purdue vs illinois – Breaking News Updates

Purdue Boilermakers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Odds and Picks for Friday, 03/07/25

We’ve got an intriguing Big Ten basketball tilt on our hands on Friday night, as the Purdue Boilermakers are heading to Champaign for a date with Illinois. Following a trio of demoralizing losses to Wisconsin, Michigan State and Indiana, Purdue appeared to be pretty vulnerable, but the Boilermakers responded to adversity by defeating UCLA and Rutgers in convincing fashion. However, both of those games came at Mackey Arena, where Purdue has been outstanding (14-2) this season. Matt Painter’s team hasn’t fared well on the road in Big Ten play, and they could be walking into a buzzsaw against an Illinois team that has quietly been playing much better of late.

The Illini have had a tumultuous season to this point, but Brad Underwood’s team has battled through key injuries, illness and a host of other issues as well. Illinois finally got healthy last week, and we saw things immediately turn around for Kasparas Jakucionis and company as the Illini rolled over Iowa and Michigan in consecutive games. It’s worth pointing out that this offense is still due for some positive regression as well, and this matchup is extremely favorable for an offense that has shown the capability to be a top 10-20 unit in the nation at its best. Conversely, the Purdue defense has struggled mightily in conference play and is shockingly ranked dead last in two-point percentage defense since January 1 (BartTorvik). With that in mind, we can expect the Illini to generate plenty of successful possessions and even get to the free-throw line if things break down in the halfcourt. All things considered, I’ll lay the short number with Illinois at home as the Illini bring their winning streak up to 3 games.

Purdue vs Illinois prediction: Illinois -3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 4.

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Published: 10:52 AM ET March 07, 2025

The final Wednesday of the college basketball regular season is upon us and the slate does not disappoint. There are multiple high-profile teams in play on Wednesday evening, headlined by 2 ranked ma…

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Purdue vs Illinois Pickswise Expert Predictions

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Illini Close Regular Season on Senior Night vs. #18 Purdue

Men’s Basketball March 6, 2025

Career Record: 271-126 (.683), 12th year
At Illinois: 162-99 (.621), 8th year
Big Ten: 91-66 (.580)

All-Time Record / Streak: Purdue leads 107-90 / Purdue W-5
Last Meeting: #3 Purdue 77, #12 Illinois 71 (3/5/2024 in Champaign)
Record at Champaign / Streak: Illinois leads 59-38 / Purdue W-2
Underwood vs. Purdue: 3-7

Illinois plays its final regular season game on Friday, hosting #18 Purdue at sold-out State Farm Center (7 p.m. CT, FOX).

The Illini will honor two players and six managers in a pregame Senior Night ceremony.

With a win, Illinois would join Houston, Gonzaga and San Diego State as the only programs in the nation to record 20-win regular seasons in each of the last six years.

Friday’s matchup features the Big Ten’s two winningest programs over the last six seasons. Since the 2019-20 season, Illinois has compiled 80 victories in B1G play, one behind Purdue for the league lead during that span.

With 11 league wins, Illinois has secured a winning record in Big Ten play for the sixth consecutive season.

The Illini are the only Big Ten team to finish .500 or better in the league standings each of the last six seasons.

Illinois’ run of six straight seasons with at least 11 Big Ten wins is the program’s longest streak since doing so for seven years in a row from 2000 through 2006.

Illinois has secured a Round 1 bye in the 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, with a possible seed range of 6, 7, or 8 entering the conference slate’s final weekend.

Illinois boasts the Big Ten’s highest scoring offense, averaging 83.6 points per game (11th in NCAA).

Illinois is 18-1 this season when scoring 80+ points, including 11-0 in Big Ten play

Illinois is one of the nation’s top rebounding teams, ranking second in the NCAA in total rebounds per game (42.9) and defensive rebounds per game (29.7), and eighth in rebound margin (+8.7 rpg).

Illinois has won 11 games by 20+ points this season. Six of those blowout wins have come against Big Ten opponents, including the team’s last two victories vs. Iowa (81-61) and at #15 Michigan (93-73).

