Welcome into the online choir podcast. It is Jeremy Warner and Derek Piper live at Enterprise Center, where Illinois won bragging rights for the second straight time for the first time since 2017, hard to believe.

But Illinois gets it done in a tough, competitive game from the players, not so much by the refs when I say good game.

But 80 to 77, Illinois gets it done. Another close game, but they find a way to close it out.

Two games are the last four. They've closed out. Two to the last four. They haven't been able to close out. But a lot to talk about with this one, Derek, as Casperus, Yakoshonis and Kyle and Boswell really shined again. That backcourt is becoming a thing. And they compliment each other extremely well. Trey White and Tomasov, Vista's pretty good games. Perez Johnson, some extended playing time. The people wanted to see it and it was pretty good, but also a lot of fouls and a lot of free throws for the second time in a row, which is getting a little frustrating. But Derek, they get the Braggen rights game. They get to eight and three. This one felt really important because Illinois has not lost back-to-back

games yet this year. They continue that. They were on the brink at some points as Missouri goes on

that 11-0 run, but Illinois finds a way to respond. So what's your big takeaway? It's a nice win.

Absolutely wild game. Refs had a lot to do with that, obviously with disjointing the flow of it and just what was called and what wasn't called, inconsistency in the physicality that was allowed and not allowed.

So we just really had to battle through still some growing pains in late game where you have a, what, 10 point lead and it becomes a one point lead.

And then obviously you lose it and a matter it's

11-0 run for missou in two minutes and some change so closing out game stepping on opponent's

throats that's been a process to still work through and to get to they haven't quite gotten there yet

obviously but between the the fouls and it felt like just a new team still trying to figure it out,

but to step up and have KJ hit that turnaround jumper like a grown man, like a killer,

that's a big deal. And Kylan was all over the court today. I know he wasn't making shots,

and his field goal percentage isn't going to be helped by this game. But rebounds, thought he penetrated really well. He made some really beautiful deliveries where I think Missouri blew up a lot of Illinois ball screen stuff with KJ. Kylan was able to make some things happen downhill and draw a lot of fouls himself. So it's never a bad feeling when you take the

trophy back home. It's been too long since Illinois's gone on a little bit of a streak here in this

in this series. And they've been the better program since Brad's been hired. It's just been a tricky

game for him for whatever reason. But I'm sure however it looked and it was it was ugly at times.

Referees part of that for sure that uh he'll have a smile on his face for christmas in the holidays because they got that trophy yet again yeah for all

his great things that he's accomplished here it's hard to believe that two years ago brad

underwood was two and four in this game and now to get back to back wins to get to 500 in this game is a big deal for him. Derek, you know me. And I think you and I are both this way. Like, we'll talk about the refs. They usually don't like want to put too much on the refs because it's a difficult job. That's why a lot of people don't want to do it. And I have a really hard job finding referees these days. but man, it's just two games in a row where I just thought the refs got in the way of what could have been a great game.

Like too many fouls, too many free throws.

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