Illinois @ Ohio St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2018 ) Ohio St. 77, Illinois 67

Two weeks ago, Illinois was left for dead in the Big Ten, but since then the resuscitated Fighting Illini have won four of five and three in a row heading into Thursday night's game at Ohio State. The Buckeyes are on a similar upward trajectory with a three-game win streak after a disastrous January.

Discussions about Illinois have flipped from Brad Underwood being a poor coaching hire to how dangerous the Illini could be in the final weeks of the conference season. Big Ten contenders Maryland and Michigan State both found out when Illinois pulled off upsets. The Illini's win streak was built at home and so they'll have to find a way to solve their struggles on the road, where they're 0-6 this season. Ohio State has lost four games at home, but the Buckeyes have won their last two at the Schottenstein Center and maintained their momentum with a road victory Sunday at Indiana.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT OHIO STATE (16-7, 6-6 Big Ten): The Buckeyes gave away a second-half lead at Indiana but were able to answer in the final minute and come away with their second road win in the Big Ten. They did it despite their lowest-scoring game of the season in the 55-52 victory. Andre Wesson's younger brother Kaleb is Ohio State's leading scorer, but Andre has played with more confidence as the season progresses and scored what proved to be the winning bucket on a dunk with 20 seconds left Sunday to finish with a team-best 15 points.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (9-15, 5-8): Trent Frazier and freshman Ayo Dosunmu have combined to average 28.8 points per game. Dosunmu also averages 4.2 rebounds and has made 99 3-pointers this season, including 6-for-15 from long range in the past three games. Illinois' success during the win streak is due in part to pushing the pace, which has given them an average of two more possessions per game. The Illini have one of the best freshmen tandems in the Big Ten with Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili, who is averaging 12.2 points and 5.0 rebounds after scoring a career-high 35 points in Saturday's victory over Rutgers to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

TIP-INS

1. The Buckeyes go for the regular-season sweep of Illinois after a 77-67 victory Dec. 5 at the United Center in Chicago.

2. Ohio State F Kyle Young returned last week after missing four games with a stress fracture in his right leg and added a combined nine points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots against Penn State and Indiana to provide an inside presence to complement Kaleb Wesson.

3. Defense is the key for both teams, with Illinois 5-0 when it holds opponents to 67 points or fewer and Ohio State 11-0 when it gives up 62 or fewer.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 68, Illinois 67