Illinois’ six B1G wins by 20+ points are its most in the modern era, and the most since 1942-43 (7).

Illinois basketball will recognize two players and six senior managers at State Farm Center on Friday night in a pregame ceremony, approximately 25 minutes before tipoff (beginning at 6:35 p.m. CT).

Managers

Silas Gudina (Stickney, Ill.) is a two-year manager double majoring in finance & information systems.

Lawson Sizemore (Joliet, Ill.) is a two-year manager majoring in journalism.

Noah McElravy (Fairfield, Ill.) is a three-year manager majoring in kinesiology.

Tyler Olsen (Elmhurst, Ill.) is three-year manager majoring in special education.

Tommy Gikas (Lockport, Ill.) is a four-year manager majoring in agricultural finance.

Andrew Bittle (Harrisburg, Ill.) is a four-year manager majoring in business management

Players

Keaton Kutcher (Mount Vernon, Iowa) is in his second year at Illinois, joining the program after two seasons at South Dakota. He helped the Illini to a Big Ten Tournament Championship as a key member of the Illini’s scout team in 2023-24. This season he has played in 12 games, scoring his first Illinois points in a win over SIUE and knocking down his first 3-pointer as an Illini in the team’s victory over Chicago State. Kutcher is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication.

Ben Humrichous (Tipton, Ind.) joined the Illini as a grad transfer, making an immediate impact as one of the top 3-point threats in the Big Ten. He is averaging 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 35% from 3-point range. Humrichous has hit at least one 3-pointer in 26 of 30 games this season and his 58 total triples are first in the nation among power conference players 6-9 or taller. He has scored in double figures 10 times, led by a season-high 21 points in the Jan. 8 win over Penn State. Humrichous is working toward a master’s degree in recreation, sports, & tourism.

Illinois is No. 17 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, one of nine Big Ten teams in the top 40.

Illinois has seven Quad 1 wins, tied for 10th nationally and fourth in the B1G.

Illinois has played 16 Quad 1 games, tied for sixth in the NCAA and second in the B1G. The Purdue game is Illinois’ 17th Quad 1 game, which will move the Illini to third-most nationally.

Illinois has played a combined 24 Quad 1/2 games, which will grow to 25 vs. Purdue, most in the nation.

Illinois has a combined 13 Quad 1/2 wins, tied for 13th in the NCAA.

Illinois has only played a combined six Quad 3/4 games, tied for the fewest in the NCAA.

Every Illinois loss has been Quad 1 (9) or Quad 2 (2).

Illinois has navigated the majority of Big Ten play with numerous different lineups due to illness and injuries. After starting the same five from the season opener through Jan. 5 (11-3 record), Illinois has started seven different lineups since Jan. 8 (8-8 record).

Three different starters have combined to miss nine total games, while five players have combined for an additional 16 games with limited minutes due to illness/injury.

The Big Ten Tournament will be held March 12-16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Illinois will open play in Thursday’s second round and enters the final weekend of the regular season with a seed range of 6, 7, or 8.

With an Illinois win over Purdue, Illinois would be the 6 seed with a UCLA loss to USC, or the 7 seed with a UCLA win.

With an Illinois loss to Purdue, Illinois would be the 7 seed with an Oregon loss to Washington, or the 8 seed with an Oregon win.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in five team statistical categories, with the following NCAA rankings: total rebounds per game (2nd in NCAA; 42.9), defensive rebounds per game (2nd; 29.7), 3-point attempts per game (4th; 30.3), scoring offense (11th; 83.6), and offensive rebounds per game (25th; 13.2).

Illinois is 18-1 on the season when scoring at least 80 points. The Illini’s 19 games with 80+ points are the most in the Big Ten, and tied for 10th nationally. Among teams with at least 15 80-point games, Illinois’ .947 win percentage ranks fifth in the nation behind Arkansas State at 18-0 (1.000), Duke at 18-0 (1.000), Auburn at 21-1 (.952), and Akron at 19-1 (.947).

