Illinois @ Iowa preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2019 ) Illinois 62, Iowa 83

No. 19 Illinois looks to extend the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten when it visits 18th-ranked Iowa in a pivotal conference matchup on Sunday. The Fighting Illini have won seven straight games, including a 59-51 victory over Minnesota on Thursday, to take over first place in the Big Ten standings, and they hope to notch their fourth consecutive road win by knocking off the Hawkeyes for the first time since Feb. 18, 2017.

“All we’re doing is taking it one game at time because this is the best conference in the country,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood told reporters. “We have a lot to be proud of here so hopefully it continues.” Iowa looks to bounce back from its first loss in three weeks following an 82-72 setback against 15th-ranked Maryland on Thursday. The Hawkeyes were limited to 36.2 percent shooting from the floor in the loss to the Terrapins, but return to Iowa City where they are 10-1 this season, and hope to stretch their home winning streak to 10 games while beating the Fighting Illini for the fifth straight time in the rivalry. “Typically you shoot the ball better at home and that’s clearly the case,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery told reporters. “You go on the road against a good team then you have to play better than we played.”

TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT ILLINOIS (16-5, 8-2 Big Ten): Andres Feliz scored a team-high 17 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists to help the Fighting Illini improve to 12-1 at home for the first time since 2014-15. Freshman phenom Kofi Cockburn added 13 points and 10 rebounds to register his ninth double-double of the season while Ayo Dosunmu also scored 13 points against the Golden Gophers, as Illinois surpassed its conference win total from last season. Alan Griffin, who is averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, will return to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for stepping on the chest of Purdue guard Sasha Stefanovic.

ABOUT IOWA (15-6, 6-4): Luka Garza scored 21 points despite being limited to 24 minutes of action due to foul trouble in the first half while Joe Wieskamp added 17 points, six rebounds and three steals in the loss to Maryland. C.J. Fredrick tallied 12 points and Joe Toussaint finished with eight points and four assists against the Terrapins. “We are a different team with Luka and when he’s out there the better we are,” McCaffery told reporters. “Typically he is pretty good at staying out of foul trouble because he recognizes how important he is to our team.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Illinois has held five opponents to 62 points or fewer during its winning streak.

2. Garza leads the Big Ten in points per game (23.0) and shares the top spot in double-doubles (12).

3. The Fighting Illini entered Saturday ranked second nationally in rebounding margin (plus-9.7).

PREDICTION: Iowa 81, Illinois 77