Illinois vs. Rutgers: 5 storyline for matchup of top-25 Big Ten teams

Illinois and Rutgers both look to remain perfect in the Big Ten standings as they both play in their second conference game Sunday afternoon.

The Louis Brown Athletic Center is going to be the venue where No.13 Illinois Basketball takes on No. 19 Rutgers Basketball in the first Big Ten showdown between two nationally-ranked teams. Needless to say, getting a win in the Big Ten is difficult as it is important, but both will be amplified as top-15 recognition will be at stake.

Since both teams are coming off conference wins early in the week they, each have had since at least Wednesday to prepare for their familiar foe. Last season the two squads split a pair of games with Rutgers coming out plus12 in the scoring column as the Illini won by three while Rutgers got a 15-point victory with Ayo Dosunmu not in the line-up.

As Illinois returns five players who started over twenty games last season, and Rutgers returns five of their six top scorers, fans should see more of the same as that three-point game last season. Sunday is Illinois’ opportunity to reverse the seven spots they fell in the AP Poll and for the Scarlet Knights to possibly improve to their highest ranking since being led by James Bailey to No.15 during the 1978-79 season.

A handful of storylines that range from team leaders to the emergence of freshmen to the contribution of role players will decide the outcome. No matter the outcome, this matchup will set the tone for the talent saturated Big Ten Conference and the upcoming season. All of this within a day of finding out just how good Iowa is from their non-conference game with Gonzaga.

Here is a look at some key storylines for the matchup.