No. 10 Illinois Aims to Keep Momentum in Showdown with Michigan State

Illinois vs. Michigan State Preview and Prediction

In a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich, No. 10 Illinois will strive for its fourth consecutive victory, visiting Michigan State.

Coming off an 87-84 overtime win against Nebraska on their home court, the Fighting Illini (17-5, 8-3) have emerged victorious in their last three outings, including triumphs over Ohio State on the road and Indiana at home.

“Typical day in the Big Ten,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said after the victory over the Cornhuskers. “It’s the best league in the country. Great players. Great coaches.”

Michigan State (14-9, 6-6) presents a formidable challenge as they aim to rebound from a recent 59-56 loss at Minnesota, maintaining a strong 12-2 record on their home court.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo wants to see a better performance from his team after the setback against the Golden Gophers. In the aftermath of the loss, Izzo fumed at his players’ mistakes on the court.

“I have no idea right now, none,” Izzo said, when asked what ideas he had to bounce back. “I’m not worried about Illinois. I’m not worried about (this weekend). I’m worried about watching the film and figuring out what the (heck) happened.”

“And you’re right, I am about as upset as I’ve been in maybe a couple of years. … You’ve just got to make plays, and sometimes plays are made by the guys who get other guys the ball.”

The Spartans’ leading scorer, Tyson Walker, boasts an average of 19.0 points per game and impressive shooting percentages of 46.5% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc.

For Michigan State, three other players: Malik Hall (11.3), A.J. Hoggard (11.2), and Jaden Akins (11.0), maintain double-digit scoring averages.

Meanwhile, Illinois is anchored by Terrence Shannon Jr., averaging 20.0 points per game and shooting at 46.8% from the floor and 35.3% from 3-point range.

Additionally, Marcus Domask (15.7), Coleman Hawkins (12.0), and Quincy Guerrier (11.0) consistently contribute double-digit points for the Fighting Illini.

Holding the second spot in the Big Ten standings, Illinois is set for a pivotal clash, with Hawkins emphasizing, “This is a big win. We’re in control of our destiny.”

The upcoming game between Illinois and Michigan State marks the teams’ final meeting this regular season, following the Fighting Illini’s 71-68 victory over the Spartans on Jan. 11 in Champaign, Ill.

In their previous encounter, Hawkins, Domask, and Ty Rodgers each scored 15 points, while Guerrier and Justin Harmon added 10 points for Illinois.

Walker led the Spartans with 17 points, followed by Hoggard with 16 points and Hall with 14 points in that contest. 

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    WCC to Add Grand Canyon and Seattle in 2025

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    WCC adding Seattle U and Grand Canyon University

    Seattle and Grand Canyon will be leaving the Western Athletic Conference and moving to the West Coast Conference starting July 2025.

    The nine current members of the conference are private universities with a religious affiliation. Seattle is a Jesuit institution, while Grand Canyon, situated in Phoenix, is a Christian college.

    Grand Canyon’s basketball achievements were a significant factor in attracting WCC commissioner Stu Jackson. The team has participated in the last two NCAA Tournaments and three of the previous four under the leadership of coach Bryce Drew.

    As the 12th-seeded Antelopes defeated fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s before losing to Alabama in the tournament this season.

    Saint Mary’s is currently a member of the West Coast Conference.

    The WCC, while also integrating Oregon State and Washington State this autumn (excluding football), will expand from 11 to 13 members by the 2025-26 season.

    The future beyond 2026 looks uncertain, with Oregon State and Washington State appearing unlikely to continue with the WCC.

    The former Pac-12 schools are under a two-year contract, expiring on June 30, 2026. Sources from CBS Sports suggest that the odds of the two Pacific Northwest institutions staying are slim, with a move to the Mountain West or a new conference formation being more probable.

    Following the departures of Sam Houston and New Mexico State last year, Seattle and Grand Canyon’s exit from the WAC will reduce the conference’s membership to just eight by July 2025.

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    Ex-Cal State Fullerton G Max Jones Commits to Kansas State

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Kansas State adds athletic wing in left-handed shooter Max Jones

    Former guard of Cal State Fullerton Max Jones has made a decision to join Kansas State for his upcoming collegiate season, according to reports.

    Notable alternatives that Jones purportedly pondered were New Mexico, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Florida Atlantic, and Loyola Chicago.

    During the previous season with the Titans, Jones maintained an average of 15.3 points and 3.0 rebounds across 24 games, in which he started 21. He secured the second-highest scoring position within the team, alongside being the second in 3-pointers with 42 baskets and 41 steals.

    In the season prior, Jones held an average of 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 32 games, amassing 34 three-pointers and 30 steals.

    Before making his way to Cal State Fullerton post the 2021-22 season, Jones spent two years at Division II Tampa, where he managed to achieve an average of 21.9 points across 21 games during his sophomore year with the Spartans.

    In the recent offseason, Kansas State acquired Dug McDaniel, a former player from Michigan recognized as one of the premier point guards available in this year’s transfer portal.

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    Stanford Names Basketball Court in Honor of Tara VanDerveer

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    View From The Top with Tara VanDerveer, Former Coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball

    Tara VanDerveer’s legacy at Stanford will now be visibly acknowledged, with the school revealing on Thursday that the basketball arena’s floor will bear the name of the esteemed Hall of Fame coach.

    At the age of 70, VanDerveer stepped down following her 38th season at the helm of the Cardinal.

    She steered Stanford to 14 Final Fours and secured three national championships (1990, 1992, 2021). VanDerveer embarked on her coaching journey at Idaho (1978-80) and later coached at Ohio State (1980-85).

    In January, she surpassed Mike Krzyzewski to clinch the title of the most successful college basketball coach in history, across both men’s and women’s teams. VanDerveer concluded with a remarkable 1,216-271 record, boasting a 1,064-220 tally with the Cardinal.

    Alongside the unveiling of the Tara VanDerveer Court at Maples Pavilion this November, Stanford also established an endowed position in women’s basketball for an assistant coach in VanDerveer’s honor.

    VanDerveer said in a statement, “This endowment will go a long way to strengthening the future of Stanford women’s basketball. I have many wonderful memories of leading the women’s basketball program at Maples Pavilion.”

    “It’s an honor, and a little surreal, to know that my name will be linked to both in these ways, and I look forward to celebrating with all our fans this fall.”

    Last month, Stanford appointed Kate Paye, one of VanDerveer’s longtime assistant coaches who played for the Cardinal from 1991-95 and began coaching under VanDerveer in 2007, as the new head coach.

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