How To Watch Illinois-Northwestern, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Line

The Illinois Fighting Illini play host to Northwestern Tuesday at State Farm Center

It’s Gameday Illini Nation! As the Fighting Illini are set to host their in-state rivals Northwestern Wildcats, here is everything you need to know leading up to tip-off.

Gametime: 8 P.M. CT

Where: State Farm Center – Champaign, IL

TV: Big Ten Network

Betting Lines: Illinois -5.5, O/U 140.5

Injury Report: G Terrance Shannon Jr. (OUT – SUSP) PG Niccolò Moretti (OUT – Foot)

Projected Starting Lineups

- Illinois

o G – Ty Rodgers

o G – Luke Goode

o G/F – Marcus Domask

o F – Quincy Guerrier

o F – Coleman Hawkins

- Northwestern

o G – Boo Buie

o G – Ty Berry

o G – Ryan Langborn

o G – Brooks Barnhizer

o C – Matthew Nicholson

Quotables:

- In Coach Underwood’s opening statement during his media availability yesterday, Coach Underwood had this to say regarding Northwestern guard Boo Buie, “in most cases, [Buie is] probably the best guard in our league.”

- When asked about stopping Buie’s production Underwood emphasized the importance of the Illini’s defense saying, “it is about keeping him off balance… [last year] it seemed like every time he touched [the basketball] he scored, you can’t leave him alone, he maybe has the best float game in college basketball… you got to make it hard.”

- When asked about how the team has responded since the news of Terrance Shannon Jr’s suspension, Underwood said, “We’re a connected basketball team and it is a group I am excited to coach every single day… they have the next game up mentality.”

Notables:

- Northwestern enters this game 10-2 on the season with a notable home win over No. 1 Purdue. However, the Wildcats have shown to be inconsistent as of late with a home loss to Chicago St. and narrow home wins over DePaul and Jackson St.

- The theme for this Wildcat season has been simple, Buie and a lack of depth. A fifth-year senior, he is having a phenomenal season by averaging a team-high 17.9 points and 4.8 assists. Last year Buie was voted First-Team All Big-Ten by the media.

- After Buie there has not been a lot of offensive production for the ‘Cats. Despite guards Berry, Langborn and Barnhizer averaging double figures in points, bench productivity has been virtually non-existent with a combined average of 2.18 points.

- For the Illini, this will be the second game since the suspension of Terrence Shannon Jr. After a dominant showing over FDU, the Illini will be without Shannon for their Big Ten home opener as they look ahead to start play atop the standings at 2-0. 

Illinois Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. Charged With Rape, Suspended From Team