MADISON – Growth. That is what Wisconsin has a chance to show tonight.
The Badgers men’s basketball team gets a second crack at Illinois after falling to the Illini, 86-80, at Assembly Hall on Dec. 10. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
The first game was marked by the play Illinois standout freshman Kaspars Jakucionis, who finished with 24 points and five assists, and junior guard Tre White, who came off the bench and scored a season-high 23 points. (White attended Milwaukee Washington as a freshman and helped it to a state runner-up finish in 2019.)
UW also was beat on the boards and paid for its turnovers. The Badgers were minus-11 in rebounding with Illinois’ 15 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second-chance points. The Illini also scored 14 points off turnovers.
In a two-possession loss those mistakes proved costly for the Badgers, who are ranked No. 11 in both major polls.
“I think both ends we’ve grown,” UW coach Greg Gard said. “I think it’s going to be a challenge for us and a good measuring stick to see where we’ve come from in early December.”
Here is what you need to know about the game.
Where can I watch or listen to the Wisconsin-Illinois basketball?
The game will be shown on FS1 as well as the Fox Sports app. Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (analysis) will handle the call.
The matchup can be heard on AM-97.3 in Milwaukee. Matt Lepay (play-by-play) and Brian Butch will call the game. The contest can also be heard on the Varsity app or on Sirius XM channels 85 or 390.
More: Wisconsin’s Kamari McGee moved by how his teammates played for him after his ejection at Purdue
Wisconsin Badgers probable starting lineups
25 – John Blackwell, 6-4, G, 15.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg
11 – Max Klesmit, 6-4, G 10.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.0 apg
9 – John Tonje, 6-5, G, 19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 apg
22 – Steven Crowl, 7-0, C, 9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.4 apg
31 – Nolan Winter, 7-0, C, 10.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 apg
Wisconsin: Schedule || Roster || Statistics
More: John Tonje’s hot hand helps Wisconsin basketball navigate through tough part of the season
Illinois Fight Illini probable starters
32 – Kaspars Jakucionis, 6-6, G, 16 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5 apg
4 – Kylan Boswell, 6-2, G, 11.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.3 apg
15 – Jake Davis, 6-6, F, 3.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .3 apg
3 – Ben Humrichous, 6-9, F, 8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
13 – Tomislav Ivisic, 7-1, C, 12.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.0 apg
Illinois: Schedule || Roster || Statistics
Injury sidelines Illinois standout freshman Morez Johnson Jr.
The Big Ten availability report won’t be released until this evening, but Illini coach Brad Underwood announced Monday that Morez Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9 freshman forward, is out indefinitely after breaking his left wrist during the loss to Michigan State on Sunday.
Johnson started the last eight games. He leads the Illini in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and blocks (1.1 bpg) in addition to averaging 7.2 points per game.
A look back at UW’s 86-80 loss to Illinois Dec. 10
A look back at Wisconsin’s victory at Purdue Saturday
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: No. 11 Wisconsin vs. Illinois: starters, stats, TV channel