The Illini secured their 12th home win of the season vs. Iowa (Feb. 25). It marks the team’s sixth straight season with at least 10 home wins at State Farm Center under Brad Underwood.

Since 2019-20, the Illini are 81-17 (.827) at State Farm Center, one win behind Purdue and Iowa for the most by a Big Ten team over the last six seasons behind. Nationally, the Illini’s 81 home wins rank tied for 20th, overall, and tied for 12th among teams that have played each of the last six seasons in a power conference.

Illinois is 7-7 away from State Farm Center this season, with a 5-5 mark in true road contests, and a 2-2 mark in neutral site games.

Illinois is 34-26 (.567) in Big Ten road games since the start of the 2019-20 season, the best mark in the league over the last six seasons. The Illini have finished .500 or better on the road in league play in five of the last six seasons.

Under Brad Underwood, Illinois has finished in the top 40 in KenPom adjusted efficiency for both offensive and defensive in four of the last six seasons. The Illini offense is currently No. 14 (121.8), while the team is 32nd on defense (97.4).

Illinois is No. 21 nationally in KenPom’s effective field goal percentage defense (.464), including a No. 11 ranking (first in the Big Ten) in 2-point defense (.454).

According to KenPom, the Illini rank No. 30 nationally, and sixth among Power Conference programs, with a 3-point attempt rate (3-point attempts/total field goal attempts) of 47.1%. Among major conference teams, Illinois ranks first nationally with five games of 15+ made 3-pointers.

Illinois is averaging a Big Ten-leading 83.6 points per game, just ahead of the pace of last year’s team that averaged 83.4 points per contest en route to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and Elite Eight run. The Illini are on pace for the program’s top team scoring average in 31 seasons since 1993-94 (84.0 ppg).

Illinois has won 11 games by 20+ points, with six coming against Big Ten Opponents, and four of those games coming on the road. The Illini defeated Eastern Illinois, 112-67 (+45); Oakland, 90-58 (+32); UMES, 87-40 (+47); and Little Rock, 92-34 (+58) all within the first month of the season. Illinois then defeated Chicago State, 117-64 (+53); recorded an historic 109-77 (+32) victory at No. 9 Oregon; earned a 91-52 (+39) home win over Penn State; rolled to a 94-69 (+25) victory at Indiana; posted 95-74 (+21) win at Minnesota; notched an 81-61 (+20) victory over Iowa, and rolled to a 93-73 (+20) road win at #15 Michigan.

Illinois is second nationally in rebounding at 42.9 boards per game, on pace for the program’s best average in 52 seasons (44.4 rpg in 1972-73). The Orange and Blue have outrebounded their opponent in 23 of 30 games this season, going 18-5 in those contests.

Illinois is 4-6 against Top-25 ranked teams this season with wins over No. 19 Arkansas, No. 20 Wisconsin, at No. 9 Oregon, and at No. 15 Michigan. The Illini’s four ranked wins are tied for 13th nationally.

Brad Underwood has led the Illini program to Top-25 rankings in seven consecutive seasons. Illinois has been ranked for a total of nine weeks this season and is receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25 and coaches poll. Illinois was ranked for seven consecutive weeks this season, and has reached as high as 13th.

Illinois has registered 80 wins in league play since the start of the 2019-20 season, one behind Purdue for the most in the conference over the last six seasons. When including the conference tournament, the Illini’s 86 wins over Big Ten teams during that time span also are one behind the Boilermakers.

The Illini won the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship as the #2 seed, captured the regular season championship in 2022, and led the conference in wins while adding a B1G Tournament crown in 2021, and the team’s three total championships during that span are tied with Purdue for the most in the Big Ten.

Following the 2024 Elite Eight appearance and Big Ten Tournament Championship, Illinois has a dramatically different roster this season. The program returns just one rotation player – last year’s ninth-leading scorer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn – and returns just 2.9% of its minutes, 2.2% of its points, and 2.0% of its rebounds overall.

Newcomers to the Illini roster have accounted for 91.7% of the team’s scoring so far (2,299 of 2,507 total points), with UI freshmen accounting for 42.4% of those points (974).

