Illinois @ Ohio St. preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 14, 2019 ) Illinois 63, Ohio St. 56

Illinois and Ohio State meet Thursday night in Columbus for the only time during the regular season and there's a lot riding on the outcome of the Big Ten game for both teams. The No. 22 Fighting Illini would move into a tie for first place with a win and the No. 19 Buckeyes could gain a share of fifth, putting themselves in position for a potential top-six seed in the conference tournament with a victory.

The teams are making a strong stretch run in the final weeks of the regular season. Illinois has won four in a row and Ohio State brings a three-game win streak into the matchup. In the Fighting Illini's case, it should be noted than other than a road win at No. 20 Penn State, their victories have come against bottom-tier teams, including Sunday's 67-66 escape against Indiana. Two of Ohio State's wins during its run have been over No. 9 Maryland and No. 17 Michigan, but the Buckeyes close this week against two more ranked opponents.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT ILLINOIS (20-9, 12-6 Big Ten): The Fighting Illini are confident in the direction the program is headed and showed it Monday by giving coach Brad Underwood a three-year contract extension. "I think there’s no doubt that we have a lot to play for,” Underwood said before Thursday night's game and the potential to stay in the hunt for Illinois' first Big Ten title since 2005. Ayo Dosunmu (16.4 points per game), Kofi Cockburn (13.6) and Andres Feliz (10.9) are the Illini's top scorers, and the 7-foot Cockburn (team-best nine rebounds per game) faces a key matchup with Ohio State's Kaleb Wesson.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (20-9, 10-8): The Buckeyes have battled through a slow start in Big Ten play and several injuries, including forward Kyle Young's current day-to-day status with an ankle sprain, to guarantee themselves no worse than a .500 finish in the conference standings. Ohio State's win streak is the byproduct of much-improved guard play from C.J. Walker, Duane Washington Jr. and Luther Muhammad. Walker turned in his best game of the season in Sunday's 77-63 victory over Michigan with 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds and one turnover.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Forward Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State's leading scorer and rebounder this season, made 4-of-5 3-point shots Sunday against Michigan but was 1-of-9 on two-point attempts.

2. Walker (8.3 points per game) has stepped up his contribution for Ohio State, scoring 11 or more in each of the last four contests.

3. Illinois will finish above .500 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2010 and a win over Ohio State would give the Fighting Illinois their fifth road win this season against a top-40 opponent in the NET rankings.

PREDICTION: Illinois 69, Ohio State 68