Illinois Basketball: Brad Underwood previews Indiana matchup, talks recent success

Brad Underwood met with local media to preview a key Big Ten conference matchup with Indiana, as it is the Illinois basketball team’s second game in three days.

Underwood was candid in Wednesday’s media session in Champaign ahead of a Thursday night tilt with the Hoosiers, as the Illini are seeking their fifth-straight win and 14th overall after starting Big Ten play 0-3 in early January.

Indiana was picked by many to win the league championship but now find themselves in the midst of inconsistency with just a 2-4 mark in Big Ten play and an 11-5 overall record.

Despite the on-court struggles, the presence of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson gives Underwood the belief that the Hoosiers can hang with any of the nation’s best, despite the injury concerns that have plagued one of the nation’s most talked about teams.

Thankfully for Illinois, Indiana will be without Thompson and Xavier Johnson for Thursday night’s game.

"“We do what we do [regardless of who’s on the floor],” Underwood said. “I think that we’ve established that, you know, we’re not gonna be [complacent]. Obviously, [Jackson-Davis] is a good player. We’re gonna have some guys [on him]. He’s gonna score some points. Not gonna shut him out and you gotta make things as difficult as you can. We’re not gonna give him the easy ones…transition three’s, second-chance points, those are the things you gotta try to eliminate the best you can.”"

The Illinois basketball team will look to continue dominating both sides of the court.

Illinois has been able to do that well over the course of the winning streak. In the victory against the Gophers, the Illini only allowed five turnovers and held the home team to under 65 points in one of the best defensive performances of the season.

The Orange and Blue will look to have big games from Matthew Mayer, Dain Dainja, and Co., as Mayer and Dainja combined for 30 points in another breakout performance against Minnesota.

Illinois will look to move one step closer to the top of the Big Ten with a win before looking ahead to a Tuesday night tilt against Ohio State at 6 p.m. CT. ESPN will have the telecast.