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Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Illinois – key storyline, injury report, how to watch

Previewing Indiana basketball vs Illinois by looking at storylines, injuries, how to watch and much more.

Published

13 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Previewing Indiana basketball vs Illinois by looking at storylines, injuries, how to watch and much more. (Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)

Indiana basketball continues Big Ten Conference play in its 125th season of competition against No. 13/15 Illinois at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Hoosiers are coming off their second loss in the Big Ten season at Iowa last Saturday.

The Fighting Illini enter the game with a record of 12-4 (4-2 Big Ten) under eighth-year head coach Brad Underwood. Illinois ranks seventh in the country (second in the B1G) in scoring offense at 86.9 points per game while allowing just 67.2 points per outing on the defensive end. The Illini receive double-digit scoring efforts from five players and are led by freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis. The projected lottery pick has missed the last two games (forearm) but has averaged 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per contest. He shoots 49.6% from the floor, 41.4% from behind the arc, and 87.5% from the free throw line.

Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM on Peacock.

Below is the full preview.

Read: Iowa’s Owen Freeman calls out Indiana basketball wing Mackenzie Mgbako

Key Indiana basketball Storyline

The most important bounce back game to date for Indiana basketball

You can make the strongest case that the loss to Iowa was Indiana’s worst of the year. Not much can be said but it was a flat out embarrassing showing from a team that looked to have finally turned that corner after playing such good basketball this last month.

As bad as that loss was to Iowa, it is time for Indiana basketball to move on because the Big Ten season does not stop there. The Hoosier have a hungry Illinois team coming into Bloomington looking to steal a big road win at Assembly Hall.

We have touched how important it is for Indiana basketball to do well over this next stretch of basketball with the Quad 1 chances in front of them. With the Illinois game being played in their home, the Hoosiers have to bounce back and win the game. They have no other option.

A win over Illinois will not completely erase the Iowa beatdown of a loss, but it would be a start.

Series History

The Hoosiers hold a 96-92 series advantages in games played between the two border programs. Indiana has won 10 of the last 16 matchups played since the start of the 2014-15 season. IU has prevailed in eight of the last time contests in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Malik Reneau led a short-handed Hoosier attack with 21 points and seven rebounds in the lone game against Illinois last season, a 70-62 road defeat. Mackenzie Mgbako secured his first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds as the small-ball four.

Indiana basketball Injury Updates

Gabe Cupps: Indiana basketball sophomore guard Gabe Cupps underwent a successful surgery to treat a preexisting, nagging injury to his lower body. He will be out indefinitely.

Jakai Newton: Indiana redshirt freshman guard Jakai Newton underwent successful surgery to treat an injury to his lower body. He will be out indefinitely but is expected to return this season. This injury is not related to the one he had prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.

Malik Reneau: After scoring the first bucket of the game, the junior power forward went down on the defensive end holding his right knee vs Rutgers. He left the game and finally returned to the bench in the 2nd half but did not get back in. He missed the games vs Penn State, USC, and Iowa. He is expected to miss today’s game vs Illinois.

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana (13-4) (4-2) vs Illinois () ()

When?: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 • 7 p.m. ET

Where?: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.

TV: Peacock (Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Betting Lines: Indiana is listed as a 3-point underdog per DraftKings Sportsbook.

SEE ALSO: ‘Avalanche’ of mistakes have Indiana basketball looking to regroup after another noncompetitive performance — something becoming all too familiar

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