Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday, January 14
Bloomington, Ind.
7 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Illinois
IU Seeks to Regroup Against Top 20 Illinois
1/14/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana gets a quick chance to restore momentum and regain its Big Ten edge with No. 19/20 Illinois (12-4 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten) coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Tuesday night.
The Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2) had been playing as well as any conference team during a five-game winning streak that ended with Saturday night's 85-60 loss at Iowa. They have won eight of their last 10 games. Only Big Ten co-leader Michigan State, which has won nine straight, has had more recent success.
One highlight on Saturday night was the bench producing 29 points, with Kanaan Carlyle (9 points), Bryson Tucker (9), and Langton Hatton (8) setting the tone.
Still, more is needed if IU is to keep pace with No. 12/12 Michigan State (5-0 in conference play), No. 20/19 Michigan (5-0), and No. 17/15 Purdue (5-1) atop the Big Ten standings.
The Hoosiers are tied with Illinois and No. 13/14 Oregon for fourth in the conference race.
"We've got to regroup," coach Mike Woodson says. "The Big Ten is not going anywhere."
As it was at Iowa, scoring droughts have been a season-long problem. Guard Myles Rice says it starts with turnovers.
"It puts it in your head that we've got to get those plays back. It's hard to do that and be in your flow. We have to be better from the start and play all the way through for all 40 minutes."
Iowa scored 17 points off IU's 12 first-half turnovers. The Hawkeyes scored seven points from the Hoosiers' four second-half turnovers.
"We played uncharacteristic," Rice says. "We had a five-game stretch where we played really good basketball. (Against Iowa) we got a little bit outside of ourselves. We started slow and it was kind of an avalanche."
Illinois has played the last two games without leading scorer Kasparas Jakucionis. The injured 6-6 freshman guard, considering a potential lottery pick in this summer's NBA Draft, averages 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He shoots 49.6% from the field, 41.4% on 3-pointers and 87.5% from the line.
His status for Tuesday night is uncertain.
Four other Illini average double figures in scoring: 7-1 center Tomislav Ivisic (12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds), guards Tre White (11.3, 5.5) and Kylan Boswell (11.2, 4.9), and forward Will Riley (10.9, 3.7).
Illinois averages 86.9 points a game while allowing 67.2 points. It thrives with its 3-point shooting, although not against USC, when it went just 7-for-31 beyond the arc. It has made 167 3-pointers (second in the Big Ten to Iowa's 173) on a conference-leading 504 attempts. Six Illini have made at least 15 3-pointers.
IU has made 106 3-pointers on 332 attempts.
With Jakucionis, Illinois won at Oregon 109-77 and won at Washington 81-77. Without him, the Illini lost at home to USC 82-72 on Saturday.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana gets a quick chance to restore momentum and regain its Big Ten edge with No. 19/20 Illinois (12-4 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten) coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Tuesday night.
The Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2) had been playing as well as any conference team during a five-game winning streak that ended with Saturday night's 85-60 loss at Iowa. They have won eight of their last 10 games. Only Big Ten co-leader Michigan State, which has won nine straight, has had more recent success.
One highlight on Saturday night was the bench producing 29 points, with Kanaan Carlyle (9 points), Bryson Tucker (9), and Langton Hatton (8) setting the tone.
Still, more is needed if IU is to keep pace with No. 12/12 Michigan State (5-0 in conference play), No. 20/19 Michigan (5-0), and No. 17/15 Purdue (5-1) atop the Big Ten standings.
The Hoosiers are tied with Illinois and No. 13/14 Oregon for fourth in the conference race.
"We've got to regroup," coach Mike Woodson says. "The Big Ten is not going anywhere."
As it was at Iowa, scoring droughts have been a season-long problem. Guard Myles Rice says it starts with turnovers.
"It puts it in your head that we've got to get those plays back. It's hard to do that and be in your flow. We have to be better from the start and play all the way through for all 40 minutes."
Iowa scored 17 points off IU's 12 first-half turnovers. The Hawkeyes scored seven points from the Hoosiers' four second-half turnovers.
"We played uncharacteristic," Rice says. "We had a five-game stretch where we played really good basketball. (Against Iowa) we got a little bit outside of ourselves. We started slow and it was kind of an avalanche."
Illinois has played the last two games without leading scorer Kasparas Jakucionis. The injured 6-6 freshman guard, considering a potential lottery pick in this summer's NBA Draft, averages 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He shoots 49.6% from the field, 41.4% on 3-pointers and 87.5% from the line.
His status for Tuesday night is uncertain.
Four other Illini average double figures in scoring: 7-1 center Tomislav Ivisic (12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds), guards Tre White (11.3, 5.5) and Kylan Boswell (11.2, 4.9), and forward Will Riley (10.9, 3.7).
Illinois averages 86.9 points a game while allowing 67.2 points. It thrives with its 3-point shooting, although not against USC, when it went just 7-for-31 beyond the arc. It has made 167 3-pointers (second in the Big Ten to Iowa's 173) on a conference-leading 504 attempts. Six Illini have made at least 15 3-pointers.
IU has made 106 3-pointers on 332 attempts.
With Jakucionis, Illinois won at Oregon 109-77 and won at Washington 81-77. Without him, the Illini lost at home to USC 82-72 on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballIUVB vs. Michigan: Highlights
Saturday, October 11
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 7 (at Oregon)
Thursday, October 09
IUWBB at 2025 Big Ten Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07