The Illini host Ohio State on Tuesday

The head coach Brad Underwood

Career record: 216-99(.686), 10th year
In Illinois: 107-72(.598), 6th year
Big Ten: 59-47(.557)

Series Notes vs. Ohio State

All-time record: Illinois leads 108-81
Line: State of Ohio W-1
Last meeting: #22Ohio State 86, #15Illinois 83 (2/24/2022 in Champaign)
Record in Champaign:Illinois leads 62-29
Series in Champaign: State of Ohio W-2
Underwood vs. Ohio State:3-5

Opening tips

After the weekend off, Illinois returns to action Tuesday night, hosting Ohio State at a sold-out State Farm Center (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).

It’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week and Carle HealthKrush Cancer Night at the State Farm Center.

Illinois has scored at least 75 points in each of its four Big Ten wins, averaging 77.0 points while holding opponents to 61.3 points in those four games.

Illinois hasn’t scored 66 points in any of its four Big Ten losses. The average is 62.5 points, while opponents are allowing 74.5 points in those four games.

Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 6.1 bpg. The current Illini single-season scoring record is 5.4 bpg, set in 1979.

Illinois is one of five teams in the country with two top-10 kenpom wins. Illinois beat No. 4 UCLA on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas and No. 10 Texas on Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden.

Illinois has three AP top-15 wins (No. 2 Texas, No. 8 UCLA and No. 14 Wisconsin) and is third-best nationally.

Terrence Shannon Jr. is the only power conference player and one of seven players to average at least 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal during the season.

Shannon is averaging 20.6 points over last five games (103), surpassing 20 points three times. He is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with seven 20-point games this season.

Coaches vs. Cancer

Coaches vs. Cancer (CvC) Coaches Council member, Illini head coach Brad Underwood is wearing custom painted CvC Nike Air Force 1s on the sideline at State Farm Center on Tuesday night. Underwood joins trainers from around the country participating in the annual Suits & Sneakers Week (January 23-29).

This is a national event created to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer and promote the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer. Since the CvC program began in 1993, college and high school coaches have raised more than $140 million to fight cancer.

To highlight her service to Coaches vs. Cancer, Underwood hosts an annual country/western-themed fundraiser called “Kickin’ Cancer” at Gordyville USA, a horse show arena in Gifford, Illinois, about 30 minutes from Champaign. Last spring, Underwood welcomed back former Fighting Illini head coaches Bill Self (a week after winning the NCAA title) and Lon Kruger as celebrity guests for the 2022 edition of Kickin’ Cancer. The dinner was a sold-out event with over 1,200 guests in attendance. It was the most attended social/gala of the entire Coaches vs. Cancer program last year, with the evening raising nearly $300,000.

This year’s Kickin’ Cancer Dinner and Auction at Gordyville USA will be held on Tuesday, April 11th. Tickets are now on sale at coachesvscancerillinois.com.

crush cancer

The Fighting Illini also fight cancer by supporting and promoting awareness of the Cancer Center of Illinois (CCIL), a cancer biology and technology research unit and community of experts working to address gaps in cancer research and health care, including issues of diversity and equity. . Orange Krush students will proudly sport CCIL-created Krush Cancer t-shirts and wave towels at Tuesday’s game. For more information about the Illinois Cancer Center’s research and how to support their efforts, visit cancer.illinois.edu.

Illini products

Terrence Shannon Jr. ranks fifth in Big Ten in scoring (18.1 ppg), first in free throws (98) and second in attempts (128).

Shannon last scored 26 vs. Indiana, his most in 15 games since scoring 29 vs. UCLA on Nov. 18.

Matthew Mayer has scored in double figures in nine of last 11 games, averaging 14.0 points (154).

MayerThe points included five consecutive games in double figures 4-16. January, the longest streak of his career.

Mayer is averaging 2.4 blocks over last seven games (17), highlighted by career-high six sacks in Jan. 13 win over Michigan State.

Dain Dainja is one of two players nationally (Rashaun Agee, Bowling Green) to average at least 10 points, five rebounds and one block in less than 20 minutes per game.

Daina ranks 19th nationally in two-point field goal percentage at 70.3% (83-118).

Daina has played at least 60% from the field in 15 of 19 games.

Daina ranks 59th on the season in block speed (7.5). He has blocked at least three shots in four of the last seven games, averaging 2.4 blocks during that stretch (17).

Freshman Jayden Epps has scored in double figures in six of the last eight games, averaging 9.9 points (79).

Epps He has nine assists and just two turnovers in 104 minutes over the past four games.

Illinois is a balanced offensive team with seven players averaging at least 6.6 points.

Illinois has had five players score in a 20-point game this season, and eight players reach double figures.

Five different players have been Illinois’ leading scorer in the game, while seven different players have been the UI’s leading rebounder.

Illinois has outscored 15 of 19 opponents and ranks 38th in the NCAA with an average margin of 5.4 rebounds.

Illinois’ reserves combine for 22.9 points per game, which ranks second in the Big Ten. The Illini bench has outscored its opponents in 15 of 19 games and by an average of 8.1 points.

Illinois makes 8.6 3-pointers per game, tied for second in the Big Ten. Last season, the Illini averaged a school single-season record 8.9 three-pointers.

Illinois has six new players in the current 8-man rotation. Illinois’ rotation includes five underclassmen: three freshmen and two sophomores.

Illinois is a dramatically different team this season, welcoming three power forward transfers and five freshmen in a top-10 recruiting class to eight scholarship players.

Illinois’ revamped roster ranks 299th in experience and 344th in continuity minutes, ahead of only three power conference teams, according to kenpom.

Illinois replaces all five regular starters, the top five scorers and a total of 10 players from last year’s Big Ten champions. The Illini lost 86% of their points, 80% of their rebounding and 83% of their minutes played from a year ago.

Illinois is the winningest team in the Big Ten over the past four seasons, posting a 48-20 record in league play. The Illini won the regular season title in 2022, led the conference in wins and added the B1G tournament crown in 2021 and finished one game back from the title in 2020.

1. Illinois 48

2. Purdue 44
3. Wisconsin 43
4. Iowa 41
5. Michigan 40

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)