INDIANAPOLIS — If Illinois is going to defend last year’s championship in the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, it’s going to take some — wait for it — defense.

Anybody else remember defense? It involves waving hands, sliding feet, laser focus and all-out effort.

None of which was anywhere to be found Thursday — from either team — as the seventh-seeded Illini beat 15th-seeded Iowa 106-94 in a second-round scoring fest at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Whoa, 106? That’s the second-most points scored by a team in the history of a tournament that debuted in 1998 at the United Center.

And 200 points in all? That’s the most in one game ever.

“That’s always a possibility with Iowa,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said.

Indeed, the Hawkeyes’ MO at the defensive end has long been to whistle “The Song of Iowa” while attempting to stuff their hands into their nonexistent pockets. But Illinois (21-11), which next faces No. 2 seed Maryland (5:30 p.m. Friday, BTN) in the quarterfinals, is a far better defensive team. Against the rugged Terrapins — who won by 21 in Champaign in late January — the Illini won’t be in another run-and-gun session at the local Y.

Any concerns about his own ‘D’?

“None,” Underwood said. We’ve been guarding our tail off.”

In the first matchup against Maryland, Terps twin big men Derik Queen and Julian Reese — Angel’s little brother — got utterly whatever they wanted, combining for 52 points and 23 rebounds. The Illini’s terrific 7-1 center, Tomislav Ivisic, didn’t play in that game, an important thing to remember. Still, it was a tail-kicking on the Illini’s home turf, and those leave marks.

“They were very good,” Underwood said. “We haven’t seen them in a little bit. It will be a different challenge than tonight.”

Against Iowa, it was a delightful stroll down Easy Street by comparison. Kylan Boswell scored 24, Tre White 22, Will Riley 21 and Ivisic 19 for the Illini, who put up NBA numbers at the home arena of the Pacers. Ivisic, Riley and Boswell threw in together for 20 rebounds and 18 assists. A White dunk with 1:56 to go lifted the Illini past the 100-point mark.

Not that Iowa’s embattled coach, Fran McCaffery, was around to see how things concluded. The eruptive McCaffery picked up two technical fouls and was ejected with 13:33 to go.

A 17-16 record wasn’t what fans wanted out of McCaffery in season No. 15 for a coach who hasn’t guided any Hawkeyes team beyond the second round of the NCAA Tournament. There will be no Big Dance this time. There’s buzz about McCaffery losing his gig. Does he expect to be back next season?

“I do,” he said.

There was something special for the Illini about the way McCaffery’s mini-meltdown played out, and it has to do with soon-to-be NBA lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis, the freshman point guard who at times has been sensational. But he also has had some real struggles, and this game was an example of that. While his teammates had a ball, Jakucionis — who finished with six turnovers and zero assists — was playing terribly.

So Boswell, a veteran who was going to shoot the four technical free throws, instead — and on his own — told Jakucionis to take them instead, in hopes of improving his teammate’s mojo. Jakucionis protested at first but finally agreed and — thanks, Fran — went 4-for-4 for a 73-60 advantage.

“Coming back on defense, he said, ‘Thank you,’ ” Boswell said. “That was about it.”

That’s some good stuff.

Both teams shot better than 50% from the field, with the Illini, who often struggle from the arc, making 12 of 26 three-point attempts. Payton Sandfort went off for 30 points for the Hawkeyes.

Illinois has won four straight against Iowa and nine of the last 10 head-to-head.

But is this Illini team, on a four-game winning streak since getting destroyed by Duke in New York, rounding into top form?

“I don’t know,” Underwood said. “I think about that all the time. It’s a great question. …

“But I think we’re headed in the right direction.”