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

By Jonathan Lurensky

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 05: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on January 5, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 05: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on January 5, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Two of the best teams in the Big ten face-off, when Michigan State plays Illinois. Who has the edge in this matchup?

TV schedule: January 25, 2022, on ESPN at 7:00 P.M

location: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois

The Michigan State Spartans go into this game with a record of 15-3. Michigan State’s four losses have come against Baylor, Kansas, and Northwestern. Michigan State’s best win came against Wisconsin.  The Spartans go into this game ranked as the 14th in the AP Poll. Gabe Brown leads the Spartans in scoring. Brown averages 13 points per game on 41 percent shooting from the floor.

Michigan State is 15th in the country when it comes to assists. The Spartans average 16 assists per game. Another thing that Michigan State does well is rebound the ball, averaging around 18 rebounds per game.

The Fighting Illini are 13-5 on the season. Their five losses have come against Arizona, Purdue, Maryland, Marquette, and Cincinnati. The Fighting Illini go into this game ranked as the 17th best team in the country.

Offensively, the Fighting Illini are led by Kofi Cockburn. Cockburn averages 21 points per game on 58 percent shooting. Also, Cockburn averages 11 rebounds per game. Guards Alfonso Plummer and Andre Curbelo provide balance offensively, while seniors Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams add veteran leadership.

Overall, Illinois is one of the better offensive teams in the country. Illinois averages 79 points per game. That is good for 17th in the nation. A lot of their offensive success comes from their ability to rebound the ball. Illinois averages 42 rebounds per game, good for 6th in the country.  Illinois is especially good at getting offensive rebounds. The Fighting Illini average 11 offensive rebounds per game. That is good for 6th in the country.

Next. Latest top-25 power rankings. dark

Illinois’s offensive will be too much for Michigan State. Offensively, Cockburn will lead the Fighting Illini to a victory.

Prediction: Illinois 79, Michigan State: 69

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