Ed DeChellis could only watch the game tape from Penn State’s win over Illinois for 40 real-time minutes. His Penn State staff was subjected to the entire 40 minutes of game time.
‘I don’t know if I’ll be in that frame of mind again,’ DeChellis said Thursday. ‘I didn’t know what half we were in when they said the game was 38-33. I thought it was a dream. I thought it was halftime.’
Nope, that score was 17-15 for the Nittany Lions. Penn State beat Illinois Wednesday night in a game that is memorable for its statistical oddities. Illinois didn’t attempt a free throw. Not one free throw, not one attempt, and the Illini were playing at home.
Illinois was 15-of-50 from the field, 3-of-16 on 3s and didn’t have a single player in double figures. Penn State was 13-of-46, 3-of-17 on 3s and 9-of-11 at the line.
‘It was a slugfest,’ DeChellis said. ‘We missed open shots. Illinois missed open shots, shots that went in and out and around the rim. Both teams defended well, though.’ …