Illini’s other freshman star dominates in lopsided win over Penn
Keaton Wagler has been maybe the biggest surprise of any freshman in the country. A second freshman star joined the club Thursday as Illinois opened the NCAA Tournament.
First-year forward David Mirkovic poured in a season-high 29 points, to go with 17 rebounds, as the No. 3 Illini rolled past Penn 105-70 in a first-round game in Greenville, South Carolina. Illinois moves on to face No. 11 VCU, an overtime winner over North Carolina.
There were the most rebounds for Mirkovic since the 6-9 Montenegro native erupted for 21 boards against Colgate on Nov. 14. Wagler added 18 points, Kylan Boswell scored 13 and Tomislav Ivisic had 12 against Penn.
Ivy League teams are traditionally a challenge in the NCAA Tournament. Since 2013, Ivy schools are 5-6 in first-round games, despite never being higher than a No. 12 seed. Three of those losses were by 5 points or less.
For the two head coaches involved in this game, it might as well have been a January slugfest in Iowa City, since Penn is headed by longtime Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey.
“Typical Fran team,” Illini coach Brad Underwood said after Wednesday's practice. “They're tough. They're physical. … Exactly what I would have expected when I turned on the film and started watching a Fran McCaffrey team.”
When Underwood vs. McCaffrey meant Illinois and Iowa, Underwood lost the first five meetings, then turned things around and won nine of the next 10. Make it 10 out of 11.
“I consider Brad a dear friend,” McCaffrey said. “We competed hard, but with incredible respect. I coached against his son, he coached against my sons. His sons and my sons are good friends.”
Underwood, 62, is from Kansas. McCaffrey, 66, grew up in Philadelphia and played point guard for Penn. He was sitting out as a transfer from Wake Forest when Penn reached the Final Four in 1979 and lost to DePaul in the third-place game.
The two coaches have plenty in common and both credited their work with Coaches vs. Cancer in building the friendship.
“We played in the Palestra this year (against Penn State),” Underwood said. “Fran came by before the game. I saw a smile, he was happy. He told us exactly where he sat when he was a kid watching games in the Palestra. To be able to live out something like that (and returning home) is really pretty cool and doesn't get to happen very often.”
Penn entered the tournament short-handed. Leading scorer Ethan Roberts is sidelined by a concussion, while forward T.J. Power, who scored 44 points in the Ivy League title game against Yale, missed the Wednesday practice with an illness.
Power did start against the Illini, but scored a quiet 6 points. Michael Zanoni led the Quakers with 20. Penn trailed at halftime 40-30.
Roberts is an Arlington Heights native and Hersey High School graduate who averaged 16.9 points and was a second-team all-Ivy selection. This was Roberts' second concussion this season, which created added concern. The first happened in December against Villanova and caused him to miss four games. The recent one happened during a practice last week.
“I feel terrible for Roberts,” Underwood said “That young man's had a terrific career and he's made a boatload of 3s. Your heart just aches for young guys like that.”
Roberts started his college career at Army, then spent a season at Drake, but didn't play due to an injury. Last year at Penn, he averaged 16.8 points.
“Ethan Roberts is a special player,” McCaffrey said. “We're all so disappointed for him, because he really was such an integral part in helping us get here. But when you have your second concussion, that's not something you mess with. His health and welfare is our priority.”