Illinois impresses in first exhibition, cruises past Ottawa

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time in nearly eight months, Illinois took the State Farm Center floor in front of a sea of orange and blue.

Unlike the last time — a double-overtime thriller that saw the Illini top Michigan — the stakes were low. Regardless, the Illini’s 116-65 victory Friday over NAIA Ottawa marks the unofficial return of college basketball.

From the first possession, Illinois was in firm control. The Illini stormed out to a 19-4 lead at the first media timeout and from there, the result of the game was never in doubt.

A red-hot half that featured 62% shooting from the floor and 41% from three-point range allowed Illinois to gradually build its lead to 29 heading into the break.

The biggest story of the offseason was Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins deciding to forego the NBA Draft and return to Champaign for another season. They each showed why their returns are so important on Friday night.

Shannon proved why he’s worthy of preseason first…