Illinois’ top three scorers, and top three rebounders are all in their first year of collegiate basketball. Freshman G Kasparas Jakucionis ranks first in scoring (15.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.6 rpg). Sophomore C Tomislav Ivisic averages 12.6 points (second on team) and team-leading 7.7 rebounds. Freshman F Will Riley is the Illini’s No. 3 scorer at 11.9 points per game. And Freshman F Morez Johnson Jr. ranks second on the team at 6.6 rebounds per game with a team-leading 70 offensive boards (2.7 per game).

Eight different Illini players have recorded a 20-point game this season, tied for the top mark in the NCAA, and the most by any Big Ten program since at least 2004-05.

Three Illini scored 20+ points vs. Penn State – Ben Humrichous (21), Morez Johnson Jr. (20) and Tre White (20). It marked just the third time in the last 35 seasons that Illinois had a game featuring a trio of 20-point scorers.

Illinois’ 32-point road win over #9 Oregon was the largest margin of victory ever by a road team over an AP Top-10 opponent, and the largest road win in Illinois program history against any top-25 opponent.

In their 109-77 win at #9 Oregon, Illinois became the first Big Ten team since Feb. 9, 1989, to record 100+ points in a Top-10 road win (No. 10 Michigan defeated No. 8 Iowa, 108-107).

Illinois also posted a dominant 94-69 win at Indiana on Jan. 14. The 25-point margin of victory was the second-largest for a Hoosiers’ opponent in Assembly Hall history, while Illinois’ 94 points marked the most ever scored by a visiting team in a regulation game at Assembly Hall.

With the Illinois’ 93-73 road win at #15 Michigan (March 2) and the team’s 109-77 win at #9 Oregon (Jan. 2), Illinois became just the fourth program since 1950 with multiple 20+-point ranked road wins, joining 1997 Kentucky, 2004 Pitt, and 2007 North Carolina.

Kasparas Jakucionis

Kasparas Jakucionis has been named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, a Top-10 candidate for the Jerry West Award, a unanimous selection to the five-player Freshman All-America Team by The Athletic, a Midseason All-America third team selection by The Sporting News, a John R. Wooden Award Late Midseason Watch List (top 20) selection, and a Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Midseason Team selection.

Jakucionis has 10 20-point games this season, setting the Illini all-time record for 20-point games by a freshman previously held by Cory Bradford who had eight 20-point games as a redshirt freshman in 1998-99.

Jakucionis scored 20+ points in six straight games from Nov. 25-Dec. 22, shattering the Illini freshman record for consecutive 20-point games (previous record was two).

Jakucionis became the fourth Big Ten freshman since 1996-97 with at least six-straight 20-point games, and the first to do so since Indiana’s Eric Gordon had seven in a row in 2007.

Jakucionis has posted four game of 20+ points, 6+ rebounds and 5+ assists, tied for sixth nationally, and tied for first among freshmen with Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Howard’s Blake Harper. He trails only Colorado State fifth-year senior Nique Clifford (8), Northwestern senior Brooks Barnhizer (6), UAB senior Yaxel Lendeborg (6), Princeton junior Xavian Lee (5), and Purdue junior Braden Smith (5).

At 15.4 points per game, Jakucionis is on pace to become the third Illini freshman in program history to average more than 15.0 points per game, and is just shy of the program record for scoring average by a freshman. Kiwane Garris (15.9 in 1993-94), Cory Bradford (15.4 in 1998-99), and Deon Thomas (15.1 in 1990-91) rank 1-3 on that list.

All-time among Illinois freshmen, Jakucionis ranks second in free-throws made (117), fourth in double-doubles (4), fifth in total points (430), fifth in total assists (133), ninth in rebounds (158), and tied for ninth in field goals made (133). He is also on pace to finish first in free-throw percentage (.836), fourth in assists per game (4.8), and eighth in rebounds per game (5.6).

Jakucionis has earned two Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

Tomislav Ivisic

Tomislav Ivisic is the No. 7 rebounder in the Big Ten at 7.7 rebounds per game and ranks sixth in the league at 5.9 defensive rebounds per contest.

