The Big Ten Showdown: #20 Wisconsin vs. Illinois – Who Will Prevail?
The Fighting Illini are facing off against the Wisconsin Badgers tonight in what should be a barnburner. Illinois is led by a slew of international players: Tomislav Ivisic, the seven-foot-one center out of Croatia, who is averaging 16 points per game. Then, there is the sharpshooter Kasparas Jakucionis out of Lithuania, who shoots 42 percent from three and averages 14 points per game. Let's not forget Will Riley, the six-foot-eight forward out of Ontario, who averages 15 points per game and also shoots 42 percent from three.
The Fighting Illini certainly have the offensive firepower they need to win this game. The question is if they can execute in those key moments. Their free throw percentage as a team is only 70 percent, which is 222nd in the nation. This can definitely come into play if the game is close late.
As for the Wisconsin Badgers, a six-foot-five senior guard out of Nebraska, John Tonje leads the way. He averages 21.5 points per game and will be a focal point of the Wisconsin attack. Another guard, sophomore John Blackwell out of Michigan, averages 15.2 points per game. This duo will be one to watch tonight as the Illini defense will have their hands full. However, Illinois is pretty stout defensively, as they only allow 62.5 points per game to their opponents, which is good for 20th in the nation. The advantage the Badgers have in the late stages is that Wisconsin is the best free-throw shooting team in the nation. They knock them down 85 percent of the time. This is important because if the Illini defense is too aggressive and commits unnecessary fouls, it gives Wisconsin easy points at the charity stripe.
The Illinois defense can dominate the glass since they are the best rebounding team in the nation, averaging 51 boards per game. This could allow them to limit the second chance opportunities of Wisconsin and separate themselves. This game is definitely gonna be a tight one throughout. The 20th-ranked Badgers are looking to rebound at home after two road losses. Similarly, newly unranked Illinois is also trying to bounce back from a loss to rival Northwestern in OT. The game will start at 8 p.m. CST on Peacock.
