Indiana University Athletics
Indiana-Illinois Carries Championship Implications
2/25/2016 11:22:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - When Indiana takes the floor tonight against Illinois, Big Ten title implications will be squarely on the line.
Iowa's loss to Wisconsin last night extended the Hoosiers' conference lead to a full game over the Hawkeyes and Maryland, the two remaining teams on Indiana's schedule after the Illini.
Two more Indiana wins—regardless of whom they come against or what the rest of the Big Ten does—would assure the Hoosiers at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Three Indiana wins would assure the championship outright, as would a 2-1 record with both Maryland and Iowa dropping at least one game.
But first comes Illinois, a team the Hoosiers beat 103-69 in Bloomington a little more than a month ago.
"Illinois has always been a tough place to play and I would expect tomorrow night will be more of the same," senior guard Kevin 'Yogi" Ferrell said. "As you get closer to the post season, every game has a lot more meaning. It's going to be a 40 minute fight to the finish."
Since losing to the Hoosiers (22-6, 12-3), the Fighting Illini (12-15, 4-10) have dropped five of their last eight games. Two of Illinois' three wins came against Rutgers while the other came against Minnesota. Their last time out, the Illini lost 69-60 to Wisconsin on the road.
Tom Crean said on his radio show Monday evening that Indiana has done a good job of not overlooking any opponents this season, which could prove vital against struggling Illinois. The last time IU played at the State Farm Center with a ranking in front of its name in 2013, the No. 1 Hoosiers were upset 74-72.
"Illinois is both dangerous and explosive on many levels," Crean said.
The Hoosiers continue to monitor the status of sophomore guard Robert Johnson, who Crean said suffered "a definite ankle sprain" near the end of Indiana's win against Purdue. Johnson, a usual starter, averages 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Asked not long after the end of the Hoosiers win over the Boilermakers about Johnson, Ferrell said someone else will need to step up should Johnson be limited in any way. The Hoosiers have gone through that type of process on a bigger scale already, losing sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr. at the beginning of the Big Ten season.
As the games wind down, there isn't much room for any sort of excuse, and Indiana knows that.
With a championship on the line, wins and losses are all that matter.
"You really have to come with the right mindset," fifth-year senior forward Max Bielfeldt said. "Every possession matters. That has to be evident the second we step on the floor."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - When Indiana takes the floor tonight against Illinois, Big Ten title implications will be squarely on the line.
Iowa's loss to Wisconsin last night extended the Hoosiers' conference lead to a full game over the Hawkeyes and Maryland, the two remaining teams on Indiana's schedule after the Illini.
Two more Indiana wins—regardless of whom they come against or what the rest of the Big Ten does—would assure the Hoosiers at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Three Indiana wins would assure the championship outright, as would a 2-1 record with both Maryland and Iowa dropping at least one game.
But first comes Illinois, a team the Hoosiers beat 103-69 in Bloomington a little more than a month ago.
"Illinois has always been a tough place to play and I would expect tomorrow night will be more of the same," senior guard Kevin 'Yogi" Ferrell said. "As you get closer to the post season, every game has a lot more meaning. It's going to be a 40 minute fight to the finish."
Since losing to the Hoosiers (22-6, 12-3), the Fighting Illini (12-15, 4-10) have dropped five of their last eight games. Two of Illinois' three wins came against Rutgers while the other came against Minnesota. Their last time out, the Illini lost 69-60 to Wisconsin on the road.
Tom Crean said on his radio show Monday evening that Indiana has done a good job of not overlooking any opponents this season, which could prove vital against struggling Illinois. The last time IU played at the State Farm Center with a ranking in front of its name in 2013, the No. 1 Hoosiers were upset 74-72.
"Illinois is both dangerous and explosive on many levels," Crean said.
The Hoosiers continue to monitor the status of sophomore guard Robert Johnson, who Crean said suffered "a definite ankle sprain" near the end of Indiana's win against Purdue. Johnson, a usual starter, averages 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Asked not long after the end of the Hoosiers win over the Boilermakers about Johnson, Ferrell said someone else will need to step up should Johnson be limited in any way. The Hoosiers have gone through that type of process on a bigger scale already, losing sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr. at the beginning of the Big Ten season.
As the games wind down, there isn't much room for any sort of excuse, and Indiana knows that.
With a championship on the line, wins and losses are all that matter.
"You really have to come with the right mindset," fifth-year senior forward Max Bielfeldt said. "Every possession matters. That has to be evident the second we step on the floor."
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