No. 19 Illinois men’s basketball (13-4, 5-2) takes on No. 12 Michigan State (15-2, 6-0) on Sunday in East Lansing. Illinois is playing its second straight road game of the week after winning easily at Indiana (14-5, 5-3), 94-69.
Matchup history
The Illini and Spartans have faced off 129 times, and the outcome has been relatively even. Michigan State has the edge by one game, 65-64, after winning the teams’ last matchup.
That win by the Spartans came at home, and they have a pretty good record against the Illini when defending their home court. Michigan State has won about two-thirds of the games between the two squads in East Lansing (41-21).
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has also had very even results against Michigan State, holding a 5-6 record. Sunday morning will be a chance for Underwood to even the score with a win.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Big Ten top contenders
Michigan State and Illinois are two high-caliber teams that get national recognition frequently, with the Illini ranked seven spots behind the Spartans. There are six Big Ten teams currently ranked in the top 25.
The Illini, led by freshman guard Kasparas Jakučionis, have a very deep roster and are a favorite to win the Big Ten. Despite an uncharacteristic upset loss to USC (11-7, 3-4), Illinois has had two 30-point victories in Big Ten play against previously No. 9 Oregon (15-3, 4-3) and Penn State (12-6, 2-5). The team also beat Indiana on the road by 25.
Michigan State is another top contender, and it is currently undefeated in the Big Ten. However, the Spartans have not yet played any ranked in-conference opponents. Illinois will be its first true test in the Big Ten and a preview of how the conference title race may play out. Michigan State’s most recent win came over Penn State, 90-85.
Player matchup to watch
Jakučionis will be the biggest offensive threat to the Spartans, but the Illini have multiple other weapons that can get hot. Five Illini are averaging at least 10 points per game this season. Michigan State is led by senior guard Jaden Akins, who is putting up 14.2 points per game this season. They have no other double-digit scorers, but the Spartans have six players averaging above seven points per game.
Akins will be the defensive focus for the Illini, so expect junior guard Kylan Boswell to pick up the defensive assignment. Boswell has been a lockdown on-ball defender all year, holding Penn State’s graduate student guard Ace Baldwin Jr. and Alabama star guard Mark Sears scoreless earlier this season.
When Akins is not on the floor, expect Boswell to be guarding freshman guard Jase Richardson. Richardson is the Spartans’ second-leading scorer despite not starting a single game for them this season.
Game time
The Illini will get started early against the Spartans, tipping off at 11 a.m. on CBS. Sunday’s game in East Lansing is the first of two contests between the programs this season. The second game between the teams will occur on Feb. 15 in Champaign.
@sahil_mittal24
