The Champaign Room · Feb 23, 2023
No. 21 Northwestern ‘a great challenge’ for Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Following a bounce-back win after a two-game skid, the Illini are looking to stay on track against their in-state Big Ten rival Northwestern.
With back-to-back stinging losses against Penn State and No. 17 Indiana, Illinois toughened out a much-needed win over an inferior Minnesota team Monday night. RJ Melendez, whose season has been full of struggles, proved to be the unlikely hero against the Gophers with his first-career double-double.
“We as coaches, myself, have never given up on RJ,” said head coach Brad Underwood. “We’ve always been in his corner, no one’s wanted him to do well more than us.”