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Illinois Basketball: 4 big questions for the Illini vs Indiana

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 19: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 19, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 19: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 19, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Feb 2, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) attempts to block a shot by Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) during the second half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Will Illinois contain Trayce Jackson-Davis?

I believe Trayce Jackson-Davis is a pretty good basketball player. He has great athletic ability and can body people in the paint to get an easy bucket.

For the most part, Jackson-Davis has done a good job against Illinois during his time with Indiana as well. In the first three games he played against the Illini, Jackson-Davis averaged 14 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.

But that was just the first three games Jackson-Davis played against Illinois. In the lone game against the Illini this season, he didn’t have nearly the same success as years past.

Jackson-Davis struggled greatly against Illinois back in early February. He finished the game with six points and six rebounds while going 3-of-9 from the field. He couldn’t get anything going, and that is why Illinois won by 17 points.

A big question I have for Friday is will Illinois contain Jackson-Davis once again?

That is not an easy task. Jackson-Davis had fewer than 10 points in a game three times this season, and all three games were against the top three teams in the Big Ten. Illinois was the latest sub-10-point game.

Jackson-Davis is playing some good basketball right now. He just dropped 24 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in the big comeback win against Michigan. It is going to be important for Illinois to not let this kid get going early.

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