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Sometimes you want to make a quick pitstop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot-winning image, here are quick thoughts and the lean on Wisconsin vs. Illinois.
No. 20 Wisconsin (8-2, 0-1) at Illinois (6-2, 0-1)
Date: Tuesday, December 10
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Peacock
The pick — Illinois -6.5 (-110, BetMGM)
The Illini are once again off to an 0-1 Big Ten start due to another road loss in Evanston. In last Friday’s conference opener, Illinois squandered a 10-point lead with 10 minutes left in regulation as Northwestern’s Brooks Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli rained buckets and pushed the battle into overtime, and the Wildcats ultimately fended off Brad Underwood’s club 70-66 for the upset victory.
Underwood, who oddly kept Ben Humrichous on the floor for 39 minutes despite a woeful 1-for-9 shooting night and his nonexistent defense, deserves some of the blame for the late-game crumbling. If the Evansville transfer again shivers visibly on the court, look for highly touted freshman enforcer Morez Johnson to earn more action. His activity around the basket as a scorer, rebounder and defender typically energizes the Illini.
Early in the season, coaches are collecting data points about their teams. Adjustments will come for Illinois, possibly starting Tuesday night against Wisconsin.
The visiting Badgers — who were picked to finish outside the top 10 in a loaded Big Ten — have significantly surprised. Greg Gard’s group embarrassed then-No. 9 Arizona in Madison on November 15 by scoring an apocalyptic 103 points (It’s a sign!) and then won the Greenbriar Invitational during Feast Week by beating UCF and Pittsburgh.
Playing more uptempo compared to its usual sluggish ways, Wisconsin has excelled at scoring along the perimeter (34.7 3PT%), defending the arc (29.4 3PT%) and converting at the free-throw line (85.5%, No.1 in the country). Colorado State/Missouri transfer John Tonje, staunch defender/finisher John Blackwell and marksman Max Klesmit have steadily balled out. Though coming off tough losses to Michigan and Marquette, Wisco shouldn’t be underestimated.
As for Illinois, this is arguably the most talented team assembled in Champaign since the 2005 national title runner-up that featured Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head. Kasparas Jakucionis is a legit NBA lottery pick. The point man’s penetration creation and step-back, 3-point splashes have proven deadly. Not to be overlooked, 7-foot-1 freshman Tomislav Ivisic and 18 year-old Canadian import Will Riley have ripped through the opposition with regularity on both ends.
Speaking as objectively as possible, the Illini should hold home court at the State Farm Center. This season, the Orange and Blue are No. 1 nationally in effective field-goal percentage defense, surrendering only 42.0% from 2-point range and 25.1% from 3-point range. Arizona transfer Kylan Boswell, one of the best on-ball defenders in the college game, is a big reason why.
Thanks to its defensive efforts, often successful 3-point bombardments and glass command, Illinois should bounce back from its OT loss at Northwestern. The young Illini may eat Gerber-strained peas, but their baseline talents, guarding chops and arc blitzes are likely to best the more experienced — yet overachieving — Badgers.
Flush Bucky with authority, I-L-L.
Season record: 9-5, +4.09 units