Illinois gets 30 points off 24 Monmouth turnovers in a 103-65 blowout win over an overmatched, low-major opponent just days before heading to Las Vegas to face No. 8 UCLA.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
November 14, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois used an easily overmatched Monmouth program to send a nationwide message.
The warning to future opponents is clear: Don’t run with us because we promise that we’re better at that style than you.
In a 103-65 blowout win that was essentially over when No. 19 Illinois (3-0) ran out to an early 8-0 lead just 44 seconds into the game that forced Monmouth head coach King Rice into a very early timeout. It didn’t get better for the Hawks (0-3) as the Illini rattled and frustrated Monmouth into 24 turnovers, only 21 field goals and had 18 points in transition.