Men's basketball Game 19 preview | Maryland at No. 17 Illinois; 8 p.m., Thursday
Lineups No.
17 Illinois (13-5, 5-3 Big Ten) P Name Yr.
Ht.
PPG Hometown G Kasparas Jakucionis Fr.
6-6 15.9 Vilnius, Lithuania G Kylan Boswell Jr.
6-2 11.9 Champaign G Tre White Jr.
6-7 10.5 Dallas F Ben Humrichous Gr.
6-9 9.1 Tipton, Ind.
C Tomislav Ivisic So.
7-1 13.0 Vodice, Croatia FYI: Jakucionis might wind up with his name littered through the Illinois record book after what is almost assuredly his lone season in Champaign.
At least from a freshman records standpoint.
The records he is legitimately chasing include Kiwane Garris scoring average (15.9 points), Cory Bradfords 20-plus point games (eight), Frank Williams free-throw percentage (80.4 percent) and Bruce Douglas assists average (5.9).
Jakucionis is currently averaging 15.9 points and 5.3 assists, has seven 20-plus point games and is shooting 87.2 percent at the free-throw line.
P Name Yr.
Ht.
PPG Hometown F Will Riley Fr.
6-8 11.0 Kitchener, Ontario G Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn So.
6-1 7.4 Lafayette, Ind.
F Morez Johnson Jr.
Fr.
6-9 6.1 Chicago Maryland (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) P Name Yr.
Ht.
PPG Hometown G JaKobi Gillespie Jr.
6-1 14.4 Greenville, Tenn.
G Rodney Rice So.
6-4 12.3 Clinton, Md.
G Selton Miguel Sr.
6-4 11.2 Luanda, Angola F Julian Reese Sr.
6-9 12.9 Baltimore C Derik Queen Fr.
6-10 15.1 Baltimore FYI: The Terrapins have their own potential first-round pick in Queen.
The former five-star recruit, who was a top 15 prospect in the Class of 2024, is currently projected to be selected in the late teens in Junes NBA draft.
P Name Yr.
Ht.
PPG Hometown F Tafara Gapare Jr.
6-9 5.1 Wellington, New Zealand G DeShawn Harris-Smith So.
6-5 3.7 Woodbridge, Va.
G Jay Young Gr.
6-2 3.3 Dallas Details Site: State Farm Center (15,544), Champaign.
Radio: Brian Barnhart (play-by-play) and former Illini Deon Thomas (analysis) will have the call on the Illini Sports Network on WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WPXN 104.9-FM, WDAN-1490-AM, WDNL 102.1-FM, WSOY 1340-AM and WSOY 103.3-FM.
TV: Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analysis) have the call on FS1.
Series: Maryland leads 15-8.
Last meeting: Illinois won 85-80 on Feb.
17, 2024, in College Park, Md.
FYI: Illinois has not fared well at home against Maryland both before and after the Terrapins joined the Big Ten.
The Illini lost a nonconference home game at then Assembly Hall in 2006 and are 2-5 at State Farm Center since the Big Ten expanded eastward a decade ago.
The most recent win came on Jan.
6, 2022, in a 76-64 victory behind 23 points and 18 rebounds from Kofi Cockburn.
Beat writer Scott Richeys storylines Staying on the court vital for Jakucionis Kasparas Jakucionis has played 52 percent of the available minutes in Big Ten play this season.
A tendonitis issue in his left wrist/forearm cost the Illinois guard two full games.
Foul trouble has also kept the Illini freshman off the court, as he played 22 minutes at Oregon, 27 minutes at Indiana and not quite nine minutes in Sundays game at Michigan State.
Jakucionis fouled out against the Spartans.
The advice Illinois coach Brad Underwood would give to avoid similar foul trouble? Pat the officials on the rear end, Underwood said.
Call them by name.
Tell them you love them.
Give them a hug.
Send them roses.
Ive been in conversation with the league (about the fouls at Michigan State).
They agree.
I dont know what you do.
The fifth one was probably a foul.
Most, especially star players, dont get those little, incidental things like that.
I dont know.
That was just a tough night.
Ivisic a wily veteran for Illini Underwood and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had an interesting difference of opinion last week before the two teams played in East Lansing, Mich.
Underwood referred to the Spartans as a veteran team given their number of third- and fourth-year players (plus one in his fifth season).
Izzo countered that the Illinis young players namely Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic had far more experience than his own freshmen and sophomores.
Ivisic, of course, is 21 years old and played three seasons in the Adriatic League before the NCAA decided he was a sophomore at Illinois.
Tomi, hes the wily veteran whos just about seen it all, Underwood said.
He thrives in environments where its loud, and he loves that.
He loves that energy.
A more decisive Gibbs-Lawhorn is standing out As CBS Sports Jon Rothstein pointed out earlier this week, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn already has more points, rebounds and steals through 18 games this season than he did last season when he played sparingly off the bench as a freshman.
Gibbs-Lawhorn is averaging 7.4 points in his role as third guard behind Jakucionis and Kylan Boswell.
Underwood said the Illinis trip to the Pacific Northwest was where he saw a change in the 6-foot-1 sophomore.
I think the game slowed down for him, and then he became very decisive, Underwood said.
He was always playing a little hesitant on offense like, Well, if I miss this shot, am I going to get taken out? If I foul here, am I taken out? We had to go through that some with him.
Now his confidence is high, hes so talented and he fits perfectly with what were trying to do on the offensive side.
The News-Gazettes pick No.
17 Illinois 89, Maryland 81 Will Kasparas Jakucionis play more than 8 1/2 minutes on Thursday night? It kind of matters.
Jakucionis raises the Illinis floor considerably when hes on the court.
They go from still competitive without him to talented enough to make a lengthy NCAA tournament run with him.
If Jakucionis plays his typical game against Maryland, Illinois is a clear favorite.
( News-Gazette prediction record: 14-4 )..
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