INDIANAPOLIS -- There are certainly no problems with Illinois' energy level today. The Illini are ahead on Ohio State 37-31 at halftime and are playing like a team possessed.
Freshman D.J. Richardson has 11 points for Illinois, but more importantly, Richardson has slowed down Ohio State's Evan Turner. Turner does have 10 points, but he also has five turnovers, a product of Richardson's intense defensive effort on Turner.
Ohio State was ahead 15-7, but Illinois used a 14-0 run to gain a 21-15 lead. Mike Tisdale picked up two early fouls, but freshman Tyler Griffey stepped in and Illinois hasn't missed a beat. Griffey has seven points, including a key 3-pointer on Illinois' last possession of the half. Illinois is 15-for-32 from the field, 6-for-13 from 3-point range.
Photo: Evan Turner of Ohio State Buckeyes steals the ball from Demetri McCamey of Illinois. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
And it may need this win, after Houston might have stolen a bubble spot in the NCAA Tournament by beating UTEP in the finals of the Conference USA Tournament.
Turner and his former St. Joseph's teammate and friend, Illinois' Demetri McCamey, are acting like anything but that out on the floor. There's a lot of trash talking going on out there.
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