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Illinois Basketball: 4 keys for the Illini to beat Rutgers

By Collin Allen

Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) celebrate a three point basket in the first half against the Baylor Bears at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Da'Monte Williams (20) celebrate a three point basket in the first half against the Baylor Bears at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Dec 15, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) during the first half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Illinois basketball team looks to get its second straight win against an undefeated Big Ten opponent as they battle No. 19 Rutgers on Sunday.

The Illini will have a huge test, as they prepare to face off against an experienced, 5-0 Rutgers Scarlet Knights team.

Here are four keys for the Illini to get a roadkill in Piscataway, New Jersey.

1. Contain Ron Harper Jr

Harper has been the go-to guy for the Scarlet Knights for the past couple of seasons.  The junior guard leads the team in scoring for the second season in a row with 23.2 points per contest. Harper’s 23.2 PPG ranks No. 8 in the entire nation out of all college players.  He is also averaging 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists on the season.

Harper has scored at least 26 points in three out of the five games the Scarlet Knights have played this season.  This includes a 27-point performance in their most recent win at Maryland.  He also recorded 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in the Scarlet Knights’ victory.

The Rutgers guard will look to stay hot at home against the Illini.  If the Orange and Blue are able to hold Harper to under 20 points, the Scarlet Knights will need to get production elsewhere in order to knock off Illinois.

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