The Spartans' win over Illinois bought breathing room against one of the Big Ten's most dangerous title contenders.

Underwood is referring to Kasparas Jakucionis, who fouled out in just nine minutes. ‘Truthfully I thought the game was the free throw line. You can’t go on the road and miss ten free throws.’ ‘…A team that I thought guarded exceptionally well… they took our three-ball away.’

The Illini slowed the Spartans' fastbreak, but they also had their own best player brought to a screeching halt early