Lineups
No. 24 Illinois (20-11)
Starters
P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
G Kasparas Jakucionis Fr. 6-6 15.2 Vilnius, Lithuania
G Kylan Boswell Jr. 6-2 11.4 Champaign
G Tre White Jr. 6-7 10.4 Dallas
F Will Riley Fr. 6-8 12.2 Kitchener, Ontario
C Tomislav Ivisic So. 7-1 12.6 Vodice, Croatia
➜ FYI: Jakucionis was the fifth Illinois player in the Brad Underwood era to earn Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. He was preceded by Trent Frazier (2018), Ayo Dosunmu (2019), Kofi Cockburn (2020) and Andre Curbelo (2021). The first Illini to claim that honor were Dee Brown and James Augustine in 2003.
Off the bench
P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
F Ben Humrichous Gr. 6-9 8.3 Tipton, Ind.
G Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn So. 6-1 6.7 Lafayette, Ind.
F Morez Johnson Jr. Fr. 6-9 7.2 Riverdale
Iowa (17-15)
Starters
P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
G Drew Thelwell Gr. 6-3 9.4 Orlando, Fla.
G Josh Dix Jr. 6-6 14.2 Council Bluffs, Iowa
F Payton Sandfort Sr. 6-8 16.3 Waukee, Iowa
F Seydou Traore So. 6-7 6.0 New York
F Ladji Dembele So. 6-8 4.5 Newark, N.J.
➜ FYI: Payton Sandfort leads the Big Ten with 234 three-point attempts during the regular season, which is 34 more than Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. Those 234 three-point attempts are 14 shy of the career-high 248 Sandfort shot last season in three more games. The difference? Sandfort was 94 of 248 (37.9 percent) from beyond the arc last season and is now just 76 of 234 (32.5 percent).
Off the bench
P Name Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
F Pryce Sandfort So. 6-7 8.8 Waukee, Iowa
G Brock Harding So. 6-0 9.0 Moline
F Even Brauns R-Sr. 6-9 3.0 Iowa City, Iowa
Details
➜ Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (17,274); Indianapolis.
➜ Radio: Brian Barnhart (play-by-play) and former Illini Deon Thomas (analysis) will have the call on the Illini Sports Network on WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WPXN 104.9-FM, WDAN-1490-AM, WDNL 102.1-FM, WSOY 1340-AM and WSOY 103.3-FM.
➜ TV: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (analysis) and Andy Katz (sideline reports) have the call on BTN.
➜ Series: Illinois leads 93-77.
➜ Last meeting: Illinois won 81-61 on Feb. 25 in Champaign.
➜ FYI: Illinois and Iowa have met five times in the Big Ten tournament, with the Hawkeyes holding a 3-2 advantage. The latest matchup, however, was an 82-71 Illini win in the 2021 semifinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kofi Cockburn had 26 points and eight rebounds in that game, outdueling Iowa big man Luka Garza.
Beat writer Scott Richey’s storylines
Another defensive team snub
The Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team included the league leader in steals in Penn State guard Ace Baldwin Jr., with Oregon’s TJ Bamba and UCLA’s Kobe Johnson also earning that particular honor after finishing in the top six in the conference in steals. The Big Ten’s No. 2 shot blocker, Oregon’s Nate Bittle, and Michigan State guard Jaden Akins rounded out the five-man team. Missing was Illinois guard Kylan Boswell, which Brad Underwood had a clear opinion on after the fact.
“It’s a joke,” the Illini coach said. “It’s really frustrating. Everybody values different things defensively. We’re one of the worst teams in the country at forcing turnovers. ... They like guards who get steals. They like bigs who block shots. We like guys who can guard multiple positions and just make somebody’s life miserable. Everybody’s value of what a good defender is is different. I wouldn’t trade (Boswell) for anybody in the country guarding the basketball.”
Turning focus, preparation inward
No. 7 seed Illinois didn’t find out its second-round opponent until No. 15 seed Iowa knocked off No. 10 seed Ohio State in the second game of the night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday. The benefit of playing the Hawkeyes late in the regular season — just two weeks ago — means the scouting report will still be fresh. But a Big Ten tournament run comes with little prep with a game every day. The Illini spent their practice time this week more focused on themselves.
“We practiced a lot, practiced hard, to prepare for those games,” Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis said. “Every day is a new game. ... We have to focus on us, focus on our team and do our best. It doesn’t matter who we play. We have to play our game and just be us, and then we can beat everybody.”
Riley improving as a defender
Will Riley’s role has shifted, ever so slightly, since he moved into the starting lineup at the end of the regular season. What was once providing instant offense off the bench — enough that the 6-foot-8 freshman was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year — has come to include more responsibility with the ball in his hands as a playmaker. Riley’s real growth, however, has come defensively.
“A lot of it comes with strength, and I’ve put on a lot of strength,” Riley said. “That definitely helps. Overall, as a defender and rebounder, I’ve gotten a lot better over the last year. Before the season, it was much easier to put on weight, but during the season, it’s maintaining the same diet — eating a lot — and just staying consistent in the weight room and off the court. A lot of the guys are a lot bigger than me, so I’ve got to be able to stay my ground.”
The News-Gazette’s pick
No. 24 Illinois 88, Iowa 71
Illinois had a frontcourt advantage against short-handed and undersized Iowa when the two teams met in late February. The Hawkeyes’ situation hasn’t changed. Owen Freeman is still out for the season. The Illini, meanwhile, have Morez Johnson Jr. available again. Better second-half three-point shooting was also key in Illinois’ previous win, but the advantage in the paint could be tremendous this time around. (News-Gazette prediction record: 21-10)
