How to Watch Illinois vs. Wisconsin
Game Time: 7 p.m. Tuesday
TV Channel: N/A
Online Streaming: Peacock
Odds: N/A (Illinois 84.9% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor)
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (20-4, 11-2 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season)
Advertisement
Last Game: Michigan State 85, Illinois 82 (OT)
Gameday Reading:
There is no such thing as a ceiling for this year’s Illini
Illinois joins elite company with another 20-win season
Wisconsin Badgers (16-7, 8-4 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Greg Gard
Leading Scorer: Indiana 78, Wisconsin 77 (OT)
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
-
Illinois leads the all-time series 119-90.
Feb. 18, 2025: Wisconsin 95, Illinois 74
MADISON, Wis. — A matchup between two of the Big Ten’s highest-scoring offenses did not disappoint — at least for one half. Shorthanded with injuries and illnesses, Illinois showed flashes of brilliance scoring the ball but ultimately struggled to contain Wisconsin, falling 95-74 at Kohl Center on Tuesday night.
Advertisement
The Fighting Illini (17-10, 9-8 Big Ten) entered Tuesday as the second-best rebounding team in the nation but were handily out-rebounded by the Badgers (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten). Following his squad’s loss last week to Michigan State, it’s the second straight game that Brad Underwood’s team has been out-rebounded, outdone in the paint and — most importantly — outscored.
A lot of that can be attributed to the lack of bodies the Illini had available under the rim. After the loss to Michigan State, freshman center Morez Johnson Jr. was revealed to have suffered a broken wrist, meaning the team’s already meager depth at center was running thinner.
That meant Mercer transfer Jake Davis got his first Illinois start, while Ben Humrichous and Tre White were re-inserted into the starting lineup.
Soon-to-be NBA lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis again struggled to find a rhythm in this one, accounting for 7 of the team’s 14 turnovers while managing just 6 points. Will Riley again stepped up to provide a spark of offensive production, while Humrichous provided
Advertisement
The Badgers built their lead up to as large as 13 in the late stages of the first half, but productive offensive possessions saw Brad Underwood’s squad cut that deficit down to six by halftime.
Six was the closest the Illini got the rest of the way. The Illini had to dig deeper into their bench as fouls racked up and legs grew tired. As the oil settled and the water got clearer, Wisconsin began to pull away.
The weight of expectation on Jakucionis’ shoulders grew heavier when Kylan Boswell picked up his fourth foul with over 12 minutes remaining in the second half.
