PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: Illinois (2-6, 0-5 B1G) continues Big Ten Play on Thursday, traveling to No. 21/22 Northwestern (7-2, 5-2 B1G) at NU's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff between the Illini and the Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN: No. 21/22 Northwestern enters Thursday's game with an 7-2 overall record, including 5-2 start to Big Ten play. The Wildcats have won three consecutive games - an 80-55 decision at Wisconsin (Jan. 6), a 77-67 home win over Iowa (Jan. 9) and a 67-50 road win at Penn State (Jan. 17). Junior G Veronica Burton paces the Wildcats' offensive attack at 17.7 points per game. Burton is one of three NU players averaging double-figures scoring alongside the junior G/F Sydney Wood (14.7 ppg) and senior G Lindsay Pulliam (13.9 ppg). Junior F Courtney Shaw is the team's top rebounder at 6.7 boards per contest, just ahead of Wood (6.1 rpg). The Wildcats average 74.7 points per game, while holding opponents to 59.2 per contest; both marks rank 58th in the NCAA. Northwestern also ranks among the NCAA leaders in several other categories, including No. 1 turnover margin (+12.44), No. 4 in steals per game (14.3), No.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (1.60), No. 6 in turnovers forced per game (23.76), No. 8 in fewest turnovers per game (11.3), and No. 12 in assists per game (18.1).
SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN: Thursday's matchup is the 80th in the series between the Illini and the Wildcats. Northwestern leads the all-time series, 45-34, including an 23-13 advantage in games played in Evanston. The Illini are looking to snap an 10-game NU win streak in the series. The last Illini win the series was Jan. 14, 2014, a 76-74 victory in Evanston.
UP NEXT: The Fighting Illini return to State Farm Center to host RV/RV Nebraska on Monday, Jan. 25. Tipoff between the Illini and the Cornhuskers (7-5, 5-4 B1G) is set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network and streamed on FoxSports.com and the FoxSports app. Mike Koon will call the action for the Illini on WDWS 1400 AM. Streaming audio and live stats are also available at FightingIllini.com.
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)
