witnessing a classic example of nerves getting the better of both sets of competitors.

Struggling to maintain consistency, Illinois sharpshooter Terrence Shannon Jr. encountered a rare off-night, amassing a meager two points from his seven attempts. Salvaging the situation admirably for the beleaguered Illini, small forward Marcus Domask rose to the challenge, demonstrating clinical precision by finding the target on both of his triple attempts and finishing with a team-leading 15 points. Excluding Domask’s heroics, however, Illinois collectively shot a woeful 4-for-26 from the floor.

For the rampant Huskies, agile big man Donovan Clingan produced an inspired display reminiscent of his projected future endeavors as a likely first-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Bolstering UConn’s credentials, Clingan compiled a strong stat sheet, recording nine points, six rebounds, two blocked shots, and one stolen pass. Alongside Clingan, energetic guard Hassan Diarra chimed in with seven points, combining to great effect as the deadly duo converted seven baskets. Overcoming a late fade-out wherein the Huskies stumbled to a mediocre 3-for-19 from the floor, the irrepressible Diarra helped guide his team home safely.

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Illinois’ offensive is off to a difficult start.

Kickstarting their high-stakes affair against UConn, Illinois—renowned for their breathtaking offensive prowess averaging 84.2 points per game—found themselves stuck in a frustrating scoring rut during the initial 13 minutes, managing a mere 13 points. Devastatingly, the Illini misfired on a full eleven consecutive attempts and suffered through a debilitating five-minute stretch bereft of any scoring. Miraculously, Illinois reduced their deficit to 19-17, breaking their disheartening dry spell with 6:19 still on the clock in the first half, largely attributable to UConn’s futility in connecting on eight of their own long-range bombs.

Illinois experiences another chilly snap.

Once again, Illinois finds themselves engulfed in a barren scoring spell, failing to convert for over four minutes in the first half, allowing UConn to pull away with a decisive 4-0 run, shifting the balance firmly in favor of the ascendant Huskies at 19-13. Compounding their woes, the Fighting Illini appear utterly incapable of locating the bottom of the net, producing a miserly 22.7% success rate from the floor and a paltry 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Grappling with a painful 16-6 deficiency in the paint, Illinois faces an uphill battle to reverse their sliding fortunes. Leading the UConn charge, athletic sophomore Donovan Clingan has flourished with an impressive nine points, three rebounds, and two rejections, drawing praise from rival coach Brad Underwood. Undeterred by the herculean challenge posed by the dominant Clingan, Underwood maintains a steadfast resolve to press onward, declaring, “We’ll keep attacking him. If he keeps blocking everything, kudos to him. But we aren’t backing down. We have a strategy, and we intend to stick to it.”

Illinois regains the lead over UConn.

Gradually shaking off their initial jitters, Illinois began to establish a foothold in the contest. Securing their inaugural point via a confidently dispatched free throw from reliable marksman Marcus Domask, the Fighting Illini saw their patience rewarded after enduring an elongated four-minute wait for the first score of the game. Building on this foundation, Domask promptly added fuel to the fire by knocking down two additional trebles, catapulting him to a prominent position atop the Illinois scorers list with a healthy nine-point tally.

Now occupying considerably more fertile territory, the Fighting Illini have whittled down their earlier nine-point deficit to a manageable two-point margin, with ten precious minutes still available for recapturing the ascendancy in the keenly contested first half. Encapsulating the dramatic turnaround engineered by the resurgent midwesterners, Illinois now trails UConn by a slender 15-13 margin, serving notice of their intent to compete fiercely in pursuit of victory.

Score of UConn vs. Illinois: Huskies lead 1-0 at the half.

Witnessing a lightning-quick commencement, the Huskies wasted little time stamping their authority on the game, racing to an imposing 9-0 advantage over the course of the opening quarter. Orchestrating matters superbly, fleet-footed sophomore Donovan Clingan personified the irresistible efficiency of the marauding Huskies, accounting for seven of their burgeoning points total.

Disappointingly, the luckless Fighting Illini faltered badly during the initial four minutes of play, unable to locate the basket on any of their field goal attempts. Similarly, they drew a blank in the categories pertaining to three-point conversions and successful free throws, extending their unfortunate streak to a miserable 0-for-4. Adding insult to injury, Illinois compounded their misery by coughing up twice as many turnovers as actual points scored, providing a stark illustration of their difficulties in navigating the stern examination imposed by the rapacious Huskies.

Today’s March Madness Elite Eight schedule

When does Elite Eight begin?

Just after 6 p.m. EDT, the first Elite Eight matchup between No. 1 UConn and No. 3 Illinois begins.

When does March Madness begin this year?
This is the Elite Eight schedule on Saturday.

(1) UConn vs. (3) Illinois at 6:09 p.m.
8:49 p.m.: Alabama vs. Clemson, the fourth game

Who prevailed in yesterday night’s Sweet 16 games?
This is all the information you require for Friday’s events. In the Elite Eight, Purdue, Duke, North Carolina State, and Creighton will square off on Sunday.

Rivals in the tournament should be alarmed by UConn’s March Madness start.

Revisiting the annals of College Hoops, memories resurface of UConn’s utter domination en route to the National Championship last season, vanquishing all six adversaries in a stunning exhibition of strength and finesse. Fast-forward to the present day, and déjà vu lingers in the air as the Huskies steamroll their way through the competition, mirroring their impervious form of yore. Though inevitable perhaps, their authoritative performances leave little doubt regarding the identity of this year’s frontrunners.

Naturally, expect tougher challenges in store for UConn as they progress deeper into the East Regional realm. Among the most hotly anticipated fixtures looms a fascinating duel between the third-seeded underdogs and Illinois. Make no mistake, though: the intimidating chasm UConn has established vis-à-vis the chasing pack bears striking similarities to the vast disparity evident during Geno Auriemma’s legendary four-consecutive national title romps from 2013 to 2016. Women’s basketball hasn’t seen anything quite like it since – until now.

How to use your phone to broadcast March Madness
By broadcasting every game over several channels, you can catch every second.

♦Navigate via Paramount+
♦Use HULU to stream live TV.
♦The NCAA March Madness Live app
♦Watch via DirecTV Stream

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