How To Watch Illinois-Ohio State, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines
Game time: 5:30 pm., CT
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis
TV: Big Ten Network
Betting line: Illinois -4.5
VITALS: Illinois won the last meeting 87-75 Jan. 30 in Columbus. The Illini finished second in the Big Ten with a 14-6 record. This is their second time as the No. 2 seed in four seasons. The Illini's 23 wins are their most since the 2008-09 team accomplished the same. The Buckeyes are coming off a victory against Iowa in the first round. After going 19-12 in the regular season, they need a strong showing in the tournament to have a shot at the NCAAs. They haven't won the Big Ten tournament since 2013. Illinois is 3-2 against the Ohio State in the tournament.
PROJECTED STARTERS
FIGHTING ILLINI
G Ty Rodgers
G Terrence Shannon Jr
C Coleman Hawkins
F Marcus Domask
F Quincy Guerrier
BUCKEYES
F Evan Mahaffrey
F Jamison Battle
C Felix Okpara
G Bruce Thornton
G Roddy Gayle
INJUY REPORT
FIGHTING ILLINI
Max Williams: Out - Undisclosed
BUCKEYES
Austin Parks: Questionable - Undisclosed
QUOTABLE
Illinois coach Brad Underwood on the Big Ten tournament: “I’m playing to win. You can say it doesn’t mean anything and the NCAA Tournament is the NCAA tournament. As long as we’re playing games that the jersey on the other side says a different university and it’s a different color, we’re trying to play to win. I would love to be standing on a ladder to cut down a net on Sunday.”
Shandel Richardson is the publisher for Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com