Beat author Scott Richey breaks down the matchup between the Illini and Gophers:
Illinois (17-9, 8-7 Large Ten)
Starters
P Title Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
G Jayden Epps Fr. 6-2 10.1 Norfolk, Va.
G RJ Melendez So. 6-7 5.6 Arecibo, Puerto Rico
G/F Matthew Mayer Gr. 6-9 12.2 Austin, Texas
F Coleman Hawkins Jr. 6-10 9.7 Sacramento, Calif.
F Dain Dainja R-So. 6-9 10.3 Brooklyn Park, Minn.
FYI: Mayer’s scoring common is deceiving in that it does not actually replicate the participant he’s now. That is mainly true with all of his season-long statistical averages. His first eight video games have been tough. The final 18 not a lot. From the Dec. 6 win in opposition to Texas by means of Saturday’s loss at Indiana, Mayer is averaging 15.1 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 assists whereas capturing 45.8 p.c total and 40.3 p.c from three-point vary.
Off the bench
P Title Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
G/F Ty Rodgers Fr. 6-6 2.8 Saginaw, Mich.
G Sencire Harris Fr. 6-4 3.6 Canton, Ohio
G Luke Goode So. 6-7 3.3 Fort Wayne, Ind.
Minnesota (7-17, 1-13 Large Ten)
Starters
P Title Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
G Ta’Lon Cooper Jr. 6-4 10.3 Roebuck, S.C.
G/F Jaden Henley Fr. 6-7 4.1 Ontario, Calif.
F Jamison Battle Jr. 6-7 12.3 Robbinsdale, Minn.
F Joshua Ola-Joseph Fr. 6-7 7.7 Brooklyn Park, Minn.
F Dawson Garcia So. 6-11 15.4 Prior Lake, Minn.
FYI: Garcia returned to the Gophers’ lineup Saturday in opposition to Penn State after lacking the earlier 5 video games with a foot harm. Wins have been few and much between anyway for Minnesota this season, however the margin of defeat grew with Garcia sidelined. The Gophers nonetheless misplaced to the Nittany Lions by seven, however they’d misplaced their earlier 5 video games with Garcia sidelined by a mean of 21.2 factors. That included a pair of 35-point blowouts for Rutgers and Maryland.
Off the bench
P Title Yr. Ht. PPG Hometown
F Pharrel Payne Fr. 6-9 7.7 Cottage Grove, Minn.
G Braeden Carrington Fr. 6-4 5.8 Brooklyn Park, Minn.
G Taurus Samuels Sr. 6-1 2.7 Oceanside, Calif.
Particulars
Website: State Farm Middle (15,544); Champaign.
TV: Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Brian Butch (evaluation) could have the decision on BTN.
Radio: Brian Barnhart (play-by-play) and former Illini Deon Thomas (evaluation) could have the decision on the Illini Sports activities Community on WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WPXN 104.9-FM, WDAN-1490-AM and WDNL 102.1-FM.
Sequence historical past: Illinois leads 128-68.
Final assembly: Illinois received 78-60 on Jan. 16 in Minneapolis.
FYI: Illinois has misplaced simply thrice at house to Minnesota for the reason that flip of the century and maintain a 13-3 benefit in that stretch. The Illini are additionally 14-5 in Minneapolis since 2001 and beat the Gophers on 5 completely different events within the Large Ten event (thrice in Indianapolis and twice in Chicago).
Beat author Scott Richey’s storylines
Shannon’s standing nonetheless to be decided
Terrence Shannon Jr. remained in concussion protocol Sunday afternoon, in accordance with Illinois coach Brad Underwood. The 6-foot-6 senior guard instantly entered the protocol Tuesday night time after struggling a concussion within the Illini’s loss at Penn State. He missed Saturday’s loss at Indiana after not making the journey to Bloomington, Ind. Shannon was to be re-evaluated Sunday, however Underwood mentioned the established order remained the identical.
“To be trustworthy, I don’t know something completely different (Sunday) than I did two days in the past,” Underwood mentioned earlier than his crew’s final follow in preparation for Monday’s rescheduled sport in opposition to Minnesota. “It’s the various steps we have now layered up right here by means of our concussion protocol. I don’t know something new presently. We’ll decide what that appears like. It’s simply the steps. I don’t even know all of the steps. Our coaching employees and medical employees deal with all that stuff.”
Rodgers’ function persevering with to develop
Shannon’s absence Saturday at Indiana meant extra taking part in time for freshman wing Ty Rodgers, who got here up 1 minute in need of his profession excessive with 27 minutes of motion in opposition to the Hoosiers. The need of extra time on the court docket for Rodgers got here regardless of him not practising all week due to strep throat. No Shannon coupled with Indiana defending Rodgers with Race Thompson had the ball within the Illini freshman’s palms initiating offense greater than he had all season.
“That was advantageous for us once we can get him into switches,” Underwood mentioned of the larger Thompson having to defend the faster Rodgers. “That’s one thing sooner or later we actually like as a result of he’s sturdy, he’s an ideal passer and he will get the ball the place he desires to within the submit.”
Goode’s significance extends past his capturing
Luke Goode additionally noticed an uptick in taking part in time Saturday at Indiana. It was half no Shannon and half one other struggle-filled sport for the additionally in poor health RJ Melendez, who began exhibiting strep throat signs Friday morning. Goode knocked down his second three-pointer in as many video games and completed with seven factors in simply his third look of the season after preseason surgical procedure to repair a fracture in his left foot. Goode on the court docket, although, means extra than simply one other offensive possibility.
“He’s only a regular presence,” Illinois veteran wing Matthew Mayer mentioned. “He’s like a coach on the ground and is all the time speaking. He rebounds each time. He can knock down photographs. And he’s actually unselfish and all in regards to the crew. It’s nice to have him on the ground.”
The Information-Gazette’s decide
Illinois 79, Minnesota 66
12 months two of the Ben Johnson period at Minnesota has been a regression. The Gophers must win out in its 5 remaining common season video games after which decide up one other within the Large Ten event to even match final yr’s nonetheless underwhelming 13-17 file. Preseason accidents to Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen (once more) have not helped. Neither have in-season accidents for the crew’s two stars Jamison Battle and Dawson Garcia. The probability of accumulating sufficient wins simply to interrupt even with 2021-22 is slim. Minnesota is the projected underdog in all of its remaining video games, together with Monday at Illinois. For a motive. (N-G prediction file — 15-11)