Illinois Could Benefit In NCAAs From Comeback Wins In Big Ten Tournament

The Illinois Fighting Illini, who face Morehead State Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, rallied from three second-half, double-digit deficits in the Big Ten tournament

The NCAA Tournament is known for its momentum swings. 

If any team knows a game can change at any minute, it's the Illinois Fighting Illini. They enter the tournament coming off three games where they rallied from double-digit, second-half deficits. 

So they feel it should help them once they open play Thursday in the first round against Morehead State in Omaha. 

"I didn't like it but I think it was no panic," Illini coach Brad Underwood said. "I thought we stayed the course. I think it's just the variety of the ways that we think we can play and have to play." 

The Illini rallied against Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin on consecutive days in Minneapolis. They hope it's unnecessary the next few weeks but at least they are prepared if they if needed. 

Morehead State is one of the sleepers of the tournament after winning the Ohio Valley Conference. They are led by conference player of the year Riley Minix, who averages 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds. 

The Illini are banking on their conference-tournament adversity to help handle the pressure. 

"I feel like we made some crucial adjustments in all of the games that we played," Illini forward Coleman Hawkins said. "That's what won us these games [in the Big Ten tournament]. That's what it's going to come down to and just staying ready for whatever opponent we have next ... and being ready to make adjustments on the fly whenever we need because we only got one shot now. If we lose, we go home." 

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 Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com