Notes: Goode puts up career high in loss

Nov. 15—CHAMPAIGN — Luke Goode wasn't the first player off the Illinois bench Tuesday against No. 4 Marquette, but the junior guard wound up playing more minutes combined than Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Amani Hansberry and Dain Dainja combined.

For a reason. Because he made shots.

Goode was 4 of 7 from three-point range and ultimately scored a career-high 13 points in the Illini's 71-64 loss at State Farm Center. But it's Illinois coach Brad Underwood's trust in Goode filling his role as expected that keeps the Fort Wayne, Ind., native on the court.

"It's nice to know you're coming in with a guy who's going to give you punch," Underwood said. "He changes the dynamic of a defense because of his ability to be a gravity guy, space the floor and create opportunities. He does everything that is asked of him. We tried late to get him a couple shots, and they shaded him pretty good. He's a guy when he gets open you feel like he's going to make it."

★ ★ ★

The big question heading into Tuesday night's Gavitt Tip-Off Games showdown at State Farm Center was whether Marquette's Tyler Kolek would play. The All-American point guard injured his ankle Friday in the Golden Eagles' win against Rider and was a game-time decision whether he would play against No. 23 Illinois.

Marquette coach Shaka Smart said he fielded at least 50 texts since Friday asking about Kolek's status. His answer was the same each time about what he called "as high profile of an ankle" as he's seen.

"I just kept writing back, 'I don't know,'" Smart said. "As of (Monday), he was probably not going to play, at least according to the trainer orate doctor although Tyler never said that. We went into shoot around this morning and he started moving around. He was pretty ginger on it, but he kept kind of inserting himself out there with the starting group. That told me he was going to want to go, and obviously glad he did."

Underwood certainly noticed how Kolek handled the injury while still putting up a game-high 24 points.

"Their backcourt was just short of spectacular," Underwood said. "A lot of praise for Kolek. I don't know if anybody noticed. His ankle was black and blue, and he played 37 minutes. A tough kid."

★ ★ ★

The uncertainty of the Big Ten's future — at least in terms of how the conference will adjust its schedule once it reaches 18 teams — likely played a role in this season being the last of the Gavitt Tip-off Games. The Big East was amenable to extending the series. The Big Ten, which could wind up playing more than the 20 conference games it currently schedules now, reportedly couldn't or wouldn't commit.

Illinois had already adjusted its scheduling with the loss of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The same could happen without the Gavitt Tip-Offf Games.

"We knew the ACC challenge was dying and going away, and that's why we have Tennessee on the schedule," Brad Underwood said. The Illini will play the Vols on Dec. 9 in Knoxville, Tenn.

"They'll be back here next year," the Illinois coach continued. "We'll have to continue to get those games. ... It's a challenge, but we're always going to play people here. You don't have to worry about that."

Of course, an expanded Big Ten and the chance for more conference games won't be the only new wrinkle when it comes to scheduling. When those league matchups happen could also change with schools in the Big Ten on the semester, trimester and quarter schedule.

"We have completely different academic calendars, so we're not all off at the same time," Underwood said. "Playing over Christmas break or Thanksgiving break might be good for some of us, but not for others."

★ ★ ★

Ty Rodgers is Illinois' starting point guard, but the 6-foot-6 sophomore gets an assist with ball-handling and playmaking duties when guys like Terrence Shannon Jr., Marcus Domask and Coleman Hawkins are on the court.

But it's on Rodgers to hold his own defensively against some opposing point guards. And others. Underwood said he's been able to build Illinois' defensive scheme largely around Rodgers' effectiveness guarding multiple positions.

"The point guard spot defensively is challenging because you receive so many ball screens," Underwood said. "You've got to be a great listener, and you've got to process. He continually is getting better and better in those coverages and understanding that piece of it.

"One of the things that Ty gives us there is he's the strongest guy on our team at the point guard spot. He's physically very strong. He doesn't get rolled up. He's a good rebounder. He's got great feet and he's got great length."

★ ★ ★

Underwood hasn't been shy about utilizing his bench this season. The rotation might not always run 11 deep — Sencire Harris, the 12th scholarship player is redshirting — but different options have allowed the Illinois coach to piece together the right lineups for a variety of in-game scenarios.

And he doesn't plan on abandoning that strategy, with the Illini playing 10 on Tuesday night.

"It's a really nice problem, to be very honest, because it's just the hot hand and how you feel," Underwood said. "It's a nice feel to know there's solutions on the bench and you're going to find that right group. I feel really blessed to have that.

"Every game is a little bit different. Sometimes, you may need a little more offensive punch. Sometimes, like the other night (against Oakland), it was strictly defense. There was no way I was taking Quincy Guerrier out of that game. Every game has a little different feel, and it's nice to have your best players doing it at both ends. Depth is an advantage for us. Hopefully, we can find that right group every night."

★ ★ ★

Those closing groups will likely always include Shannon. Guerrier has earned similar trust from the Illinois coaches.

"I think my goal is to find a way to win games," Guerrier said. "I'm the oldest guy on the team. I've got to take pride in that and being a leader out there. Just stay positive and find a way to win games."

Illinois recruited Guerrier out of high school and again when he left Syracuse because of what he brought on the court as a rebounder and shooter with size and physicality. The Illini kept recruiting him when he hit the portal again this past offseason for all of that — and the veteran presence he would bring in his fifth season after spending the last two seasons at Oregon.

"It's experience," Underwood said. "It's what a wonderful human being he is. He's always been about team first, and everybody who's coached him would say that. I'm darn glad he's on our side. I'm glad I get to spend every day around him because he's a fun guy to be around, and he's very mature."

★ ★ ★

Shannon has had a different shirt for pregame warmups every game this season. It was an Underwood shirt for the season opener against Eastern Illinois, and the veteran guard paid homage to Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton — one of his close friends — with a Newton T-shirt for the Oakland game.

"My friend, she actually lives in Houston but she's from Chicago, she has her own clothing brand, and she designed a couple shirts for me," Shannon said, while acknowledging he had more designs coming but they were a surprise.

Newton wore a Shannon T-shirt after the Illini football team's overtime win against Indiana on Saturday. The likely first-round NFL draft pick has also shown up at Illinois basketball games wearing a No. 0 jersey. Fitting given Shannon always wears Newton's No. 4 jersey at football games (even the early September game at Kansas).

"Like I always say, that's my homeboy," Newton said. "We're close. He rocks my jersey, I'll rock his jersey. He rocks my shirt, I'll rock his shirt. That's what we've got going on."

Scott Richey