On Sunday, Indiana will face off against the eighth-ranked Illinois team in a highly anticipated matchup set for 1:00 p.m. Eastern at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The game will be broadcast live on CBS, featuring commentators Andrew Catalon and Clark Kellogg, and available for streaming on Paramount. Local fans can catch the game on the IU Radio Network, with coverage from Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, and John Herrick.
As the action approaches, Illinois enters the game as a 10.5-point favorite over Indiana. KenPom projects that the final score will see Illinois winning 82-71, and they come into this matchup boasting a record of 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten Conference. This marks one of their best starts since the 2008-09 season, where they also began with a strong record of 21-5.
Under the guidance of head coach Brad Underwood, who has led the team for nine seasons, Illinois has established itself as a formidable force in college basketball. With a career coaching record of 294-133 (.689) and a solid 185-106 record with Illinois, Underwood has made significant strides, including leading the Illini to the NCAA Tournament for the past five years, culminating in an Elite Eight appearance last season.
Illinois aims to rebound after recently suffering from back-to-back overtime losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin, ending a remarkable 12-game winning streak, the longest for the program in 13 years. This season, Illinois ranks fifth in the latest NET rankings and has five Quad 1A wins tied for second nationally.
Among the standout players for Illinois is freshman Keaton Wagler, who has emerged as a key player in his inaugural season. Wagler is in contention for Big Ten Player of the Year honors and has vaulted from being a relatively unknown recruit to a leading player, currently averaging 18.5 points per game. His impressive performance includes leading the team in offensive rating and consistently contributing to the scoring effort.
Illinois also boasts a deep roster, with four players averaging over 12 points per game, a testament to their balanced offensive strategy. The team’s offensive efficiency ranks first nationally, and they have solidified themselves as a scoring powerhouse at home, averaging nearly 89 points per game in Champaign.
On the other hand, Indiana, currently holding a record of 17-8 and 8-6 in the Big Ten, seeks to secure crucial wins as they approach the postseason. While predictions favor Illinois, a victory for Indiana could bolster their chances of a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
This showdown promises to be an exciting encounter as both teams vie for supremacy in the Big Ten, with Illinois declining to underestimate their opponents as Indiana seeks to leave a mark heading into the tournament season.