Tenth-ranked Illinois will take a swing by means of Los Angeles for a pair of essential Huge Ten Convention video games this week, the primary on Wednesday evening in opposition to Southern California.
The Preventing Illini (21-5, 12-3 Huge Ten) start the week in a three-team tie for second place within the league’s loss column, knotted with No. 7 Purdue (21-4, 11-3) and No. 9 Nebraska (22-3, 11-3), simply behind No. 1 Michigan (24-1, 14-1).
USC (18-7, 7-7) sits in the course of the convention pack.
Illinois slipped from the highest of the convention with back-to-back time beyond regulation losses at Michigan State on Feb. 7 and to Wisconsin on Feb. 10, however the Illini bounced again on Sunday with a 71-51 dwelling rout of Indiana.
David Mirkovic scored 25 factors in opposition to the Hoosiers, his ninth consecutive double-figure point-scoring efficiency because the freshman was inserted into the beginning lineup. The 25 factors represented his private finest in Huge Ten play.
The tone-setting effort got here after Mirkovic took duty for the loss to the Badgers.
Illini coach Brad Underwood stated, “I get an unbelievable textual content from Mirk after the Wisconsin recreation — taking the blame for it as a result of he wasn’t mentally what he thought was at his finest. (Mirkovic) practiced at a distinct stage, and that confirmed off (in opposition to Indiana). He was dominant on each ends, and it is as centered defensively as I’ve seen him.”
The 51 factors to which the Illini held Indiana had been the third-fewest Illinois allowed this season, simply two weeks faraway from limiting Northwestern to 44 factors.
Together with sturdy protection — Illinois ranks No. 49 nationally at 68.2 factors allowed a contest — the Illini have thrived with balanced offense. Mirkovic heads into Los Angeles as certainly one of 5 Illinois scorers averaging in double figures per recreation.
His charge of 13 factors per recreation joins Keaton Wagler at 18.5, Kylan Boswell at 14, Andrej Stojakovic at 13.7 and Tomislav Ivisic at 10.5. Stojakovic missed the previous two video games due to a excessive ankle sprain, and his availability for the Wednesday contest was unsure.
After opposing the Trojans, Illinois performs at UCLA on Saturday earlier than returning dwelling to oppose Michigan on Feb. 27.
Amongst USC’s season-long regulars, Chad Baker-Mazara leads the way in which with 18.3 factors per recreation, whereas Ezra Ausar provides 15.7. Rodney Rice (20.3 ppg) sustained a season-ending shoulder damage in December. Alijah Arenas, who returned from a knee damage final month, has appeared in six video games and has averaged 26 over the previous three.
Jacob Cofie (9.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds per recreation) reached double-figure scoring in three of the Trojans’ previous 4 outings.
Cofie was certainly one of 5 Trojans to notch at the least 12 at Ohio State on Feb. 11, led by Arenas’ 25. Arenas is posting 15.4 factors per recreation since becoming a member of the lineup the final month, bouncing again from a knee damage sustained in a automotive accident.
The primary-year blue-chip prospect began slowly, scoring 30 mixed factors in his first 4 appearances however since ran off video games of 29 and 24 earlier than the 25 in an 89-82 loss to the Buckeyes.
The setback snapped USC’s three-game profitable streak and dropped the Trojans to .500 within the Huge Ten. USC goals to make use of its week-long break because the loss to regroup, enjoying its subsequent 4 in Los Angeles and three of the quartet at dwelling.
“It has been an extended 12 months up to now. I feel this can be a much-needed break for the blokes,” USC assistant coach Earl Boykins stated per the college’s web site. “The three lengthy journeys we have taken this 12 months are loads. It may be good for them to get the break and for us to get within the fitness center and get again to the fundamentals.”
–Subject Stage Media