Ivisic has led the Illini rebounding effort in 12 of the 27 games in which he has played, the most on the team.

Ivisic, classified as sophomore in his first season of collegiate competition, has recorded nine double-doubles through 27 games, ranking fifth in the Big Ten, tied for 41st in the NCAA overall, and fourth among power conference underclassmen.

Ivisic, at 7-1, is one of the nation’s top 3-point shooting big men, and has connected on 40 3-pointers this season, third on the team behind Ben Humrichous (58) and Kasparas Jakucionis (47).

Nationally, Ivisic ranks as one of just four 7-footers with 30+ 3-pointers made this season, trailing only Stanford senior Maxime Raynaud (54), and his brother Zvonimir Ivisic (47) of Arkansas. Ivisic’s 40 triples rank third in that group, ahead of Pitt junior Guillermo Diaz Graham (35).

Ivisic has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in 22 games this season, tied with Raynaud for the most games with a triple among 7-footers.

Kylan Boswell

Kylan Boswell has recorded 11 games in double-figures scoring with at least five rebounds, and has dished out at least four assists in seven of those contests. In the team’s most recent win at #15 Michigan on Sunday, he posted 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while adding a career-high two blocks.

Boswell recorded the seventh triple-double in Illinois history and fifth of the Underwood era against Chicago State (Dec. 29), tallying 18 points, career-high 10 rebounds, and career-high 10 assists.

Boswell scored in double-figures in 12 of 14 games for the Illini between the Dec. 10 vs. Wisconsin (19 points) and Feb. 2 vs. Ohio State (14), including a career-high 22 points in the Illini win at Indiana on Jan. 14. During that 14-game stretch, Boswell averaged 13.9 points (195), 6.3 rebounds (88), and 4.2 assists (59).

Boswell has recorded six games with 10+ points and 5+ assists, including three against Big Ten opponents.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Over his last 16 games, prior to breaking his wrist vs. Michigan State on Feb. 15, Morez Johnson Jr. averaged 8.9 points (142) and 6.8 rebounds (109), and made eight straight starts.

During that 16-game run, beginning with the Illini’s Braggin’ Rights win vs. Mizzou on Dec. 22, Johnson has recorded a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double in the win over Penn State (Jan. 8), a 15-point, nine-rebound effort in his second-career start vs. Northwestern on Jan. 26, and 14-point, a 15-rebound double-double in the team’s come-from-behind win over Ohio State on Feb. 2, and a 17-point, five-rebound effort vs. #11 Michigan State.

Johnson, at 6.6 rebounds per game, is just short of Deon Thomas (6.8 rpg in 1990-91) for the third-best freshman mark in Illini history. Kofi Cockburn set the record holds the record at 8.8 rpg as a freshman in 2019-20, and Efrem Winters posted an average of 6.9 rpg in 1982-83.

Prior to his injury, Johnson had recorded a team-leading 29 total blocks, tied for fourth in the Illini freshman record book with James Griffin (1978-79).

Will Riley

Will Riley enters the regular-season finale vs. Purdue on Friday having scored in double-figures in nine of his last 10 games. He is averaging 15.4 points, 4.8, and 3.3 assists per game during that span.

Riley opened his Illini career by breaking the program’s scoring record for a freshman debut with 31 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists in the team’s season-opening win vs. Eastern Illinois.

Riley has led the Fighting Illini in scoring seven times, all in a reserve role, providing a vital scoring threat off the bench. He scored in double-figures in seven straight games between Jan. 30 at Nebraska and Feb. 18 at #11 Wisconsin, averaging 17.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game during that run.

Riley posted an historic outing in the team’s win at Minnesota (Feb. 8), becoming the only freshman in the nation since at least 1996-97 to record a game with 27+ points, 9+ rebounds, and 7+ assists without a turnover.

Riley has made four starts on the season, the first two in place of an injured Kasparas Jakucionis on Jan. 8 vs. Penn State and Jan. 11 vs. USC, and has earned a starting nod in each of the Illini’s last two victories over Iowa on Feb. 25, and March 2 at #15 Michigan.

