Illinois @ Rutgers preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) Rutgers 51, Illinois 54

No. 23 Illinois looks to pick up its first win in the month of February when it visits Rutgers on Saturday. The Fighting Illini have dropped three consecutive games, including a 70-69 loss to 25th-ranked Michigan State after star guard Ayo Dosunmu suffered a knee injury on the final play of the game, to fall out of first place in the Big Ten standings.

“Hopefully we get him back, but it’s always on to the next game with us,” Illinois freshman center Kofi Cockburn told reporters. “We’re just going to prepare for Rutgers and make sure we come in and work hard in practice.” Rutgers also looks to put a disappointing start to the month in the rearview mirror following a 72-66 loss to Ohio State on Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights have dropped three of their last four games to tumble out of the Top 25 after making their first appearance in 41 years, and they hope to stay on track for an NCAA Tournament berth by knocking off Illinois for the first time since March 4, 2017. “It’s a really, really difficult league,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell told reporters. “You have to play good basketball and every game in this league is a war.”

TIME: 4:30 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT ILLINOIS (16-8, 8-5 Big Ten): Dosunmu, who was named to the Naismith Trophy midseason team on Wednesday, scored 17 points before hurting his knee while driving for the potential game-winning basket in the final seconds of the loss to Michigan State, and his status is day-to-day after an MRI showed no structural damage. Andres Feliz added 12 of his 15 points in the second half as the Fighting Illini erased a 20-point deficit only to come up short on the final play. Cockburn registered 11 points and eight rebounds while Trent Frazier, who is averaging 9.5 points this season, was limited to four on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor.

ABOUT RUTGERS (17-8, 8-6): Jacob Young provided a spark off the bench as he scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and grabbed four rebounds in the loss to Ohio State. Geo Baker added 13 points and five boards, while freshman Paul Mulcahy finished with 12 points to help the Scarlet Knights’ reserves outscore their counterparts from Ohio State 42-23. “Our bench played with great energy and they gave us a jolt,” Pikiell told reporters. “They did a great job with their effort and energy to help us claw back into the game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Illinois has won four in a row in the series and seven of eight meetings since Rutgers joined the Big Ten.

2. The Scarlet Knights are a Division I-best 16-0 at home this season.

3. Dosunmu has scored in double figures in 14 of his last 15 games.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 69, Illinois 67