CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 16: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at United Center on December 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) +

1. Illinois took a punch and punched back

During the previous regime, actually make that the previous two regimes, the Illinois basketball team would get a lead like the one on Saturday night but then would lose it completely due to lack of fight.

I can remember during the Bruce Weber and John Groce eras how when the Illini would get the lead, they would decide to play prevent offense and defense. They would try to run the clock down and then chuck up some type of shot as the buzzer was going off.

Last night, there were glimpses of that but what I saw was different from a Brad Underwood coached team. When they got punched by Missouri, the Illini would at least get back off the mat and swing back. They took Missouri’s best shots throughout the night and Illinois was the one standing when the final horn blew.

The Tigers would get the game within seven points and then Illinois would come back with points of their own. This happened the entire night and the fight Illinois showed proved to me they are a team to be reckoned with. That is an NCAA tournament bound Missouri team and the Illini took it to them.