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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome once again to the State Farm Center where Illinois (7-3) will host Old Dominion (3-7) after experiencing Big Ten Conference play duo before the New Year's Day.

I'm LOOKING LIVE...at the State Farm Center media room 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 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.

You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. That's right...IT'S FREE. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with our staff and fellow members of the Illini Maven/Sports Illustrated community as we keep you up to date of the game in real-time.

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Before every game of the 2019-20 season, we’ll take a look at three things you’ll want to watch for after tip.

Game 11: Old Dominion at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019: 5 p.m. CST, State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

Capacity: 16,618

Records: Old Dominion 3-7, 0-0 in Conference USA; 26-9, 13-5 in Conference USA in 2018-19. Illinois 7-3, 1-1 in Big Ten; 12-21, 7-13 in Big Ten in 2018-19.

Line: Illinois by 14

Series notes: Illinois has won the only other all-time meeting between the two schools. Illinois defeated Old Dominion 80-62 on Nov. 25, 1990 in the San Juan Shooting at San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

TV: BTN; Kevin Kugler (PBP), Brian Butch (analyst)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Deon Thomas (analyst). The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/XM 372 and at FightingIllini.com.

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1) Can Illinois avoid a let-down game?

After the signature win of Illinois' 2019-20 season, a 71-62 win over then-No. 5 Michigan, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood mentioned that his biggest concern is repeating a let-down performance similar to how the Illini opened its first half against Miami (Fla.). The last two games marked the first time Illinois played consecutive games against Top-5 teams since the 2005 NCAA Final Four. After giving 81 points and 59.3 percent shooting on its homecourt in the loss to Miami, the Illini defense has responded by excelling in back-to-back matchups against top-5 Big Ten teams. In those games, the Illini allowed an average of only 60.5 points on 38.4 percent shooting, including 22.4 percent from 3-point range when it defeated No. 4 Louisville in the semifinal before falling to No. 2 North Carolina in the championship. 

2) Will Illini debut Tevian Jones?

Tevian Jones has been off a suspension for the last two games but the Culver City, Calif., native hasn't found the court as the Maryland and Michigan games were highly competitive games where a new player debut wasn't in the cards. Jones will need this game and likely the remaining two games in the month of December to get into playing shape and a groove on both ends of the floor as the Illini seem to have developed a solid 8-man rotation. 

3) Da’Monte Williams vs. Xavier Green

Underwood continues to proclaim that the junior from Peoria is in the starting lineup because he's the Illini's best defensive option on the roster. Williams will likely draw Old Dominion's best offensive player Xavier Green. The Monarchs' fourth-year junior is the team captain and one of only two players on its roster averaging double-figures in scoring. In his last three games, Green has struggled to find the basket as he's 12 of 36 from the field in losses to Loyola (Chicago), William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth. 

Prediction:

Illinois 83, Old Dominion 69

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Here is the league's lineup of games for tonight:

No. 16 Michigan State 72, Oakland 49 - FINAL

Penn State 73, Alabama 71 - FINAL

No. 10 Oregan 71, No. 5 Michigan 70 - FINAL

No. 22 Seton Hall at Rutgers - IN PROGRESS

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4:50 p.m. UPDATE - Same starting lineup for the Illini including Da'Monte Williams in the starting five for Andres Feliz

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Today is the 56th birthday of Brad Underwood and as he enters today part of the Orange Krush student section sing 'Happy Birthday' to the Illini third-year head coach.

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FIRST HALF 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:56 left in 1st - Illinois 11, Old Dominion 4 - ODU is 1 of 7 from the field and Kofi Cockburn already has four points. 

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:35 left in 1st - Illinois 13, Old Dominion 8 - Bad news? Illinois hasn't scored in over four minutes. Good news? Illinois hasn't lost the early lead because the defensive intensity & execution is high. ODU shooting just 3 of 13 from the field. 

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 7:54 left in 1st - Illinois 22, Old Dominion 17 - Illinois may need to keep this lead at the foul line as they're already in the double bonus. Illini have missed eight of its last 10 field goals. 

ODU TIMEOUT - 7:00 left in 1st - Illinois 26, Old Dominion 17 - Illinois get a tough bucket from Feliz and a steal + layup from Trent Frazier. Despite a 2 for 10 stretch, Illinois still shooting 50 percent. 

ODU TIMEOUT - 4:28 left in 1st - Illinois 31, Old Dominion 20 - Illinois has forced nine turnovers and received nine points off those mistakes. Ayo with seven quick points in this first half. 

ILLINI TIMEOUT - 33.5 left in 1st - Illinois 37, Old Dominion 25 - Illinois is 3 of 11 from 3-point range so ODU switches to a matchup zone. Giorgi still finding post-entry lanes for Kofi. 

HALFTIME - Illinois 40, Old Dominion 25 - Illinois get a big late lift by Alan Griffin (3-pointer and a block) to end half. Illini with five players with 5-9 points right now. First game in a while where Illinois is being outrebounded by that may due to Giorgi's health (flu). 

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SECOND HALF 

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MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:18 left - Illinois 46, Old Dominion 30 - In a game where he's reportedly under the weather, Giorgi still has four points, five rebounds and four assists in 19 minutes. Very productive on that end with and without the ball.  

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 13:42 left - Illinois 49, Old Dominion 30 - Alan Griffin is 3 of 3 today for 8 points. ODU hasn't scored in the last 3:31.  

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:52 left - Illinois 51, Old Dominion 32 - ODU is 1 for its 9. Illini defense hasn't been as locked in as vs. Michigan but this level can win a lot of games too. 

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 7:39 left - Illinois 60, Old Dominion 38 - Kofi Cockburn needs just one more rebound to break the Illinois record for double-doubles by a freshman, first set by Efrem Winters during the 1982-83 season.

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:53 left - Illinois 69, Old Dominion 46 - Illini emptying the bench, which means the season debut of Tevian Jones.