CHAMPAIGN — Alex Wittinger admitted before Wednesday’s practice at Ubben Basketball Complex that she’s keeping track of her progress in reaching Karisma Penn’s career blocks record at Illinois.
Even if she wasn’t, her father, Kevin, has offered a few friendly reminders from time to time.
Wittinger needs 13 more rejections to pass Penn, whose 271 blocked shots from 2009-13 have set the standard for Illini women’s basketball players. At her current pace of 2.5 blocks per game, a mark that ranks 16th nationally, Wittinger would likely have to wait until Illinois’ first-round Big Ten Tournament game in early March to overtake Penn.