The Illinois Fighting Illini (19-9, 17-11 ATS, 12-15 O/U) collide with the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-17, 8-20 ATS, 15-12 O/U) in a Big Ten battle on Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Illini posted a home win against Northwestern in their previous bout. The Buckeyes dropped a home clash to Penn State on Thursday night. Illinois recorded a 68-60 home win against Ohio State last month.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are eying a third consecutive victory. Illinois had lost two in a row but have replied by defeating Minnesota 78-69, followed by a 66-62 home win against Northwestern on Thursday but did not cover the large 7.5-point spread as they trailed most of the game. Illinois has accrued a 10-7 record in Big Ten play and could possibly climb to second place. The Fighting Illini have covered the spread in only one of their last four games.
Terrence Shannon Jr. continues to deliver, sinking 20 and 26 points respectively in his last two games. The senior guard scored 17 points in the first meeting against Ohio State and is sporting an average of 17.3 PPG. Matthew Mayer is also in a groove, eclipsing 20 points in two of his last three clashes. The senior forward has registered an average of 12.6 PPG on 42.6% shooting. Dain Dainja has shot at least 50% in six straight games. The sopho more forward has reported an average of 10.1 PPG and 5.8 RPG.
Like we said…
IT HAS EVERYTHING!#Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys https://t.co/HSJvP6YaUV
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 24, 2023
The Fighting Illini are marked 27th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings and are 3-5 on the road including a narrow 71-68 loss to Indiana in their latest road bout. Illinois is scoring an average of 74.7 points, ranking them 113th. They have conceded 69 or fewer points in six of their last ten games limiting opponents to a season average of 65.3 points, good for 59th in DI.
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