No. 21 Illinois (7-1, 0-0) will head to Columbus, Ohio, to take on No. 12 Ohio State (7-0, 0-0) on Sunday, Dec. 8. This game will be the third time the Illini have faced a ranked opponent this season. It also marks the first conference game either team has played.
The opponent
The Buckeyes are on a roll to start this season. They’re averaging about 90 points per game while holding their opponents to 54 points per game. Five players are impressively averaging over 10 points per game.
Defense isn’t an issue for the Buckeyes either. They have 114 steals on the season, with six players recording double-digit steals. They also hold their own from the three, holding opposing teams to 28.3% from beyond the arc.
The biggest weapon of the Buckeyes is their three-point shot. As a team, they’re shooting 35.3%. Junior guard Chance Gray is their best shooter, making 23 of her 50 attempts.
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B1G time matchup
While the Buckeyes have been shooting well from the three, the Illini have been one of the top teams defending the three. They are in the top five for the lowest three-point percentage allowed in Division I. Illinois has held opponents to 19.6% from three-point range.
The teams are also similar in height. The tallest starter for Ohio State is 6-foot-3 graduate student forward Ajae Petty. For Illinois, it’s fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic, who stands 6-foot-2. The past few games for the Illini have come against taller teams, and while the Buckeyes are a tough team, they aren’t too tall.
Both squads match up fairly well. Between the offense and defense for both teams, it should be an even competition. If the Illini can keep the Buckeyes quiet from beyond the arc, they have a good chance of controlling the game.
The biggest factor will be Bostic. The fifth-year forward has been in a shooting slump recently. In the first five games, she shot 70.7% from the floor. In the last three games, she shot 39.5%. If Bostic can find her shot again, the Illini will have an easier time keeping up with the high-scoring Buckeyes.
Strength of schedule
Ohio State has been off to a good start but hasn’t seen the toughest competition. It has only played mid-major teams. Ohio State looked impressive against them, but Illinois will be the best team it’s played so far.
On the flip side, Illinois already has plenty of experience playing top teams. It beat No. 19 Florida State and lost a hard-fought game against No. 14 Kentucky. Illinois’ experience against top teams and Ohio State’s lack of experience could give Illinois the upper hand.
They go way back
Illinois and Ohio State have played 33 times, seeing each other for the first time in the 1998-99 season. Ohio State has the upper hand with a record of 23-10. The Illini haven’t won since February 2015. They also haven’t won in Columbus, Ohio, since 2013.
History does not favor the Illini. Their record in Columbus, Ohio, is 13-4, which doesn’t bode well for Illinois as the upcoming game is at Ohio State. However, the last time Illinois was ranked and played Ohio State, it won. Unfortunately for the Illini, that was over 20 years ago in 1999.
Game info
Illinois will tipoff against Ohio State on Sunday at 3 p.m. The game is at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, and will be streamed on Big Ten Network.
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