1/11 Big Ten Basketball Preview: Illinois at Iowa

Sunday features three Big Ten games as counterprograming to the NFL Playoffs, with a top 20 showdown on Fox at noon and a pair of games later in the evening on Peacock.

#16 Illinois Fighting Illini at #19 Iowa Hawkeyes

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Iowa has rode their defense on their way to a top 20 ranking and things were rolling heading into this week before a dreadful road loss to Minnesota. Now the Hawkeyes enter today at 2-2 and with Illinois, Purdue and Indiana up next things could go south in a hurry. As good as the defense has been, the offense has struggled in comparison. Bennet Stirtz is rolling with 18 points per game but no one on the Hawkeyes roster is averaging more than 9.3 points per game, putting a lot of pressure on Stirtz to perform. The 50% shooter is hitting just 31.7% from the field in Iowa’s three losses this season.

The Hawkeyes offensive inabilities could prove problematic against an Illinois team that has won six of their past seven games. The Illini offense is averaging 86.7 points per game and shooting almost 80% from the free throw line. With four players averaging at least 12.7 points per game, Illinois has plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. They’ll face a stern test against a strong Iowa defense, but the problem is Iowa’s offense and if they’ll be capable of keeping pace with the Illini offense. As much attention as Iowa has gotten their best win this season was a home game against UCLA earlier this month. Look for the Illini to pick up their fifth win in a row.

Pick: Illinois

Northwestern Wildcats at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Time/TV: 5:00 PM ET Peacock

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Northwestern will try to pick up their first conference win of the season today on the road against Rutgers. The Wildcats have fallen short in their last three Big 10 games, losing by 10 points or less in each game. Most recently they lost 66-76 at Michigan State, though they took a lead into the second half. The Scarlet Knights picked up their first league win this week before…

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Publish date : 2026-01-11 10:00:00

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