via Imago
Jan 7, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) reacts after his three point basket in the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
via Imago
Jan 7, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) reacts after his three point basket in the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball action will continue when the Illinois Fighting Illini look to strengthen their chances to make the NCAA Tournament against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. While the Cornhuskers can be a formidable team, this season hasn’t gone their way so far.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a 4-12 record this season. While it is mainly to do with the quality of competition in the Big 10 Conference, the Illini have faced similar opponents and sit in the AP Top 25. The Cornhuskers lost their last game to the Wisconsin Badgers, giving them their eighth consecutive loss.
Wheels down in Lincoln. #Illini | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/XwunwjBnEs
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 12, 2021
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The Illinois Fighting Illini have been rolling this season. They are on a four-game winning streak and are considered to be in contention to be one of the top five teams in the country. Their last win was over the team Nebraska just lost to in the Wisconsin Badgers.
But is there even a chance for the Cornhuskers to pull off an upset?
NCAA Basketball: Do the Cornhuskers stand a chance?
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The Cornhuskers are yet to win a single game in the Big Ten this season. They have been turnover prone and been unable to figure out the offensive and defensive gameplans of opposing teams. A lot of that is because they don’t have the same talent as their opponents.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 10, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Teddy Allen (0) signals after making a three-point shot against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
The Fighting Illini easily outmatch them in every position. Their team has some of the brightest prospects in this year’s college basketball season in Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu. Illinois has length, speed, and athleticism on their team with some deft shooting as well. They are a matchup problem for anyone, so this will be a hard ask for Nebraska.
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The Fighting Illini will be starting with Ayo Dosunmu, Adam Miller, Trent Frazier, Jacob Grandison, and Kofi Cockburn. Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers will line up with Teddy Allen, Dalano Banton, Trey McGowens, Derrick Walker, and Lat Mayen.
Our prediction says that Illinois will win this game with relative ease. The two teams are on opposite ends of the form chart and there is no reason for this game to reverse those momentums. But anything is possible in NCAA basketball.
