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Purdue at Illinois: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Jonathan Lurensky

Purdue guard Jaden Ivey (23) goes up for a layup during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball game, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.Bkc Purdue Vs Wisconsin
Purdue guard Jaden Ivey (23) goes up for a layup during the second half of an NCAA men's basketball game, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.Bkc Purdue Vs Wisconsin /
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Two of the best teams in the Big Ten face-off when Purdue plays Illinois on Martin Luther King day.

TV schedule: Monday, January 17th, 12:00 pm ET. FOX

Arena: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois

The Purdue Boilermakers go into this game with a 14-2 record on the season.  Their two losses have come against Rutgers and Wisconsin. The boilermakers’ best win this season has come against Villanova.

Offensively, Purdue is led by Jaden Ivey, Zack Edey, and Trevion Williams. Ivey is averaging 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor. Edey is averaging 15 points on 71 percent shooting from the floor. Additionally, the sophomore is averaging 7 rebounds per game on the season.  Williams is averaging 13 points on 61 percent from the floor. Additionally, the senior is averaging 8 rebounds per game.

Overall Purdue offense is 4th in the country in points per game. On the season, the Boilermakers are averaging 85 points per game. The boilermakers are able to score so many points because they shot the ball very efficiently. Purdue shots were 40 percent from three and 58 percent from two.

The Illinois Fighting Illini go into this game with a record of 13-3 on the season. Their three losses have come against Cincinnati, Marquette, and Arizona. Their best win of the season came against Iowa. Although Iowa is a solid team, The Fighting Illini are still searching for a marquee win. Illinois is led offensively by Kofi Cockburn. Cockburn is averaging 21 points on 60 percent shooting from the floor. Additionally, Cockburn is averaging 12 rebounds a game.

The Fighting Illini is 18th in the country for points per game. Illinois averages 79 points per game.  Additionally, Illinois is 3rd in the country for rebounds per game. The Fighting Illini average 43 rebounds per game.

Next. Latest Big Ten power rankings. dark

Because of the starpower of the centers involved, this was always going to be a highly anticipated matchup. But the results of this game could come down to which set of perimeter players comes through the most. Ivey and Alfonso of the Illini have been the top guys but it’ll be a complete effort to win the game.

Prediction: Purdue 83, Illinois 75

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