Indiana basketball vs. No. 15 Illinois expert prediction, start time, TV channel for 1/14/25

Posted by author January 13, 2025 Basketball

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Indiana basketball has a tough opponent when it tries to bounce back from a beating as Illinois visits on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

The Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2 Big Ten) were blown out by Iowa over the weekend. Mackenzie Mgbako had a second straight rough outing (6 points total, 2-of-14 shooting in those games), Trey Galloway struggled (0 points, 4 turnovers vs. Iowa) and Luke Goode cooled (1-of-4 3-pointers). Bryson Tucker and Kanaan Carlyle got plenty of time off the bench (9 points each). Malik Reneau (14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds) has missed almost all of the last four games.

The Illini (12-4, 4-2) fell apart in the second half of a home loss to USC that left coach Brad Underwood fuming. Illinois, one of the nation’s best rebounding teams, wound up in a deficit against a Trojans squad that struggles in that area. USC’s Desmond Claude, who had 15 points in a loss to Indiana a few days earlier, scored 31. Illini freshman star Kasparas Jakucionis (16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 rebounds) has missed two straight games.

Tipton native Ben Humrichous, who led Illinois in scoring each of the past two games, has taken a winding road to the Big Ten — two years at NAIA Huntington and one at Evansville before joining the Illini. McCutcheon grad Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn adds 7.2 points. Cathedral grad Jake Davis, a transfer from Mercer, comes off the bench.

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Indiana basketball prediction, pick

Zach Osterman, IndyStar: Illinois 77-69

Both teams arrive at this game smarting from unexpected weekend losses. Illinois’ home upset at the hands of Southern Cal was perhaps less expected, but the manner of Indiana’s ugly loss in Iowa City is equally humbling. Both teams might still be without key scorers as well, something that wasn’t a problem for either side until Saturday. Illinois remains deeply dangerous offensively. IU will hope a return to friendlier confines puts Iowa in the rear view. Quietly, both sides need this game, at least as much as anyone can in January.