Riley has earned three B1G Freshman of the Week awards this season.

Tre White

After opening the year averaging 7.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in eight games, Tre White found a rhythm on the court for the Illini. Beginning with a 23-point, 8 rebound effort vs. #20 Wisconsin on Dec. 10, White averaged 12.1 points (157) and 6.2 rebounds (80) the team’s next 13 games, scoring in double figures seven times.

Against #3 Duke at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 22, White led the Illini with 16 points and added five rebounds. It marked his first game of the season as the Illini’s top scorer. He then scored 14 in the team’s win vs. Iowa Feb. 25. Most recently, White posted a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double (both team highs) in the Illini’s 93-73 win at #15 Michigan on March 2.

Over his last three games – vs. #3 Duke, vs. Iowa and at #15 Michigan – White is averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 rebounds, while shooting 62.9% (17-27) from the field and 60% (6-10) from 3-point range.

Ben Humrichous

Ben Humrichous leads the fighting Illini with 58 3-pointers on the season and has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in 26 of 30 games.

Humrichous leads the team, averaging 1.93 triples per contest, 16th in the Big Ten (among players who have appeared in 75% of their team’s games).

Humrichous’ 58 3-pointer as an Illini have surpassed his total of 53 hit during the 2023-24 season for Evansville.

Since 1986-87 (3-point era), Humrichous is the 20th Big Ten player with listed 6-9 or taller to hit at least 50 3-pointers in a season. He is the third Illini to do so in as many seasons joining Matthew Mayer (67 in 2022-23) and Coleman Hawkins (59 in 2023-24).

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn has continued to make a big impact for the Illini in his sophomore season. Over 14 games between Dec. 22 vs. Missouri and Feb. 5 vs. Rutgers, Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 9.3 points (130) while shooting 50.5% (48-95) from the field.

Gibbs-Lawhorn made the first start two starts of his collegiate career vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2) and at Rutgers (Feb. 5). Against Ohio State, he was key to the Illini’s 87-79 come-from-behind victory, posting 10 points highlighted by a momentum-shifting steal and run-out dunk that capped a 12-2 run to pull the Illini to within one possession after OSU’s lead had reached 11 points.

Gibbs-Lawhorn has posted nine double-digit scoring games this season, eight of which have come since Dec. 29: 16 vs. Chicago State (Dec. 29), 11 at Oregon (Jan.2), 11 vs. USC (Jan. 11), 12 at Indiana (Jan. 14), 15 vs. Maryland (Jan. 23), 15 at Nebraska (Jan. 30), 10 vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2), and 17 at #11 Wisconsin (Feb. 18).

Jake Davis

Jake Davis leads the Illini shooting 36.1% (22-61) from 3-point range.

Davis has made an impact for the Illini off the bench since just before the New Year. After totaling just eight points and seven rebounds in his first his nine games as an Illini, Davis has averaged 4.5 points (86) and 1.9 rebounds (36) over his last 19 games since Dec. 29 vs. Chicago State.

Davis was vital to the Illini’s win at then-No. 9 Oregon on Jan. 2, posting a season-high 12 points and with three rebounds in the road win in Eugene.

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PREVIEW

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)

PLAYERS MENTIONED

HEAD COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD

SERIES HISTORY VS. PURDUE

OPENING TIPS

SENIOR NIGHT CELEBRATION

ILLINI NCAA TOURNAMENT RESUME

LOOKING AHEAD

ILLINI TEAM NOTABLES

ILLINI PLAYER NOTABLES

#33 COLEMAN HAWKINS

#2 DRA GIBBS-LAWHORN

#24 KEATON KUTCHER

#5 AJ REDD

#20 TY RODGERS

#31 JASON JAKSTYS

#21 MOREZ JOHNSON JR.

