Lu'Cye Patterson and Femi Odukale combined for 46 points, but the rest of the #Gophers starters went for only 20. Minnesota had no answer for No. 23 Illinois' size, which dominated them in the paint and on the glass. 👇 🔗FULL RECAP:

2026 Las Vegas, NV safety Gavin Day become the 11th to lock in his official visit with the #Gophers for their Summer Splash event in the spring. Intriguing prospect with top offers from Arizona State, Arizona and Purdue.

@TommyBens21 They won three straight games and they had some momentum I was just trying to be positive lol

“We wanna attack these last 8 games and finish out strong.” Ben Johnson when asked about the #Gophers’ week off before their LA road trip and where they go from here.

“That is one of the more talented teams that I have seen in a while.” Ben Johnson was very complimentary of Illinois after the #Gophers’ blowout loss.

“When they don’t play those two bigs together, it’s too hard.” Ben Johnson on his decision to play small with only one big man for much of the second half.

Final #Gophers thoughts: - Ben Johnson followed up one of his best-coached games of the year, with arguably his weirdest substitution patterns of the year - Illinois came into the Barn and bullied Minnesota in every single way - Femi Odukale played his best game of the year and it did not matter - The second half looked like a team that gave up for the first time this season

There's been a lot of talk about how this #Gophers team has never wavered amid a really up-and-down season. It looked like there might've been a lot of wavering in this second half. Arguably their least energetic finish to a game this season.

Ben Johnson subbed Parker Fox out of the game with 16:07 remaining. Dawson Garcia has been on an island ever since as the only big man on the floor. Baffling substitution decision. Illinois absolutely bullied Minnesota in this second half.

Femi Odukale now has a #Gophers career-high 20 points tonight. Arguably his best offensive game of the season and Minnesota wasn't really able to take advantage of it. Just a weird gameplan tonight, weird game all-around.

33-22 difference in rebounds 40-22 difference in points scored in the paint #Gophers clearly having issues with Tomislav Ivisic Minnesota has played since 16:07 of the second half with only one big man. I DO NOT GET IT.

There have been 4-5 possesions tonight where Tomislav Ivisic has taken Rigsby, Patterson or one of the #Gophers guards to town on the post. Ben Johnson's decision to continue playing with only one big guy is BAFFLING. I simply do not get it.

The #Gophers' defensive effort flat-out did not show up today. Illinois is getting a ton of uncontested layups at the basket and Minnesota has had zero answer. The post defense has been baffling.

If you told me Femi Odukale and Lu'Cye Patterson would each score 15+ points before this game, I would've really liked the #Gophers chances. Really weird game this afternoon, but I feel like Minnesota is one run away from getting back into this.

Mike Mitchell Jr. is in a funk. He was shooting 27.7% from the field in his last 5 games heading into tonight. He's only 1-3 from the field tonight. #Gophers need him to be an offensive option if they want any hope of competing with teams like Illinois.

@amoney2750 @sadmngbfan what will you do if they keep him?

@amoney2750 you've been quiet recently.