2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament: Illinois vs. Wisconsin Championship Preview
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After four incredibly fun days of action in Minneapolis, we've finally reached Championship Sunday — or perhaps better known as Selection Sunday. Regardless of what you call it, we'll see No. 5 Wisconsin battle No. 2 Illinois with the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament title hanging in the balance.
Both the Badgers and Illini have played especially well to reach this point of the tournament. Here's a preview of Sunday's finale from Minneapolis.
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Illinois
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Game: No. 13
Wisconsin's path to the championship
Finished the Big Ten regular season No. 5 in the standings and earned a single-bye. Did not play on Wednesday.
- Thursday: Defeated No. 12 Maryland 87-56
- Friday: Defeated No. 4 Northwestern 70-61
- Saturday: Defeated No. 1 Purdue 76-75 (OT)
Wisconsin players to watch
- Tyler Wahl, senior: Wahl is a really talented forward with excellent post moves and good mobility. He's averaging a 11.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He's also done a good job defensive in the post. He has quick, active hands and is capable of creating turnovers, even when defending bigger opponents down low. Wahl also has solid vision for a big man, averaging 1.8 assists per game.
- AJ Storr, sophomore: The Badgers have struggled as of late, but Storr provided a completely new element to Wisconsin's offense after transferring in from St. John's. The sophomore guard can attack the rim and has no problem driving the basketball in traffic. He hasn't had the best season from behind the 3-point line (31.4%), but he is capable of knocking that shot down. Storr has scored in double figures in all but two contests this year.
- Max Klesmit, junior: Opponents will want to keep an eye on Klesmit, as he has a knack for hitting the 3-point shot. He's hitting at a 37.5% mark on the season, not bad for someone who has attempted 136 on the season. He's knocked down five shots from behind the arc in three different games.
Illinois' path to the championship
Finished the Big Ten regular season No. 2 in the standings and earned a double-bye. Did not play on Wednesday or Thursday.
- Friday: Defeated No. 10 Ohio State 77-74
- Saturday: Defeated No. 3 Nebraska 98-87
Illinois players to watch
- Terrence Shannon Jr., senior: Shannon is one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten and is at his best when he gets into transition. The senior guard was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after averaging 21.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He does an excellent job at getting to the basket and can be a problem in up-tempo games. He finished the regular season scoring 20 points or more in seven of the final nine games, including a 35-point outing vs. Penn State.
- Coleman Hawkins, senior: At 6-foot-10, Hawkins as a well-rounded game for a player of his size. He averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game during the 2023-24 campaign. He can defend multiple positions on the floor and can step back and knock down the 3-point shot, hitting at a 39.2% rate. Hawkins does have bouts of inconsistency, but when he's also a tough matchup.
- Marcus Domask, senior: A transfer from Southern Illinois, Domask has been one of the top pick-ups from the transfer portal in the Big Ten this season. The senior forward has been a major scoring threat for the Fighting Illini, averaging 16 points per game and hitting a 30-point total in three different games this season. Domask has also posted 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per games on the year.
Preview
- Illinois record: 25-8 (14-6 in Big Ten play)
- Illinois coach: Brad Underwood
- Wisconsin record: 22-12 (11-9 in Big Ten play)
- Wisconsin coach: Greg Gard
- Regular season meeting: Illinois def. Wisconsin 91-83 on March 2.
What to expect from Illinois-Wisconsin
Illinois has been one of the best scoring teams in the country, and that has continued in the Big Ten Tournament. The Fighting Illini defeated Ohio State 77-74 in the quarterfinals and took down Nebraska 98-87 in the semifinals on Saturday to advance to the championship. Shannon has been phenomenal, scoring 68 points in the first two games, including a 40-point performance in the Illini's win over the Huskers.
The Fighting Illini continue to pose matchup problems for opponents with players like Hawkins and Domask on the floor. But what makes Illinois even more dangerous is when it gets solid production off the bench. In the win over the Buckeyes, it was Dain Dainja who put up 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Against Nebraska, Luke Goode gave the Illini 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Although Wisconsin struggled to close out the regular season, it has found a spark in the postseason. The Badgers have rediscovered their offense and it's resulted in three big wins to reach the championship game.
Wisconsin was unstoppable from behind the 3-point line in an 87-56 blowout win over Maryland on Thursday, making 16-of-25 attempts. Freshman John Blackwell came off the bench and scored 18 and Steven Crowl knocked down all three of his attempts from behind 3-point range.
In the quarterfinal matchup against Northwestern, it was Storr who poured in a career-high 30 points. Crowl had another impressive outing with 19. On Saturday, senior Chucky Hepburn gave the Badgers 22 in an overtime victory over Purdue.
Both teams have a ton of talent and have the capability of putting the ball in the bucket. Will Wisconsin have a defensive answer for Shannon? Can Illinois keep a number of the Badgers' weapons in check?
Illinois will want to play this game at full speed, much like it has all season. Wisconsin won't operate at a snail's pace, but they're comfortable with a slower tempo.
Keep an eye on the turnovers and rebounding battle. If the Illini can get in transition, it'll be tough for the Badgers to keep up. If Wisconsin can create second-chance opportunities off their misses, they'll have a great shot to win a tournament title.
This is going to be a fascinating matchup and should be a fun way to conclude the Big Ten Tournament.
Related Big Ten stories
- WISCONSIN BEATS PURDUE GAME STORY: Top-seeded Purdue had beaten Wisconsin twice during the regular season, but Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit made clutch baskets late to help the Badgers steal a 76-75 overtime victory in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday. The Badgers are back on track after a tough February, and now it's on to the NCAA Tournament for the Boilers. CLICK HERE
- EDEY PASSES MOUNT: Zach Edey has made more history at Purdue. The 7-foot-4 center broke Rick Mount's all-time scoring record in the Boilermakers' Big Ten Tournament game against Wisconsin on Saturday. He's now the program's all-time leader in points and rebounds. CLICK HERE
- BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TRACKER: The 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament bracket is set. Here's a look at the matchups, dates, times and television information for every game from the Target Center in Minneapolis. CLICK HERE