Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has drawn a striking comparison, stating that the No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini resemble iconic NBA teams like the Celtics or Lakers. This remark highlights the impressive momentum Illinois has gained, winning six of their last seven games, which has certainly captured the attention of their upcoming opponent, the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans.
“Right now, from what I saw the last two times I watched Illinois, we got the Celtics or the Lakers coming in here, so we got a lot of work to do in 3-4 days,” Izzo remarked on Wednesday. “I’m going to try to work and not read.”
While likening Illinois to such storied franchises may seem a bit far-fetched, the Fighting Illini have certainly made a name for themselves this season. Their recent performances have sparked conversations about their potential in the college basketball landscape.
In the previous month, Illinois, which advanced to the Elite Eight last year, took down the now-No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers and delivered a commanding 109-77 victory against the now-No. 13 Oregon Ducks on the road. Their latest triumph came against the Indiana Hoosiers, where they secured a decisive 94-69 win in Bloomington. With an average of 87.3 points per game, Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten, thanks to five players scoring in double figures: Kasparas Jakucionis, Tomislav Ivisic, Kylan Boswell, Tre White, and Will Riley.
On the defensive end, the Fighting Illini lead the Big Ten in total rebounds (42.4 per game) and have impressive statistics against their opponents, including a field goal percentage of 38.5% and a three-point shooting percentage of 27.8%. They also rank fifth in limiting their opponents to an average of 67.3 points per game.
Currently, Illinois holds a 13-4 record, standing fourth in the Big Ten with a 5-2 conference mark. In contrast, Michigan State leads the conference with a 15-2 record and a perfect 6-0 in conference play. The Spartans are riding a 10-game winning streak, although none of these victories have come against ranked teams.
During their streak, Michigan State claimed a notable win over the North Carolina Tar Heels in Maui and decisively defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who participated in last season’s NCAA Tournament, with a score of 89-52. The Spartans, guided by senior Jaden Akins, rank third in the conference in opponent three-point shooting percentage (29.4%) and fourth in opponent points (67.1 per game) and field goal percentage (39.9%).
Following their matchup on Sunday in East Lansing, Michigan State and Illinois are set to meet again on February 15 in Champaign, Illinois (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Last season, both teams split their series, each winning on their home court, setting the stage for an exciting rematch.
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