Key Highlights
- 11 team that also happens to be the tallest team in Division I.
- The shortest Illinois starter stands at 6-foot-6.
- And Washington, at 6-foot-7, was responsible for protecting the rim. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThrough five minutes, Washington did an admirable job fighting as an undersized center.
- But as he prepared to crash the boards from a Diggy Coit jumper, he was bounced by 7-foot-2 Zvonimir Ivišić into the arm of 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivišić. Referees called a flagrant foul upon review, and Coit made two free throws.
- That stretched the Maryland lead to four points — but being in the center of the Ivišić sandwich took Washington out of the game and gave Illinois the chance to warm up its offense. The Terps were eventually crunched by the Illini, 89-70 — a fairly flattering scoreline, despite how much promise the visitors displayed early. Maryland came out with a flurry of punches, hitting the Illini hard and fast. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe mountain men dared the Terps to try to beat them inside — and Maryland accepted the dare, going 6-of-6 inside the arc through the first five minutes of play to take an early 15-11 lead. Bringing out Collin Metcalf without Washington on the floor was necessary to combat Illinois’ size in the frontcourt.