PREVIEW
OPENING TIP: Illinois (2-4, 0-3 B1G) closes out a two-game home stand on Thursday, Jan. 7, hosting No. 16/16-ranked Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 B1G). Tipoff between the Illini and the Buckeyes is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised live on Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Meghan McKeown (analyst). 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 OHIO STATE: No. 16/16-ranked Ohio State enters Thursday's game with a 5-0 record, including a 1-0 start to Big Ten play, one of 17 unbeaten programs nationally. On Monday, the Buckeyes played their first game since Dec. 10, earning an 82-69 home win over Penn State. OSU features one of the most potent offenses in the nation with five players that average double-figures scoring led by sophomore G Jacy Sheldon (18.0 ppg), and junior F Dorka Juhasz (17.8). Juhasz also leads the Buckeyes in rebounding at 10.5 boards per game. Sophomore G Madison Greene, Ohio State's third-leading scorer (14.2 ppg), leads the team at 5.4 assists per game. Through games played Jan. 4, Ohio State ranks among the NCAA leaders in several categories including No. 3 in scoring offense (93.4 ppg), scoring margin (+35.2) and field-goal percentage (.532), No. 5 in assist-to-turnover ration (1.62), and No. 8 in defensive rebounds per game (33.6), field-goal percentage defense (.315), and turnovers per game (11.0).Â
SERIES VS. OHIO STATE:Â Thursday's matchup is the 73rd in the series between the Illini and the Buckeyes. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 53-20, including a 19-14 advantage in games played in Champaign. The Illini are looking to snap a seven-game Buckeyes win streak. The last Illini win the series was Feb. 14, 2015, a 66-55 decision in Champaign.
UP NEXT: The Fighting Illini face the second of four-consecutive games against top-25 opponents, traveling to No. 15/14-ranked Michigan on Sunday. Tipoff between the Wolverines (7-0, 2-1 B1G) - who host Nebraska on Thursday - and the Illini is set for 12 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.Â
FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)