Illini LIVE BLOG: FINAL - Illinois 71, Nebraska 59
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome to the State Farm Center where Illinois (16-9, 9-6 in Big Ten Conference) will host Nebraska (7-19, 2-13).
I'm LOOKING LIVE...at the State Farm Center floor in Champaign, Ill., as we're about an hour from the opening tip.
NOTE: Please join us as we live-blog and discuss the Illini exhibition game here in our weekly Illini Gameday Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top right of the redesigned site and click the follow button.
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Game 27: Nebraska at Illinois
Date/Time/Place: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2020: 7 p.m. CST, State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.
Capacity: 15,544
Records: Illinois 17-9, 9-6 in Big Ten; 12-21, 7-13 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19. Nebraska 7-19, 2-13 in Big Ten; 19-17, 6-14 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19.
Line: Illinois by 14
Series notes: Illinois leads 15-8 in the all-time series. Illinois is 8-6 against the Cornhuskers since Nebraksa joined the Big Ten and Monday’s game is the only regular-season meeting between the two teams. Nebraska has won only once in the State Farm Center, a 78-67 win in 2016. Prior to Nebraska joining the conference in 2011-12, the Huskers and Illini had played only once since 1976 - a 100-73 Nebraska victory in the 1990 San Juan Shootout.
TV: BTN - Dave Revsine (PBP), Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Doug Altenberger (analyst) - The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/XM 372 and at FightingIllini.com.
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Two Key Numbers For Tonight's Game:
3 - As in a three-point shot. Nebraska has hit 10-or-more 3-pointers six times this season and leads the Big Ten in three-pointers per game in conference play (8.7 per game).
14 - The amount Illinois is favored to win by tonight, which marks only the second time since 2012 that the Illini have been that big a favorite in Las Vegas in a conference game.
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While we wait for pre-game updates, here's a look at the three keys and Matthew Stevens' prediction for tonight's game.
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NOTE: Uniform Update - Illinois seems to be going with the white uniforms. Nebraska going with the all red look tonight. Illinois is 5-0 this season in the traditional white.
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NOTE: Officials tonight are listed as - Bo Boroski, Paul Szelc, John Higgins
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NOTE: Nebraska officials have confirmed sophomore guard Cam Mack is out tonight with an undisclosed illness. Mack ranks third in B1G in assists and second in assist-to-TO ratio (2.5-to-1). Has a 22-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio the last three games and 20 total double-figure scoring games and five games with 10-plus assists.
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NOTE: Illinois going with the four-guard starting lineup around Kofi Cockburn again tonight. Nebraska is bringing Dachon Burke off the bench after his 21-point effort against Michigan State on Thursday was the most points by a Husker reserve since Jack McVeigh had 21 in a win over No. 20 Purdue on Jan. 29, 2017.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:40 left in 1st - Illinois 9, Nebraska 4 - Kofi Cockburn has been extremely active early with two points, three rebounds and a block. Nebraska runs a lot of isolation offense, which is challenging Illini's perimeter defense early.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 10:54 left in 1st - Illinois 16, Nebraska 11 - This feels like a game where Underwood will say they're shooting too many three-pointers (Illini are 2 of 7 on threes but 7 of 20 overall). Nebraska has eight of 11 points in the paint.
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NEBRASKA TIMEOUT - 9:07 left in 1st - Illinois 22, Nebraska 11 - A 6-0 Illini run (which is always how Illini outscores Nebraska in points off turnovers) forces a Hoiberg timeout. Ayo with eight points.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 6:32 left in 1st - Illinois 26, Nebraska 16 - This is quickly turning into an Ayo Dosunmu game as he has 10 points and is 5 of 6 on 2-point field goals. Feliz been very active with seven points, three rebounds, and two assists.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:28 left in 1st - Illinois 28, Nebraska 25 - A 7-0 run by Nebraska is started off Illini's declining halfcourt execution and the Illini settling for threes (2 of 10). Illini look like a team who hasn't played in nearly a week.
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HALFTIME - Illinois 37, Nebraska 31 - Frazier with back-to-back three-pointers (the final one from 3/4 court) to end the half. Illini needed an energy boost as they head into the locker room. Underwood not happy with halfcourt execution and Illini's carelessness with the basketball. Nebraska is 13 of 31 from the field but clearly have no go-to scorer in this game.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 14:43 left - Illinois 46, Nebraska 46 - Nebraska (already with three players in double figures) is 6 of 7 in this second half and suddenly has tied this game. Dosunmu with 14 but Illini are 4 of 13 from three-point range and aren't dominating points in paint or fast break points at all.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:42 left - Illinois 54, Nebraska 47 - Ayo picks up his third foul and the Illini defense extends the lead (Nebraska doesn't have a FG in last 3:29). I'd imagine Ayo sits until Under-8 timeout. Griffin with 11 points and four rebounds off the bench.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 7:25 left - Illinois 61, Nebraska 53 - Illinois with four players in double figures with Cockburn providing 11 points and six rebounds. Nebraska has nine field goals and six turnovers in this very inconsistent half for them.
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NEBRASKA TIMEOUT - 5:39 left - Illinois 65, Nebraska 53 - A quick 4-0 probably puts a period at the end of the sentence describing this game. Nebraska hasn't scored in the last 2:12.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:56 left - Illinois 67, Nebraska 55 - Cockburn is two rebounds away from another double-double but this might be the perfect time for Illini to try to get Giorgi, Kipper and maybe even Tevian some late-season confidence.
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