But one rivalry that seems to be undervalued in the conference, especially in recent years, is the IU–Illinois rivalry.
Border battles always seem to ignite more passion in fans and players. These programs are fighting for the same recruits. Illinois and Indiana have both produced quality college basketball players and it’s hard to establish dominance in a region, let alone retain your home state.
Plus, it seems like a lot of families get divided between IU and Illinois. Both are quality academic schools of similar size. And because most students stay within their region when choosing their college, many emigrate just across the state border.
And in terms of basketball, the rivalry is just as intense. When the IU men’s basketball teams goes into the State Farm Center, formerly known as the “Other Assembly Hall” to IU students, the arena will be buzzing.
The last four games when the Hoosiers took on the Fighting Illini were a hectic few. Two seasons ago, Illinois took down a No. 1-ranked IU squad with a last-second inbounds pass and layup, thanks to blown defensive positioning under the basket.
Last year, the schools met three times. On New Year’s Eve, to open up Big Ten play, IU again lost to Illinois in overtime. That game was made even more notorious by then-redshirt junior guard Rayvonte Rice talking trash right in IU Coach Tom Crean’s face.
Then, just less than a month later, IU took revenge with a sloppy 56-46 win at home. But in the most recent tilt, IU again lost.
It was in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament when the Fighting Illini crushed any IU hopes of making a postseason tournament by winning to the tune of a 64-54 victory.
No doubt both teams will remember that when stepping on the court Sunday. However, this IU team looks very different than it did just a week ago — and I don’t mean that in a good way.
Sure, IU was placed as a No. 9-seed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology on Thursday. And CBSSports.com listed the Hoosiers as a No. 11-seed earlier this week.
But IU junior Hanner Mosquera-Perea’s injury might prevent IU from keeping those seeds.
Without any major presence inside, IU struggled to beat a bad Penn State team Tuesday. They’ll have to find some way to keep Illinois senior center Nnanna Egwu in check.
Egwu isn’t a dynamic player. He averages just 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in more than 27 minutes per game. But he is a senior big man that is no doubt more skilled than anything IU has to throw at him.
The good news for the Hoosiers is that Illinois is built similarly to IU. They have a lot of skilled guards, but aren’t deep down low. Behind Egwu is freshman forward Leron Black and sophomore center Maverick Morgan, who combined for two points and three rebounds in the Fighting Illini’s last game.
That means, if IU can get Egwu in foul trouble, the Hoosiers will have neutralized the biggest advantage Illinois has over them.
How do they do that? Expect a healthy dose of sophomore guard Stanford Robinson driving right at Egwu.
Robinson had his best game of the season last time out and has a knack for getting to the front of the rim. Freshman guard James Blackmon Jr. should also look to drive early.
He’s struggled shooting in Big Ten play, but if he starts off by taking higher percentage shots, that could help him get going.
While Illinois’ guards are skilled themselves, I don’t think they match up with junior guard Yogi Ferrell, the best guard in the conference, and Blackmon Jr.
If IU can get Egwu out of the game, I like their chances in another classic rivalry game.
My prediction: IU 76, Illinois 71
Casey Krajewski is 7-0 in predictions this year
