Illinois vs. UConn: Black Friday Showdown at Madison Square Garden

by Daniel Perez - News Editor
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San Diego State Aztecs Basketball: Probable Starters

Table of Contents

Here’s a look at the probable starters for the San diego State Aztecs basketball team, based on the previous game’s lineup:

PROBABLE STARTERS

Pos. No. name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG APG Note
G 4 kylan Boswell 6-2 215 Sr. 16.1 4.1
G 1 J.R. Johnson 6-3 190 So. 12.2 3.3 2.4
G 2 Lamont Butler 6-3 185 Sr. 11.4 2.8 3.4
F 21 Miles Heide 6-8 220 jr. 7.1 4.4 0.8
C 5 Nathan mensah 6-10 235 Sr. 7.4 6.6 0.6

Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball: roster Breakdown

Here’s a look at the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball roster, detailing key player information as of the available data:

starters

Pos. No. name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG APG Note
G 5 Terrence Shannon Jr. 6-6 215 Sr. 21.7 4.3 2.5 Preseason All-American
G 2 Marcus Domask 6-3 190 Sr. 15.9 4.8 3.5
F 44 Coleman Hawkins 6-10 230 Sr. 12.9 6.8 2.8
F 21 Quincy Guerrier 6-8 225 Sr. 10.4 5.1 1.6
C 13 Tomislav Ivisic 7-1 255 Jr. 10.8 4.0 1.0 63% FG & 40% 3FG

Off the Bench

Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG APG Note
G 1 brandon Lee

Note: PPG = Points Per Game, RPG = Rebounds Per Game, APG = Assists Per Game.

This roster represents the Illinois Fighting Illini’s team composition, providing a snapshot of their key players and their respective contributions.

Men’s Basketball Roster & stats

Here’s a look at the current roster and key stats for the men’s basketball team:

Key:

* Pos: Position
* No: Jersey Number
* name: player Name
* Ht: Height
* Wt: Weight
* Cl: Class (e.g., Fr. – Freshman,Jr. – Junior, r-Jr. – Redshirt Junior)
* FG%: Field Goal Percentage
* 3P%: 3-Point Percentage
* RPG: Rebounds Per Game
* Notes: Recent performance or status

Roster:

Pos No name Ht Wt Cl FG% 3P% RPG Notes
Fr 0 Fr 0.7 2.0 1.0 Has played in three games
F 15 Jake Davis 6-6 215 Jr 3.9 2.0 1.6 Made three 3-pointers in season opener
G/F 20 Ty Rodgers 6-6 210 r-Jr Out indefinitely following knee surgery
C 31 Jason Jakstys 6-10 225

OPENING TIPS

* No. 13 Illinois (6-1) closes a stretch of four games in 10 days across three different cities,facing No. 5 UConn at Madison Square Garden on Black Friday (11:30 a.m. CT / FOX).
* In taking on No. 5 UConn, Illinois is in search of its highest ranked win since a 72-69 win over No. 4 Iowa State in the Sweet 16 round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament (March 28, 2024).
* Brad Underwood has led the Illini to five wins over top-5 opponents since 2019-20, sixth-most in the NCAA.
* The No. 5 Huskies marks the third of four ranked nonconference matchups on the Illini’s schedule. Illinois defeated No. 11 Texas Tech, 81-77, at home on Nov. 11 and lost to No. 11 Alabama, 90-86, on Nov. 19 at the United Center in Chicago.After the UConn game, Illinois next plays Dec. 6 vs. No. 17 Tennessee in Nashville.
* Friday’s contest is just Illinois’ second game away from home this season. The Illini are 6-0 at State Farm Center, having won each home game with an average scoring margin of +30.0.
* illinois enter’s Friday’s matchup looking to snap a four-game skid against ranked opponents at neutral sites. The Illini’s last ranked win on a neutral floor came last year on thanksgiving Day with a 90-77 victory over No. 19 Arkansas in Kansas City.
* Illinois is ranked No. 13 in the current AP Top 25 and No. 14 in the coaches poll.The Illini climbed to No. 8 last week, its highest November ranking since reaching No. 5 on Nov. 30, 2020. The Illini have been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons under Brad Underwood.
* After leading the Big Ten in scoring last season (83.6 ppg), Illinois is currently averaging 94.6 points. If able to maintain this early pace, it would surpass the program’s all-time scoring average of 92.2 ppg set in 1964-65.
* Illinois’ total of 662 points are its most through seven games since the 1993-94 season (683). The Illini have opened with seven straight games of 80+ points for the first time since the 1988-89 Flyin’ Illini did so in each of its first 12 contests.
* Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebound margin (+16.7 rpg) and is second in total rebounds per game (45.4 rpg), ranking third and 15th, respectively, in the NCAA. The Illini lead the conference in scoring offense (94.6 ppg) and are second in scoring margin (24.9 ppg). Illinois also commits the fewest fouls in the league (13.0 avg).
* Illinois is No. 13 in the kenpom rankings with a net rating of +26.26. The Illini feature the No. 8-rated offense (124.0) and the No. 19 defensive rating (97.7) in the country. The Illini have had an overall kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood.

Record at Neutral Sites: UConn leads, 1-0
Underwood vs. UConn at Illinois / All-Time: 0-1 / 1-1

Illinois vs. UConn Basketball: A Historical Rivalry

Early Encounters (1938-1994)

The basketball rivalry between the University of Illinois and the University of Connecticut dates back to 1938, with the first game resulting in a decisive victory for Illinois. While infrequent, these early matchups laid the foundation for a series that would see renewed interest decades later.

The Initial Matchup (1938)

On december 21, 1938, Illinois defeated UConn 49-23 in champaign, Illinois. This marked the beginning of the series, showcasing Illinois’s early dominance.

Later Games in the Series (1992-1994)

Following a lengthy hiatus, the two programs met again in the early 1990s.UConn secured victories in both matchups:

  • 1992: UConn defeated illinois 70-66 in Champaign.
  • 1994: UConn won 71-56 in Hartford.

The Modern Era (2024 and Beyond)

The rivalry experienced a meaningful resurgence in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, with both programs achieving national prominence. This recent encounter has sparked renewed interest in the historical context of their competition.

The 2024 elite Eight Showdown

In 2024, under the leadership of Brad Underwood, the third-seeded Illinois team faced the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight at TD Garden in Boston. UConn emerged victorious, continuing their winning streak in the series and ultimately securing their second consecutive national championship. This game marked a pivotal moment, bringing the rivalry into the national spotlight.

Series Summary

the Illinois-UConn basketball series, though not played annually, has provided memorable moments across its history. From Illinois’s initial dominance to UConn’s recent successes, the rivalry reflects the evolving landscape of college basketball.

Key Takeaways

  • The series began in 1938 with an illinois victory.
  • UConn holds a winning record in the series, particularly in recent matchups.
  • The 2024 Elite Eight game significantly elevated the profile of the rivalry.
  • The series currently stands at 5 total games played.

looking Ahead

With the increased national attention garnered from the 2024 tournament, future matchups between Illinois and UConn are highly anticipated. Fans can expect a competitive and compelling series as both programs continue to strive for excellence on the basketball court.Scheduling future games will be key to maintaining and growing this developing rivalry.

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