MILWAUKEE — An Illinois men’s basketball team that was inconsistent for stretches this season stumbled out of the gate against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament second round and never quite found its groove in an 84-75 loss.
Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams (22) guards Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the first half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) goes up for a basket during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) celebrates during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) celebrates after making a shot during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) goes up for a shot during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) falls on Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) during the first half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) goes up for a shot during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrew Carr (7) guards Illinois Fighting Illini forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the first half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams (22) flexes his arms while celebrating during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Ansley Almonor (15) makes a 3-point shot past Illinois Fighting Illini forward Jake Davis (15) during the first half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ben Humrichous (3) and Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams (22) go up for a rebound during the first half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) pushes a coach back from a referee during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) drives past Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrew Carr (7) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) guards Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) drives past Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrew Carr (7) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) points after making a 3-point shot during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) looks before making a 3-point shot during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) guards Illinois Fighting Illini guard Tre White (22) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrew Carr (7) guards Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) blocks a shot from Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrew Carr (7) guards Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7), Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13), and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) walk on the court during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini fans watch in the final minutes during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini fans watch in the final minutes during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini fans watch in the final minutes during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) sits on the bench with his teammates during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats fans cheer during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) yells after making a shot while being fouled during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) yells after making a shot while being fouled during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) hugs Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini fans yell from the stands during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood calls for a timeout during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood yells near the bench during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood yells towards a referee during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) walks off the court after losing to the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-75, in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ty Rodgers (20) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard AJ Redd (5) walk with Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) as he drapes a towel over his head after losing to the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-75, in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) walks on the court near the end of the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivišić (13) walks off the court after losing to the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-75, in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (2), Illinois Fighting Illini forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21), and Illinois Fighting Illini forward Carey Booth (0) walk off the court after losing to the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-75, in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) walks off the court after losing to the Kentucky Wildcats, 84-75, in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
