The 43-point defeat for Illinois was the most lopsided loss in school history, and left Illini coach Brad Underwood with no other choice but to heap praise on Duke star Cooper Flagg, who scored 16 points, while adding seven rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes of action.

It seems a foregone conclusion Cooper Flagg of Duke will become the top pick in this year’s NBA draft. Illinois coach Brad Underwood has a different idea.

Illinois was humming along as one of the country's better college basketball teams. Then the 3-point shots stopped falling.

The ACC is down and few teams have offered Duke a challenge this season. But hammering Illinois, 110-67, at Madison Square Garden certainly helped the Blue Devils’ case.

On Saturday night, the Illini (17-10, 9-8 Big Ten) will suit up against No. 3 Duke (23-3, 15-1 ACC), marking the third consecutive season the Illini have played at MSG and the fifth time overall during Underwood’s tenure. So far, Underwood has compiled a 3-1 record, including three straight top-25 wins at the Garden.

On Saturday night, college basketball will be treated to something that was commonplace for decades but has become the exception to the rule over the past 15-or-so years: a marquee February nonconference game between two high-major programs.

CHAMPAIGN — Until last year, Brad Underwood hadn't thought much about ... It just so happened Duke was also looking for a chance to return to New York and was open to a February nonconference ...

The Illini could not find a way to match the energy of the red-hot Blue Devils in New York City on Saturday night, falling 110-67.