Grades are in: Efficient Coleman helps Illini take down Penn
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Grades are in: Efficient Coleman helps Illini take down Penn
Nov. 5—Player of the game
Illinois guard Quentin Coleman
Yes, Andrej Stojakovic scored a game-high 25 points, but Coleman's hyper-efficient night tipped the scales in the freshman guard's favor. Coleman missed just a single shot — a three-pointer — while putting up 19 points on 8 of 9 shooting. How the 6-foot-4 guard scored around the rim was equally as impressive. The O'Fallon native showed off his burst, a change of pace and some Steve Smith-inspired footwork in becoming a problem around the rim for the Quakers.
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Backcourt
Illinois: A
Penn: B-
It's the sheer number of ways the Illini's cavalcade of guards can hurt teams that makes them so difficult to slow down, let alone stop. Andrej Stojakovic can get tunnel vision going to the basket some time, but he's an effective finisher at the rim. Coleman provides a different version of that skill. Ethan Brown's a knockdown shooter. All three were clicking Thursday against Penn, which answered with a team-high 16 points from Michael Zanoni.
Frontcourt
Illinois: A-
Penn: C-
The idea any number of players could turn into the Illinois quarterback on a game-to-game basis was floated by Illini coach Brad Underwood in the run-up to the season. Tomislav Ivisic proved Underwood right on Thursday night with a game-high seven assists, finding a way to impact the game despite scoring just two points. Zvonimir Ivisic also put together a solid two-way performance with six points and nine rebounds, while Illinois was able to hold neutralize Ivy League Player of the Year frontrunner TJ Power, who scored just six points on 3 of 15 shooting.
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Bench
Illinois: A
Penn: A
Underwood has also always made it a point of emphasis to have production available off the bench. That might be this Illinois team's default if the Illini coach keeps playing a 10-man rotation. Illinois' second wave includes one of the top transfers in the country in Stefan Vaaks, a shot eraser and lob catcher in Zvonimir Ivisic and more intriguing freshmen. Some teams might struggle to keep up. Penn actually managed a 41-41 draw on bench points.
Overall
Illinois: A-
Penn: C+
The first 10 minutes of Thursday night's game at State Farm Center were tight. The Quakers were more than hanging with the third-ranked Illini. They had a physical edge. It wasn't sustainable. Not again an Illinois team custom built to run teams off the floor. The Illini pushed their lead to 23 points by halftime and never looked back, as they overwhelmed a second straight opponent in the opening week of the 2026-27 season.
