Illinois vs. Michigan St. Pregamearama

There will be no flag planting in Champaign tonight. That isn't a prediction, that's more about the physics of spiking a flag into the hardwood. Illinois comes in as the underdog, even in the friendly atmosphere of Assembly Hall. This is indicative of how this Illini team is playing right now.

The main key to the offense is to get it down low early and often to Pruitt and Carter. Illinois did that in the first half at Sparty and ended up with an 11 point lead. They went away from that in the second half and Michigan St. struck, let by Drew Neitzel.

And that will be the defensive key to the game: limiting Neitzel, especially in the second half. He put 20 on Ohio St. in the second half of that game in Columbus and nearly ended up bringing them back for the win.

Illinois hasn't lost both sides of a home/away series in Big Ten play since 1998-1999. Let's hope this doesn't start a new trend.

Illinois 61

Michigan St. 60

Illini Look to Avenge Early Season Loss (Daily Illini)