Notes: Illini defense gives Spartans trouble

CHAMPAIGN — Aggressive defense has become an Illinois trademark in Brad Underwood’s first season. That holds especially true with the type of ball pressure Underwood likes to get on opposing point guards.

Illinois turned that ball pressure into 25 Michigan State turnovers — the most for the Spartans since 2005 — with Cassius Winston and Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. combining for a dozen turnovers between them.

“I felt like we could pressure them,” Underwood said. “I always feel pretty good when the other team is dribbling the ball around 14 or 15 or 16 seconds.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was a bit perplexed by the combination of his team’s ball security issues and the Spartans’ hyper…