#15 JAKE DAVIS

#3 BEN HUMRICHOUS

#13 TOMISLAV IVISIC

#32 KASPARAS JAKUCIONIS

#0 CAREY BOOTH

ILLINOIS (19-11, 11-8 B1G) vs. #18 Purdue (21-9, 13-6 B1G)
Date \| Time	Friday, March 7, 2025 \| 7 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill. \| State Farm Center
Buy Tickets	Sold Out \| Purchase on SeatGeek
TV	FOX (Jason Benetti & Bill Raftery)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live \| Fox Sports App
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network \| Varsity Network App \| SiriusXM 380, SXM App 970
National Radio	Compass Media Networks (Wayne Larrivee & Danny Green) \| SiriusXM 382, SXM App 972
Live Stats	Statbroadcast.com
Printable Notes	Illinois \| Purdue
Pregame Press Conferences	Coach Underwood (March 6)
2024-25 Stats	Illinois \| Purdue
Record Book	Illinois
Shop	Online Store \| Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB \| #Illini \| @IlliniMBB \| Facebook \| YouTube

How to Watch #18 Purdue (21-9, 13-6) at Illinois (19-11, 11-8) & Open Thread

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The final regular season home game is less than 24 hours away.

Purdue heads to Illinois with more than just a regular season win on the line, seeding in the Big Ten Tournament can change based on the impact of this game, and Purdue will also be heading to the Beefhouse on the way home but will it be to celebrate a victory or to drown their sorrows? Only time will tell. This is a dangerous Illinois team that has had some injury trouble and hasn’t lived up to their lofty preseason expectations.

Purdue is coming off a victory over Rutgers where they rained down three pointers on the visitors from New Jersey. They’ll be facing an Illinois team that is near the top of the nation three point attempts but shoots only 30% from deep. Which team makes their threes might be the deciding factor in the game.

Who: #18 Purdue (21-9, 13-6) vs. llinois (19-11, 11-8)

When: Friday, March 7, 2025 | 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT

Where: Champaign, Illinois | State Farm Center – Capacity – 15,500

TV: FOX (Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel)

Radio: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)

Join us tomorrow in the open thread as we talk about the final regular season home game.

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PROBABLE STARTERS (Based on previous game)
Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG	Note
G	32	Kasparas Jakucionis	6-6	205	Fr.	15.4	5.6	4.8	Illini freshman record 10 20-point games
G	4	Kylan Boswell	6-2	205	Jr.	11.3	5.0	3.3	17 pts, 9 rebs, & 4 ast at #15 Michigan
F	7	Will Riley	6-8	195	Fr.	11.9	4.0	2.2	15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg over last 10 games
G	22	Tre White	6-7	210	Jr.	10.0	5.4	0.8	16.3 ppg & 6.0 rpg over last 3 games
C	13	Tomislav Ivisic	7-1	255	So.	12.6	7.7	2.2	9 double-doubles (4th in B1G)
OFF THE BENCH
Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG	Note
F	0	Carey Booth	6-10	215	So.	1.2	1.1	0.0	Six of nine field goals are 3-pointers
G	2	Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn	6-1	185	So.	6.9	1.8	0.6	17 points & 5 assists at #11 Wisconsin
F	3	Ben Humrichous	6-9	225	Gr.	8.3	3.9	1.0	Team-leading 1.93 3-pointers per game
G	5	AJ Redd	6-3	170	Jr.	0.2	0.6	0.2	Former team manager turned walkon
F	15	Jake Davis	6-6	205	So.	3.4	1.5	0.3	8 points (3-3 FGs, 2 3-pointers) at #15 Michigan
F	21	Morez Johnson Jr.	6-9	255	Fr.	7.2	6.6	0.2	2.7 offensive rebounds/game (4th in B1G)
G	24	Keaton Kutcher	6-2	195	r-Jr.	0.4	0.3	0.1	First Illini 3-pointer vs. Chicago State
REDSHIRT (Averages from 2023-24 season)
Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG	Note
G/F	20	Ty Rodgers	6-6	210	Jr.	6.2	5.3	2.0	Started all 38 games last season
F	31	Jason Jakstys	6-10	210	Fr.	—	—	—	Third-Team All-State