This Sunday, a significant clash between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Nebraska Cornhuskers is set to take place at 3 p.m. ET at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. This game features two top-10 teams, with Nebraska ranked No. 5 and Illinois at No. 9, both leading the Big Ten with identical 9-1 conference records.
The Illini”s only conference loss came earlier this season, a narrow 83-80 defeat at home against Nebraska. However, since that setback, Illinois has bounced back impressively, securing ten consecutive victories. Nebraska, under coach Fred Hoiberg in his seventh season, has emerged as a surprise team, having been predicted to finish 14th in the Big Ten preseason poll. They started the season with a remarkable 20-0 record before their first loss on Tuesday against No. 3 Michigan, falling 75-72.
Key Players to Watch
In their previous encounter, senior guard Kylan Boswell nearly led Illinois to victory with a team-high 20 points. His ability to apply pressure on the Nebraska defense was evident, particularly through his 7-for-9 free throw performance and solid 3-point shooting. Since Boswell suffered a broken hand, junior forward Jake Davis has taken his place in the starting lineup, consistently playing over 24 minutes in the last three games and demonstrating effectiveness from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of 15 attempts.
While Davis can help fill the gap left by Boswell, Illinois may lean more on their leading scorer, Keaton Wagler, and Andrej Stojakovic. Wagler has been on fire, scoring 68 points in the last two games, while Stojakovic, after a stellar 30-point outing against Maryland, has struggled recently, shooting only 6-for-20 in his last two games. The front court trio of David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, and Zvonimir Ivisic will also need to contribute more than the mere 14 points they combined for in the previous matchup.
Defensive Challenges for Illinois
A key factor in Illinois” earlier defeat to Nebraska was the exceptional performance of Nebraska forward Pryce Sandfort, who scored a season-high 32 points, including 6-for-11 from 3-point range. Sandfort is making a strong case for All-Big Ten honors, leading the conference with an average of 3.5 3-pointers made per game and ranking 13th with an average of 17.4 points. He has been particularly hot lately, scoring over 20 points in five consecutive games while shooting 46.3% from beyond the arc.
If Illinois aims to avenge their previous loss, limiting Sandfort”s impact will be crucial. Coach Brad Underwood praised Ben Humrichous for his defensive improvements, noting that at 6-foot-9, he could be an effective matchup against Sandfort. Underwood remarked, “Last year, I”m not sure Ben could guard a dead man. This year, he”s guarding everybody and just doesn”t make mistakes.” Regardless of the matchup, Illinois must consistently monitor Sandfort and prioritize defending the 3-point line.
Injury Updates for Nebraska
During Nebraska”s impressive 20-0 start, senior forward Rienk Mast and freshman forward Braden Frager played integral roles. Mast excels in the low post and has a 3-point shot, averaging three assists per game. Frager, despite coming off the bench, is the team”s third-leading scorer, thanks to a 37.3% shooting rate from beyond the arc. However, both players missed the recent game against Michigan due to injuries, which raised concerns about their availability for the upcoming match against Illinois.
Hoiberg provided updates on their conditions, stating that Mast was recovering from severe dehydration and had begun non-contact drills, indicating a potential return for Sunday”s game. “Mast is better this morning and was able to come in, watch film with us, and went through early non-contact exercises,” Hoiberg shared. Meanwhile, Frager participated in a portion of the contact drills and will be evaluated further to determine his readiness for the game.
This highly anticipated matchup is not just about rankings; it carries significant implications for the Big Ten title race and both teams” postseason aspirations.
