Observe together with beat author Scott Richey all evening from State Farm Heart:
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So it is both going to be Coleman Hawkins, level ahead, or Terrence Shannon Jr. operating the Illinois offense to start out tonight’s sport. With Jayden Epps unavailable, the Illini will flip to RJ Melendez because the fifth starter to go along with Hawkins, Shannon, Matthew Mayer and Dain Dainja.
Jett Howard is again for the Wolverines and can begin alongside Dug McDaniel, Kobe Bufkin, Will Tschetter and each Illinois fan’s favourite Hunter Dickinson.
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Michigan freshman Jett Howard is at the very least dressed for tonight’s sport. The potential lottery choose come June’s NBA draft has missed the lat two video games with an ankle damage.
His potential return could possibly be a distinction maker for the Wolverines. He is acquired respectable measurement at 6-foot-8 and is likely one of the higher athletes on the Michigan roster.
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Jayden Epps will not be at State Farm Heart for tonight’s sport. The freshman guard did present as much as watch the final 10-Quarter-hour of shootaround earlier at the moment.
Epps, after all, is in concussion protocol for what looks as if a extra severe situation than a number of the different concussions different Illini have suffered the previous couple seasons. Largely as a result of Epps’ concussion required an in a single day keep at Carle Basis Hospital on Tuesday after the incident in follow that day.
Terrence Shannon Jr. carrying a shirt with Jayden Epps title and quantity on it forward of tonight’s sport.
Epps is in concussion protocol after an incident at Tuesday’s follow that led to him being hospitalized in a single day. #Illini pic.twitter.com/OFZfLXwKzD
— Scott Richey (@srrichey) March 2, 2023
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There are storylines galore tonight at State Farm Heart with Illinois taking part in Michigan for the one and solely time this season. (That’s, after all, except they meet within the Huge Ten match. The seeding for that’s nonetheless up within the air).
Let’s go along with a listing …
– There’s Hunter Dickinson and his emotions concerning the Illinois fan base. Plus the reciprocal emotions the Orange Krush will give voice to the second he even will get near the courtroom.
– There’s additionally Hunter Dickinson and his emotions about Texas Tech coach Mark Adams. No, that is not a typo. Dickinson anticipated to be taking part in with Terrence Shannon Jr. this season and never in opposition to him.
– Then there’s the very fact Michigan coach Juwan Howard has by no means crushed Brad Underwood.
– Cannot neglect the controversial (at the very least in Champaign) Huge Ten title from the 2020-21 season. That banner does not hold from the State Farm Heart rafters.
– And in terms of rivals, Michigan is it for Illinois followers (together with Iowa). The Wolverines and their supporters won’t really feel the identical, however for an Illini group (OK, fan base) angling for anybody to be a real rival, Michigan is close to the highest of the checklist.
– There’s additionally the very fact Illinois and Michigan must win this sport. The Illini to bounce again after Sunday’s catastrophe at Ohio State, and the Wolverines to spice up their very bubbly NCAA match probabilities.
So it must be an attention-grabbing evening in Champaign. Keep tuned.