Game day central | Illinois 37, Texas 34; Halftime

Comply with alongside all evening from Madison Sq. Backyard with beat author Scott Richey:

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A couple of gameday notes to get you on top of things on Illinois and Texas:

– Illinois is enjoying its fourth ranked group in 9 video games tonight (and third within the prime 10 of KenPom).

– The Illini have gained 12 of their final 20 sport towards ranked opponents however are 1-2 this season.

– Illinois has 10 wins towards groups ranked within the prime 10 since 2019-20, which is the second most within the NCAA in that span behind Baylor’s 12.

– Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. performed two seasons for Texas coach Chris Beard at Texas Tech. Going through his former coach is not that massive of a deal, although, given they squared off twice final yr within the Huge 12.

– Texas is off to its first 6-0 begin because the 2014-15 season (when the Longhorns gained seven straight to begin the yr). 

– Texas additionally hasn’t performed a sport exterior of the state of Texas but this season with 4 video games in Austin and two in Edinburg within the Leon Black Basic at UT Rio Grande Valley.

– The Longhorns care for the ball. A minimum of they did in final week’s win towards Creighton (their final sport). Texas had simply three turnovers in its 72-67 victory.

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It is not fairly the Las Vegas crowd (and there is nonetheless half-hour till tipoff), however there are extra Illinois followers in attendance thus far mat Madison Sq. Backyard than Texas followers.

A minimum of the shades of orange are totally different this time. It was a little bit tough to differentiate who was who within the Illinois-Virginia sport.

Noticed just a few notable Illinois followers within the crowd thus far. First one I observed was Illinois golf coach Mike Small. Then there was UI grad and “Scorching Ones” host Sean Evans. I additionally obtained phrase that former Illinois guard Brandon Paul is predicted to be on the sport after a final minute name. Paul had been enjoying professionally in China.

After all, Texas is holding 4 courtside seats for Kevin Durant because the Brooklyn Nets are off tonight. No official phrase on if he’ll present up or not.

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I’ve obtained to be trustworthy. After I walked from the concourse into the world at Madison Sq. Backyard, I got here up a little bit brief. 

The constructing itself? Pure basketball enviornment. Then you concentrate on all the things that is occurred right here. (And I am not speaking in regards to the Tevian Jones sport towards Maryland). 

After all, my first thought was get to the nook the place Reggie Miller broke the New York Knicks’ coronary heart. So I did. That is most likely not the historical past most individuals consider once they consider the Backyard, however it was such a second when Miller made the choking gesture to Knicks tremendous fan Spike Lee. 

Will tonight’s sport be that? I will be trustworthy. It will not. However that does not imply it might’t be a terrific evening of faculty basketball. (And now that I’ve stated that, I am relying on the Illini and Longhorns to come back via). 

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Hi there from the Huge Apple! We’re about 90 minutes away from arguably the most important sport of the Illinois basketball season. A minimum of for the primary month.

Enjoying UCLA and Virginia (and beating the Bruins) was vital for the Illini. A win tonight at Madison Sq. Backyard towards No. 2 Texas? Now that might go down as a press release sort of victory.

This sport will not make or break Illinois’ season, in fact. There are nonetheless a handful extra nonconference video games and 19 Huge Ten video games to play. However beating the Longhorns? That will be big.

Largely as a result of it is the sort of win the Illini have not precisely had loads of in program historical past. In the event you learn the preview of as we speak’s sport, you may keep in mind that Illinois is 4-40 all-time towards groups ranked No. 1 or No. 2 within the AP High 25. 

Texas jumped into that spot after early wins towards Gonzaga and Creighton. However each had been at dwelling. The Longhorns ought to have gained on the shiny, model new Moody Heart in Austin, Texas. 

It is a impartial courtroom evening. An atmosphere Illinois has already tackled with its two video games in Las Vegas and confirmed it might play on the highest stage of the game. Possibly it is a bonus for the Illini? Will discover out quickly in what ought to be a heck of a matchup at MSG.

Scott Richey is a reporter masking faculty basketball at The Information-Gazette. His electronic mail is srichey@news-gazette.com, and you’ll observe him on Twitter (@srrichey).