Illinois vs. Jackson State: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

The Jackson State Tigers and Illinois Fighting Illini will battle for the right to start their respective seasons in the win column. Which team will come out on top?

Time: Tuesday, November 9th at 7 pm CT
Location: Champaign, IL
Channel: Big Ten Network

The Jackson State Tigers will travel to Champaign, Illinois to take on the 11th ranked Fighting Illini on the first night of the college basketball season. These two programs have squared off four previous times with the Illini exiting victorious in all four. Their most recent matchup came in 2008 when Illinois won by a score of 78-64.

Entering the start of the 2021-2022 season, Illinois and Jackson State are on opposite ends of the preseason KenPom ratings. Illinois sits at 4th in the ratings, while Jackson State currently resides in the 295th spot.

Jackson State will try to follow up an impressive 11-0 year in the SWAC with a B1G-time upset to kick off the new season. The Tigers rely heavily on their defense and will need it more than ever against Illinois. Last season, Jackson State held its opponents to a mere 62.8 points per game. They hope to build on that this season after returning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, Jayveous McKinnis. The Tigers will need McKinnis and others to step up after losing last season’s SWAC Player of the Year, Tristan Jarrett.

The Illini will also look to follow up a great season with a 1-0 start. Without Kofi Cockburn and with some other key players questionable to play, Illinois will have their depth tested right away. If guards Andre Curbelo, Trent Frazier, or Austin Hutcherson don’t end up active for this game, expect to see transfer Alfonso Plummer step into a main scoring role. Sophomore Coleman Hawkins will also have to step into Cockburn’s shoes to provide a formidable paint presence.

Despite the major difference in talent between these two clubs, I expect this game to be closer than many people would think. Jackson State is a tough, defensive-minded team that I don’t expect to fear playing at Illinois, especially without Cockburn. If the Illini are without those other key guards, Brad Underwood will be forced to rely on many players with little-to-no experience in the orange and blue.

I think Jackson State keeps this game close for the first fifteen to twenty minutes before Illinois starts to create some breathing room. There hasn’t been a point spread released for this game yet (likely due to the Illini’s injury questions), but I’d expect Jackson State to keep it within 15-20 points.

Overall, this could be a great learning experience for both teams. Jackson State gets to play a title contender in a Big Ten arena, and Illinois will likely have an early opportunity to test its bench.