Is Big Ten-leading Illinois for real?
No. 25 Illinois Ready for Big Ten Showdown Against No. 7 Purdue
This could be fun. Not only do both Purdue and Illinois have talented 7-footers that the respective teams are built around but the Boilermakers and Fighting Illini also lead the Big Ten in made 3-pointers.
It is no wonder that the teams who play on Monday rank first and second in the conference in scoring margin.
This will be just the third true road game for Purdue. The Boilermakers will be facing an Illinois team that has won its last six games by an average of nearly 30 points and that is something to consider for those who bet online.
Illinois has won the last three meetings with Purdue and covered all three times. The Fighting Illini have won four of the last five games when hosting Purdue.
Three teams had better odds to win the Big Ten title coming into the season than Illinois. The Fighting Illini is coming off an impressive win over Michigan, one of those teams ahead of them and now gets to take on another of the conference favorites when No. 7 Purdue comes to town to face No. 25 Illinois.
Game: Purdue (14-2) at Illinois (13-3)
Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Day/Time: Monday, January 17, 12 p.m. ET
Television: FOX
Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini
Edey, Purdue Beginning To Get Offense Going
Purdue started as one of the country’s most efficient offensive teams as the Boilermakers connected on at least 50% of its shots in each of the first seven games. Those numbers dropped off a bit especially against Power-5 Conference opponents. However, since being limited to 41.1% shooting in a loss to Wisconsin, Purdue seems to be rediscovering its offensive mojo.
Purdue is coming off a 92-point effort against Nebraska.
Zach Edey led the way with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. It was just the second time in the last 11 games that the 7-foot-4 Edey has attempted more than 10 shots. Edey has made at least 50% of his field-goal attempts in every game this season. He is shooting 73.2% over the last six games.
Now comes an intriguing matchup against Illinois and 7-foot National Player of the Year candidate Kofi Cockburn.
Cockburn headed into Sunday’s games fifth among Division I players in scoring with an average of 21.9 points per game. He is also third in rebounding (12.3) and also third in offensive rebounds (3.9).
Edey had just seven points in 12 minutes of action in Purdue’s lone matchup with Illinois last season.
It won’t be solely on Edey’s shoulders as he is one of 10 Purdue players to average at least 14.6 minutes per game. Leading scorer Jaden Ivey is also the team leader with an average of 28.4 minutes per game as Purdue relies on a 10-player rotation to wear down its opponents.
Purdue has covered against the college basketball spread in just two of its last seven games although they have won five of those contests.
Frazier Coming on Strong for Illinois
It is easy to focus on Cockburn and Alfonso Plummer when looking at an Illinois team that sitting alone in first place atop the Big Tn standings with a 6-0 conference mark. However, the Fighting Illini are getting contributions up and down the lineup.
Nobody is on more of an offensive role among the Illinois role players more than Trent Frazier.
Frazier averaged 11.1 points in his first 11 games but is averaging 21 points over the last three contents. He had a season-high 29 points in a win over Nebraska and his big second half keyed the Fighting Illini’s win over Michigan.
Frazier had 16 of his 18 points in the second half as Illinois pulled away for a 68-53 win over a Michigan team playing without leading scorer Hunter Dickinson.
Kofi Cockburn and Trent Frazier keep No. 25 Illinois perfect in Big Ten play, helping to beat Michigan 68-53.https://t.co/Eqpf6dhGgi
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 15, 2022
“I think it comes from being a fifth-year (senior), having that experience. I try to be aggressive and make the right read all the time,” Frazier told the media after the Michigan win. “Down the stretch, I think it is just based on experience.”
Frazier teams with Plummer and Jacob Grandison to give the Fighting Illini three players with more than 30 three-pointers. Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten with 153 made 3-pointers and 400 attempted three-pointers.
Illinois has covered against the Las Vegas odds in five of the last six games.
Illinois Seeks To Take Down Another Big Ten Preseason Favorite
Illinois is coming off an emphatic win against Michigan and gets another big test when Purdue, which spent one week at No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and has been in the top five for seven weeks, comes to State Farm Center.
Purdue leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage so this will be a key test for one of the best defensive teams in the conference.
It could get physical inside considering that the teams rank first and second in the Big Ten in all three major rebounding categories including rebound margin
The last four Purdue have gone over the total while three of the last four Illinois games have gone under the total.
By the time March rolls around Purdue will probably be held in higher regard as a national title contender but there have been stretches of inconsistent play in the last few weeks. Illinois is on a roll right now and this would be a perfect time for the Fighting Illini to prove that they are indeed worthy of the top spot in the conference standings.
